Below them was a green lake, tinted by the dawn with crimson and yellow, deep, and with high banks.  As they crossed it to the middle, she slipped off the youth from Koorookh, and he with a great plunge was received into the stillness of the lake.  Meanwhile Koorookh quivered his wings and seized him when he arose, bearing him to an end of the lake, where stood one dressed like a Dervish, and it was the Vizier Feshnavat, the father of Noorna.  So when he saw them, he shouted the shout of congratulation, catching Noorna to his breast, and Shibli Bagarag stretched as doth a heavy sleeper in his last doze, saying, in a yawning voice, ’What trouble?  I wot there is nought more for us now that Shagpat is shaved!  Oh, I have had a dream, a dream!  He that is among Houris in Paradise dreameth not a dream like that.  And I dreamed—­’tis gone!’

Then said he, staring at them, ‘Who be ye?  What is this?’

Noorna, took him again to her bosom, and held him there; and she plucked a herb, and squeezed it till a drop from it fell on either of his lids, applying to them likewise a dew from the serpents of the Sword, and he awoke to the reality of things.  Surely, then he prostrated himself and repeated the articles of his faith, taking one hand of his betrothed and kissing her; and he embraced Abarak and Feshnavat, saying to the father of Noorna, ’I know, O Feshnavat, that by my folly and through my weakness I have lost time in this undertaking, but it shall be short work now with Shagpat.  This thy daughter, the Eclipser of Reason, was ever such a prize as she?  I will deserve her.  Wullahy!  I am now a new man, sprung like fire from ashes.  Lo, I am revived by her for the great work.’

Said Abarak:  ’O Master of the Event, secure now without delay the two slaves of the Sword, and lean the blade toward Aklis.’

Upon that, he ran up rapidly to the summit of the mountain and drew the Sword from his girdle, and leaned it toward Aklis, and it lengthened out over lands, the blade of it a beam of solid brilliance.  Presently, from forth the invisible remoteness they saw the two Genii, Karavejis and Veejravoosh, and they were footing the blade swiftly, like stars, speeding up till they were within reach of the serpents of the hilt, when they dropped to the earth, bowing their heads; so he commanded them to rise, crying, ’Search ye the earth and its confines, and bring hither tidings of the Genie Karaz.’

They said, ‘To hear is to obey.’

Then they began to circle each round the other, circling more and more sharply till beyond the stretch of sight, and Shibli Bagarag said to Feshnavat, ’Am I not awake, O Feshnavat?  I will know where is Karaz ere I seek to operate on Shagpat, for it is well spoken of the poet: 

              “Obstructions first remove
               Ere thou thy cunning prove”;

and I will encounter this Karaz that was our Ass, ere I try the great shave.’