Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/324

296 and said to the gaoler, ‘Give us some one deserving of death.’ So he gave him one that was likest to Alaeddin and they covered his head and carried him to the place of execution between Ahmed ed Denef and Ali ez Zibec of Cairo. Now they had brought Alaeddin to the gibbet, to hang him, but Ahmed ed Denef came forward and set his foot on that of the hangman, who said, ‘Give me room to do my office.’ ‘O accursed one,’ replied Ahmed, ‘take this man and hang him in Alaeddin’s stead; for he is innocent and we will ransom him with this fellow, even as Abraham ransomed Ishmael with the ram.’ So the hangman took the man and hanged him in Alaeddin’s room. Then Ahmed and Ali took Alaeddin and carried him to the house of the former, to whom said he, ‘O my father, may God abundantly requite thee!’ ‘O Alaeddin,’ said Ahmed, ‘what is this thou hast done? God’s mercy on him who said, “Whoso trusteth in thee, betray him not, though thou be a traitor.” Now the Khalif set thee in high place about him and styled thee “Trusty” and “Faithful;” how then couldst thou deal thus with him and steal his goods?’ ‘By the Most Great Name, O my father,’ replied Alaeddin, ‘I had no hand in this, nor do I know who did it.’ Quoth Ahmed, ‘Of a surety none did this but a manifest enemy and whoso doth aught shall be requited for his deed; but, O Alaeddin, thou canst tarry no longer in Baghdad, for kings, O my son, may not be bought off and longsome is his travail whom they pursue.’ ‘Whither shall I go, O my father?’ asked Alaeddin. ‘O my son,’ answered Ahmed, ‘I will bring thee to Alexandria, for it is a blessed place; its environs are green and its sojourn pleasant.’ And Alaeddin said, ‘I hear and obey, O my father.’ So Ahmed said to Hassan Shouman, ‘Be mindful and when the Khalif asks for me, say I am gone