Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/164

 fallen in love. And as she listened she grew pale, for she knew all about the beautiful maiden. So that he asked her: "What aileth thee, O my sister, that thou art pale and troubled?" She replied: "O my brother, this lady is the daughter of one of the most powerful kings of the Jinn. Her father ruleth men and Jinn, and wizards and cohens, and chiefs of tribes and guards and countries and cities and islands, and is immensely rich. Our father is a Viceroy and one of his vassals, and none can avail against him. And he hath given his daughters a large tract of country, a year's journey in length and breadth, girt about with a great, deep river. He hath an army of women equal in courage to a thousand of the bravest knights, and seven daughters who excel their sisters in valor. The maidens who came with the lady thou lovest are the ladies of her court, and their feather raiment is the handiwork of the Jinn enchanters. If thou wouldst wed this queen pay good heed to my words. They come to this place on the first day of every month, and when thou watchest them beware well that they do not see thee or we shall lose our lives. When they doff their dress, note which is the feather suit of her thou lovest and take it, for it beareth her to her country, and in taking it thou hast mastered her. But beware lest she take it from thee by her wiles. Then her companions will flee, and she will be at thy mercy."

Whereupon Hasan was at ease, and waited till the new moon for the coming of the birds. When he espied