Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/163

139 they rested till the morrow, when they set out, intending for the City of Alabaster and the Parti-coloured Palace.

Now this city was builded of alabaster and [precious] stones by Baric ben Fakia, father of the Jinn, and he built also the Parti-coloured Palace, which was so named for that the ordinance of its building was one brick of gold and one of silver, nor was there its like in all the world. When they came within half a day’s journey of the city, they halted to rest, and Muraash sent out a scout to reconnoitre, who returned and said, ‘O King, in the City of Alabaster are tribesmen of the Jinn in number as the leaves of the trees or as the drops of rain.’ So Muraash said to Gherib, ‘How shall we do, O King of men?’ ‘O King,’ answered he, ‘divide your men into four bodies and encompass the camp of the infidels with them; then, in the middle of the night, let them cry out, saying, “God is Most Great!” and hold aloof and watch what happens among the tribes of the Jinn.’ So Muraash did as Gherib counselled and the troops waited till midnight, when they cried out, saying, ‘God is Most Great! Ho for the Faith of Abraham the Friend, on whom be peace!’ The unbelievers awoke in affright and snatching up their arms, fell upon each other till the morning, when the most part of them were dead men and but few remained. Then Gherib cried out to the true believers, saying, ‘Up and at the remnant of the infidels! Behold, I am with you, and God is your helper!’ So the Muslims drove at the enemy and Gherib drew his sword El Mahic and fell upon the foe, cutting off noses and sending heads flying. Presently he came up with Bercan and smote him and bereft him of life and he fell down, drenched in his blood. On like wise he did with the Blue King, and by the forenoon not one of the infidels was left alive to tell the tale.

Then Gherib and Muraash entered the Parti-coloured Palace and found its walls builded of alternate courses of