"Dry your tears," said the father; "your brothers will take you along with them. They have good hearts, and if fortune smiles on them you may be sure that you will not be forgotten." Early next morning the twelve brothers started out, after having faithfully promised their father that they would never be separated. But the deceitful brothers did not mean what they said. After several days of travel the eldest said to the others: "Our little brother Abdallah is a continual burden. He delays our journey day by day, and if he continues to do so we will never get out of this miserable country. Let us forsake him on the way and perhaps some charitable person will find and take pity on him." This advice was followed by the brothers. The little cripple was deserted by the way-side, and the other brothers continued on their way, begging from every one they met. In this way they went on until they came to a settlement of poor fishermen, where it was difficult to find a lodging-place. Fortunately for them the night was beautiful, the moon shone brilliantly in the sky, and a soft breeze tempered the heat that had filled the atmosphere during the day. Overcome with fatigue the eleven brothers stretched themselves out at the foot of a tree, and they were soon sound asleep. After a while the dawn made its appearance, the brothers awoke, and the eldest said: "For days and weeks we have been travelling without meeting with the good fortune we had hoped for. Let us leave this country for good and all. Only a strip of water lies between us and a land of plenty." The unfortunate brothers soon saw an empty sloop. They took possession of it, and at once began to drift out to sea. It was an unfortunate voyage. All the hopes of the brothers were deceptive. Their cruelty to their crippled brother Abdallah was to be severely punished. A frightful tempest arose, and the sea overwhelmed them; the sloop was wrecked and the cruel brothers found their graves in the cold and creeping waters. Meanwhile what had become of Abdallah, the poor cripple whom the brothers had deserted? Overwhelmed with sorrow and fatigue, he had fallen asleep where he had been abandoned. Fortunately for him a good fairy, who had seen all, took pity on him, and while he lay asleep she cured his crippled leg; and then, disguising herself as a poor beggar, the fairy sat on a stone by the roadside. Abdallah soon opened his eyes, his heart filled with sadness. He arose for the purpose of continuing his painful journey, but what was his astonishment to find that he could walk without any trouble whatever. He was no longer a cripple. He felt of himself, and ran and jumped to convince himself that he was not dreaming. He laughed and cried at the same time, and was filled with happiness and joy. All of a sudden he saw an old woman by the roadside who looked at him smilingly. "Do you know, madam," he cried, "if a great physician has passed this way?" "And why, my friend?" inquired the old woman.