Page:Sagas from the Far East; or, Kalmouk and Mongolian traditionary tales.djvu/47

Rh farther till they came to a broad river; on its banks was a palm-grove, and a band of boys were gathered together under it quarrelling.

"Boys! what are you disputing about?" inquired the Prince.

"We found a cap on this palm-tree," answered one of the boys, "and we are disputing whose it shall be, because we all want it."

"And what use would the cap be to you? What is it good for?" asked the Prince.

"Why, that whichever of us gets it has only to put it on," replied the boy, "and he immediately becomes invisible to gods, men, and dæmons."

"I will settle the dispute for you," rejoined the Prince. "You all of you get you to the far end of this palm-grove, and start back running, all fair, together. Whichever wins the race shall be reckoned to have won the cap. Give it to me to hold the while."

The boys said, "It is well spoken;" and giving the cap to the Prince, they set off to go to the other end of the grove. But they were no sooner well on their way, than the Prince put on the cap, and then joining hands with his companion, both became invisible to gods, men, and dæmons; so that when the boys came back at full speed, though they were both yet standing in the same place, none of them could see them. After wandering about to look for them in vain, they at last