Page:Stories from the Arabian nights - Houseman - Dulac.djvu/45

 the Vizier was greatly astonished, but feared to bring so strange a report to the Sultan's ears while the cravings of the royal appetite were still unsatisfied; so recalling the fisherman by a swift messenger, he bade him procure in all haste four more fish of the same kind, promising to reward him according to the speed with which he accomplished the task. So spurred, and by the additional favour of fortune, the fisherman fulfilled his mission in an astonishingly short space of time; but no sooner was the second lot of fish placed upon the fire in the Vizier's presence than once again the wall opened, and the damsel, appearing as before, struck the frying-pan with her rod, and cried—

And immediately the fish stood up on their tails in the frying fat and replied—

Whereupon she upset the pan into the fire and departed as she had come.

The Vizier, perceiving that so strange an 41]