When the man heard this, he said to himself, “’Twill do me no hurt if I imprison him and fetter him and bring him that whereat he may work.  An he tell truth, I will let him live, and if he prove a liar, I will kill him.”  So he took a pair of stout shackles and fitting them on Salim’s legs, jailed him within his house and charged a man to guard him.  Then he asked him what tools he needed for work; and Salim described to him whatso he required, and the Cook went out from him awhile and brought him all he wanted.  Then Salim sat and wrought at his craft; and he used every day to earn two dinars; and this was his wont and custom with the Kitchener, who fed him not but half his fill.  Thus befel it with Salim; but returning to his sister Salma, she awaited him till the last of the day, yet he appeared not; and she expected him a second day and a third and a fourth, yet there came no news of him.  So she wept and beat hand on breast and bethought her of her affair and her strangerhood and the disappearance of her brother; and she improvised these couplets,—­

“Salam t’you!  Would I could see you again, * To the joy of my
     heart and the coolth of my eyes: 
You are naught but my hope and the whole of my hope * And under
     my ribs[FN#536] love for you buried lies.”

She tarried on this wise awaiting him till the end of the month, but no tidings of him came nor happened she upon aught of his trace; wherefore she was troubled with exceeding trouble and sending her servants hither and thither in search of him, abode in the sorest that might be of chagrin and concern.  When it was the beginning of the new month, she arose in the morning and bidding one of her men cry her brother throughout the city, sat to receive visits of condolence, nor was there any in town but made act of presence to condole with her; and they were all sorry for her, doubting not her being a man.  When three nights had passed over her with their days of the second month, she despaired of him and her tears never dried:  then she resolved to take up her abode in that city, and making choice of a dwelling, removed thither.  The folk resorted to her from all parts, to sit with her and hear her speech and witness her fine breeding; nor was it but a little while ere the king died and the folk differed anent whom they should invest with the kingship after him, so that civil war was like to befal them.  However, the men of judgment and the folk of understanding and the people of experience directed them to crown the youth who had lost his brother, for that they still held Salma to be a man.  They consented to this one and all; and, betaking themselves to her, offered the kingship.[FN#537] She refused, but they were urgent with her, till she consented, saying within herself, “My sole desire in the kingship is to find my brother.”  Then they seated her upon the throne of the realm and set the crown upon her head, after which she undertook the business of governance and ordinance of affairs; and