Fairy tales -- Germany -- Translations into English
But they were somewhat perplexed, for on counting from the right hand
tower they found that one door had been walled up, and they were not
sure whether Fatima had meant them to count this door or not.
But Orbasan did not hesitate long. “My good sword can open any door
for me,” he said, and advanced towards the one he imagined to be the
right one.
On opening the door they discovered six black slaves lying fast
asleep. They would have retreated silently, as they saw they had come
to the wrong door, but a figure in the corner raised itself, and a
well-known voice began to shriek for help. It was the little dwarf
from Orbasan’s camp.
But before the black slaves knew what was happening Orbasan had seized
the little man; tearing his girdle into pieces he stuffed part of it
down his throat, and with the rest he tied his hands behind his back,
then he turned his attention to the slaves, several of whom had been
bound and gagged by Mustapha and the two robbers; in a few moments
they were completely overpowered, but were told their lives would be
spared on condition that they told where Mirza and Nurmahal were to be
found.
They confessed that they were in the adjoining room, and on Mustapha
hurrying in he found both Fatima and Zoraida, who had been awakened by
the noise.
Hurriedly snatching up their jewels and their clothing they followed
Mustapha out of the palace. The robbers wished to take some plunder
with them, but Orbasan forbade it, declaring that it should never be
said of Orbasan that he broke into houses by night like a common
thief.
Mustapha and the rescued girls slipped through the opening in the
courtyard into the underground passage, Orbasan promising to follow
him immediately, but before doing so he and one of the robbers took
the little dwarf and, leading him into the courtyard, hanged him with
a silken rope, which they had brought expressly for the purpose, to
the topmost point of the fountain.
Having so punished the treachery of the wretched little creature, they
also got down into the watercourse and followed Mustapha and the
girls.
Fatima and Zoraida, with tears in their eyes, would have thanked their
noble rescuer for having saved them from a miserable existence, but he
bade them waste no time on words, for it was quite likely that
Thiuli-Kos would, before long, discover his loss and pursue them.
It was with a deep feeling of gratitude that, on the following day,
Mustapha and the girls bade Orbasan farewell, vowing that they would
never forget him. Fatima, the girl who had been first rescued, was
carefully disguised, and then sent to Balsora and put on board a boat
which would carry her to her own home.
After a short and most successful voyage Mustapha and the two girls
arrived home, and the joy of the old Cadi to see his dearly-loved
daughter once again was beyond all expression.
He gave a great feast to which he invited all his relations and
friends, to whom he made Mustapha relate all his adventures.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account