neither air nor water could penetrate it. There and then the
chest was made, and, when it was ready, the jogi bade the king to
bring the princess by night; and they two thrust the poor little
maiden into the chest and fastened it down with long nails, and
between them carried it to the river and pushed it out into the
stream.

As soon as the jogi got back from this deed he called two of his
pupils, and pretended that it had been revealed to him that there
should be found floating on the river a chest with something of
great price within it; and he bade them go and watch for it at
such a place far down the stream, and when the chest came slowly
along, bobbing and turning in the tide, they were to seize it and
secretly and swiftly bring it to him, for he was now determined
to put the princess to death himself. The pupils set off at once,
wondering at the strangeness of their errand, and still more at
the holiness of the jogi to whom such secrets were revealed.

It happened that, as the next morning was dawning, the gallant
young prince of Dilaram was hunting by the banks of the river,
with a great following of wazirs, attendants, and huntsmen, and
as he rode he saw floating on the river a large chest, which came
slowly along, bobbing and turning in the tide. Raising himself in
his saddle, he gave an order, and half a dozen men plunged into
the water and drew the chest out on to the river bank, where
every one crowded around to see what it could contain. The prince
was certainly not the least curious among them; but he was a
cautious young man, and, as he prepared to open the chest
himself, he bade all but a few stand back, and these few to draw
their swords, so as to be prepared in case the chest should hold