of the window, and her hair fell down to the ground.  Muhammed the Discreet seized it, twined it round his hand pulled her out, and threw her on the earth.  Then said she, “Thou art my fate, Muhammed the Wary; relinquish thy hold of my hair, by the life of thy father the King.”  Quoth he “My father is a fisherman.”  “Nay,” she replied, “thy father is the King, by-and-by I will tell thee his history.”  Quoth he, “I will leave hold of your hair when you have set at liberty the enchanted men.”  She made a sign with her right arm and they were at once set free.  They rushed headlong towards Muhammed the Prudent to take her from him but some of them said “Thanks to him who hath delivered us:  do you still wish to take her from him?” So they left him and went their several ways.

Arab Zandyk then took him by the hand and led him into her castle.  She gave her servants orders to build a palace in the midst of the isle of the fisherman, which being accomplished, she took Muhammed the Discreet and her soldiers and proceeded thither and then she said to him, “Go to the King, and when he asks you where you have been reply, ’I have been preparing my nuptials and invite you, with your army.’” He went to the King and spoke as Arab Zandyk had instructed him, upon which the King laughed and said to his vazir, “This young man is the son of a fisherman and comes to invite me with my army!” Quoth the vazir, “On account of your love for him, command that the soldiers take with them food for eight days, and we also will take our provender for eight days.”  The King having issued orders to that effect, and all being ready, they all set out and arriving at the house of the fisherman’s son, they found a large number of beautiful tents erected for the soldiers’ accommodation and the King was astonished.  Then came the feasting—­one dainty dish being quickly followed by another still more delicious and the soldiers said among themselves, “We should like to remain here for two years to eat meat and not be obliged to eat only beans and lentils.”  They continued there forty days until the nuptials were completed, well content with their fare.  Then the King departed with his army.  The King sent a return invitation, and Arab Zandyk commanded her soldiers to set out in order to precede her to the capital.  When the soldiers arrived they filled the town so that there was scarcely sufficient house-room for them.  Then Arab Zandyk set out accompanied by Muhammed and his sister.  They entered the royal palace, and as they ascended the staircase, Arab Zandyk perceived the mother of Muhammed covered with tar and in chains, so she threw over her a cashmere shawl and covered her.  The servants who were standing about said to Arab Zandyk, “Why do you cover her with a shawl?  Spit upon her when you go up and also when you come down.”  She asked, “Why so?” Said they, “Because she gave birth to two dogs.”  Then they went to the King and said, “A lady amongst the strangers has thrown a cashmere shawl over her who is fastened