Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/170

146 and they ate, after which Gherib related to them all that had befallen him with the Jinn in the Mountain Caf, and they marvelled thereat exceedingly and praised God for his safety. Then he dismissed them to their sleeping-places; so they withdrew to their several lodgings, and when none abode with him but Kailjan and Courjan, who never left him, he said to them, ‘Can ye carry me to Cufa, that I may take my pleasure in my harem, and bring me back before the end of the night?’ ‘O our lord,’ answered they, ‘this thou askest is easy.’

Now the distance between Cufa and Oman is threescore days’ journey for a diligent horseman, and Kailjan said to Courjan, ‘I will carry him going and thou coming back.’ So he took up Gherib and flew off with him, in company with Courjan; nor was an hour past before they set him down at the gate of his palace in Cufa. He went in to his uncle Damigh, who rose to him and saluted him; after which quoth Gherib, ‘How is it with my wives Morning Star and Mehdiyeh?’ And Damigh answered, saying, ‘They are both well and in good case.’ Then the eunuch went in and acquainted the women of the harem with Gherib’s coming, whereat they rejoiced and raised cries of joy and gave him the reward for good news. Presently in came Gherib, and they rose and saluting him, conversed with him, till Damigh entered, when Gherib related to them all that had befallen him in the land of the Jinn, whereat they all marvelled. Then he lay with Morning Star till near daybreak, when he took leave of his uncle and wives and mounted Courjan’s back, nor was the darkness dispelled before the two Marids set him down in the city of Oman. Then he and his men armed and he bade open the gates, when, behold, up came a horseman from the host of the Indians, with Jemrcan and Saadan and the rest of the captives, whom he had delivered, and committed them to Gherib. The Muslims