Page:Fairy tales from the Arabian nights.djvu/314

 and indeed made some difficulty about it. 'Bird,' said the princess, 'remember you told me that you were my slave. You are; and your life is at my disposal.'

'I cannot deny it,' answered the bird; 'but although what you now ask of me is more difficult than all the rest, yet I will do it for you. Cast your eyes around,' added he, 'and look if you can see a little pitcher.'

'I see it already,' said the princess.

'Take it then,' said he, 'and as you go down the hill, spill a little of the water that is in it upon every black stone, and that will be the way to find your brothers again.'

The Princess Parizade took up the pitcher, and carried with her the cage and bird, the flagon of golden water, and the branch of the singing tree; and, as she went down the hill, she spilt a little of the water on every black stone, which was changed immediately into a man; and as she did not miss one stone, all the horses, both of the princes her brothers, and of the other gentlemen, resumed their former shape. She presently recognised Prince Bahman and Prince Perviz, as they did her, and ran to embrace her. She returned their embraces, and expressed her amazement. 'What are you doing here, my dear brothers?' said she. They told her they had been asleep. 'Yes,' replied she, 'and if it had not been for me you might have slept till the day of judgment. Don't you remember that you came here to fetch the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the yellow water? and didn't you see, as you came along, the place covered with black stones? The gentlemen you see here, and their horses which surround us, and you yourselves, were these black stones. If you desire to know how this wonder was performed,' continued she, showing the pitcher, which she set down at the foot of the mountain, having no further use for it, 'it was done by virtue of the water which was in this pitcher, with which I sprinkled every stone. After I had made the speaking bird (which you see in this cage) my slave, by his directions I found out the singing tree, a branch of which I now have in my hand; and the yellow water, with which this flagon is filled; but being unwilling to return home without you, I constrained the bird to show me the means.'