by his desire to satisfy them and the hearts of his soldiers by reason of his strength and courage, his goodly nature and his kindly disposition.  He also brought the host and all its equipments and munitions of warfare into such excellent order and method that the King on inspecting them was delighted and created the stranger Chief Commandant of the forces and made him an especial favourite; while the Wazirs and Emirs, also the Nabobs and the Notables, perceiving that he was highly reputed and regarded, showed him abundant good will and affection.  Presently, the other Princes, who became of no account in the eyes of the King and the lieges, waxed envious of his high degree and dignity.  But Khudadad ceased not to please the Sultan his sire, at all times when they conversed together, by his prudence and discretion, his wit and wisdom, and gained his regard ever more and more; and when the invaders, who had planned a raid on the realm, heard of the discipline of the army and of Khudadad’s provisions for materials of war, they abstained from all hostile intent.  After a while the King committed to Khudadad the custody and education of the forty-nine Princes, wholly relying on his sagesse and skill; and thus, albeit Khudadad was of age like his brothers, he became their master by reason of his sapience and good sense.  Whereupon they hated him but the more; and, when taking counsel one day, quoth one to the other, “What be this thing our sire hath done that he should make a stranger-wight his cup-companion and set him to lord it over us?  We can do naught save by leave of this our governor, and our condition is past bearing; so contrive we to rid ourselves of this foreigner and at least render him vile and contemptible in the eyes of our sire the Sultan.”  Said one, “Let us gather together and slay him in some lonely spot;” and said another, “Not so! to kill him would benefit us naught, for how could we keep the matter hidden from the King?  He would become our enemy and Allah only wotteth what evil might befal us.  Nay, rather let us crave permission of him and fare a-hunting and then tarry we in some far-off town; and after a while the King will marvel at our absence, then grief will be sore upon him and at length, waxing displeased and suspicious, he will have this fellow expelled the palace or haply done to death.  This is the only sure and safe way of bringing about his destruction.”—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

      The end of the Five Hundred and Ninety-fourth Night.

Then said she:—­I have heard, O auspicious King, that the forty-and-nine brothers agreed to hold this plan wisest and, presently going together to Khudadad, asked leave of him to ride about the country awhile or fare to the chase, promising they would return by set of sun.  He fell into the snare and allowed them to go; whereupon they sallied forth a-hunting but did not come back that day or the next.  On the third morning the King who missed them asked Khudadad