Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/205

 and I have done thee kindness for the sake of my nieces, therefore I beg thee give me the rod and Abu al-Ruwaysh the cap." And Hasan hung down his head, ashamed to say, "I will not give them you," then in his mind he thought of how good they had been to him, and how if it had not been for them he would not have received the rod and cap. So he raised his head and answered: "Yes, I will give them you. But, O my lords, I fear lest the Supreme King, my wife's father, come to me in my own country to fight, and I be unable to repel them for want of the rod and cap." And they replied: "Fear not, we will continually succor thee and keep watch and ward for thee, and whoso shall come against thee from thy wife's father or any other, we will send him from thee, therefore be of good cheer, for no harm shall come to thee." And the two elders rejoiced exceedingly and gave him riches and treasures, beautiful beyond description. And Hasan and his wife abode with them three days, when they bade them farewell and departed for the Land of the Princesses, to which Abu al-Kaddus, mounted on a mighty big elephant, guided them by a short cut and easy way. And as they drew near the palace, the Princesses came forth to meet them, and saluted them and their uncle, who said to them: "Behold I have accomplished the need of this, your brother Hasan, and have helped him to regain his wife and children." So they embraced him and gave him joy of his health, and it was a day of feasting with