Page:Turkish fairy tales and folk tales (1901).djvu/230

 Allah's could it be that he was pulling out of the well? And lo! it was none other than a hideous ghost! The poor wood-cutter was sore afraid.

"Rise up, poor man, and fear not," said the ghost. "The mighty Allah rather bless thee for thy deed. Thou hast saved me from so great a danger, that to the very day of judgment I will not forget thy good deed."

Then the poor man began to wonder what this great danger might be.

"How many many years I lived peaceably in this well I know not," continued the ghost, "but up to this very day I knew no trouble. But yesterday—whence she came I know not—an old woman suddenly plumped down on my shoulders, and caught me so tightly by both my ears, that I could not get loose from her for a moment. By a thousand good fortunes thou didst come to the spot, let down thy rope, and call to her to seize hold of it. For in trying to get hold of it she let me go, and I at once seized the rope myself, and, the merciful Allah be praised for it, here I am on dry land again. Good awaits thee for thy good deed; list now to what I say to thee!"

With that the ghost drew forth three wooden tablets, gave them to the wood-cutter, and said to him: "I now go to take possession of the daughter of the Sultan. Up to this day the princess has been hale