Pagina 209 van 1116

Then the huge blackamoor approached the frying pan and upset it

with the branch and went forth by the way he came in. When he

vanished from their sight the King inspected the fish; and

finding them all charred black as charcoal, was utterly

bewildered and said to the Wazir, "Verily this is a matter

whereanent silence cannot be kept, and as for the fishes,

assuredly some marvellous adventure connects with them." So he

bade bring the Fisherman and asked him, saying "Fie on thee,

fellow! whence came these fishes?" and he answered, "From a tarn

between four heights lying behind this mountain which is in sight

of thy city." Quoth the King, "How many days' march?" Quoth he,

"O our lord the Sultan, a walk of half hour." The King wondered

and, straight way ordering his men to march and horsemen to

mount, led off the Fisherman who went before as guide, privily

damning the Ifrit.