There was great mourning in the hut for many days, but at length the
son rose up, and calling to his greyhound, his cat and his falcon, he
left the house saying that he would bring back something for dinner.
Wandering over the plain, he noticed a troop of gazelles, and pointed
to his greyhound to give chase. The dog soon brought down a fine fat
beast, and slinging it over his shoulders, the young man turned
homewards. On the way, however, he passed a pond, and as he approached
a cloud of birds flew into the air. Shaking his wrist, the falcon
seated on it darted into the air, and swooped down upon the quarry he
had marked, which fell dead to the ground. The young man picked it up,
and put it in his pouch and then went towards home again.
Near the hut was a small barn in which he kept the produce of the
little patch of corn, which grew close to the garden. Here a rat ran
out almost under his feet, followed by another and another; but quick
as thought the cat was upon them and not one escaped her.
When all the rats were killed, the young man left the barn. He took
the path leading to the door of the hut, but stopped on feeling a hand
laid on his shoulder.
‘Young man,’ said the ogre (for such was the stranger), ‘you have been
a good son, and you deserve the piece of luck which has befallen you
this day. Come with me to that shining lake yonder, and fear nothing.’
Wondering a little at what might be going to happen to him, the youth
did as the ogre bade him, and when they reached the shore of the lake,
the ogre turned and said to him:
‘Step into the water and shut your eyes! You will find yourself
sinking slowly to the bottom; but take courage, all will go well. Only
bring up as much silver as you can carry, and we will divide it between
us.’
So the young man stepped bravely into the lake, and felt himself
sinking, sinking, till he reached firm ground at last. In front of him
lay four heaps of silver, and in the midst of them a curious white
shining stone, marked over with strange characters, such as he had
never seen before. He picked it up in order to examine it more
closely, and as he held it the stone spoke.
‘As long as you hold me, all your wishes will come true,’ it said.
‘But hide me in your turban, and then call to the ogre that you are
ready to come up.’
In a few minutes the young man stood again by the shores of the lake.
‘Well, where is the silver?’ asked the ogre, who was awaiting him.
‘Ah, my father, how can I tell you! So bewildered was I, and so
dazzled with the splendours of everything I saw, that I stood like a
statue, unable to move. Then hearing steps approaching I got
frightened, and called to you, as you know.’
‘You are no better than the rest,’ cried the ogre, and turned away in a
rage.
When he was out of sight the young man took the stone from his turban
and looked at it. ‘I want the finest camel that can be found, and the
most splendid garments,’ said he.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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