a very populous and flourishing city, into the lake and desert
plain you saw. The fish of four colours which are in it are
the different races who lived in the town; the four hills are
the four islands which give the name to my kingdom. All this the
enchantress told me to add to my troubles. And this is not all.
Every day she comes and beats me with a whip of buffalo hide.

When the young king had finished his sad story he burst once more
into tears, and the Sultan was much moved.

"Tell me," he cried, "where is this wicked woman, and where is
the miserable object of her affection, whom she just manages
to keep alive?"

"Where she lives I do not know," answered the unhappy prince,
"but she goes every day at sunrise to see if the slave can yet speak
to her, after she has beaten me."

"Unfortunate king," said the Sultan, "I will do what I can
to avenge you."

So he consulted with the young king over the best way to bring
this about, and they agreed their plan should be put in effect
the next day. The Sultan then rested, and the young king gave
himself up to happy hopes of release. The next day the Sultan arose,
and then went to the palace in the garden where the black slave was.
He drew his sword and destroyed the little life that remained in him,
and then threw the body down a well. He then lay down on the couch
where the slave had been, and waited for the enchantress.