THE SULTANA AND THE 'WOOD-CUTTER. 24*7 night through the streets of Baghdad, but as Zubeydeh never left the wood-cutter's house, all his search was in vain, and the Caliph was like one distracted.

" One day, as the wood-cutter was on his way to the forest, he was met by three persons, who desired to hire his asses for the day. ' But,' said he, ' I make my living from the wood which the asses carry to the city.' ' What profit do you make upon each load ? ' asked one of the men. ' If it is a good load, I often make fifty piastres,' answered the wood-cutter.

1 Well,' said the men, ' we will give you two hundred piastres as the hire of each ass, for one day.' The wood-cutter, who had not expected such an extraordinary offer, was about to accept it at once, when he reflected that he had obeyed in all things the advice of Zubeydeh, and ought not to take such a step without her consent. He thereupon requested the men to wait while he returned home and consulted his wife. ' You have done right, 0 my lord ! ' said Zubeydeh : ' I commend your prudence, and am quite willing that you should accept the offer of the men, as the money will purchase other asses and repay you for the loss of the day's profit, if the persons should not return.'

" Now the three men were three celebrated robbers, who had amassed a vast treasure, which they kept concealed in a cave in one of the neighboring mountains. They hired the donkeys in order to transport this treasure to a barque in which they had taken passage to Bassora, where they intended to establish themselves as rich foreign merchants. But Allah, who governs all things, allows the plans of the wicked to prosper for a time, only that he may throw them into more utter ruin at the last. The robbers went to their secret cave with the