Black Tales for White Children. C. H. Stigand
on me, that I may see how they work."
The Sultan said, "No, you are a woman, but I will put them on to show you," and he put them on.
The youth looked up and saw a gang-chain and asked, "What is that?"
The Sultan said, "That is what we put round their necks, and the end is fastened to the wall."
So the youth said, "Oh, put it on my neck, that I may see what it is like."
The Sultan replied, "No, you are a woman, but I will put it on my neck to show you;" so he put it on.
Then the youth took the key of the leg-irons and of the gang-chain, and looked up and saw a whip and said, "What is that?"
"That," said the Sultan, "is a whip with which we whip our prisoners if they are bad."
So the youth picked up the whip and began beating the Sultan. After the first few strokes the Sultan said, "Stop, that is enough fun-making."
But the youth went on and beat him soundly, and then went out, leaving the Sultan in chains and chained to the wall, and he also locked the door of the prison and took the key and went home. Next day the Sultan was found to be in the prison, and they could not get in to let him out or free him.
So a crier was sent round the town to cry, "Any one who can deliver the Sultan from prison will be given a free pardon for any offence he has committed."
So, when the cries came to that youth's house, he said, "Oho, I want that as a certificate in writing before I will say what I know."
When these words were brought to the Wazir, he had a document drawn up, giving a free pardon to any one who would deliver the Sultan. Then he brought it round to the prison for the Sultan's signature, and as they could not get it in they pushed it through the window on the end of a long pole. Then the Sultan signed it, and it was given to that youth, who handed over the key of the prison and of the chains and fetters. After the Sultan had been released he called that youth to his palace, and the youth took the horse, and the sage's books of magic, and the magician's bag of charms, and the woman's clothes and jewellery, and the soldiers' arms and clothes, and came to the palace.
When the Sultan heard his story he said that he was indeed a very clever youth, so he made him his Wazir.
This is the story of the man who would have a child, even though he should be a thief.
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