ell of. Yes; that was what it
was--a solid piece of good luck; and as for Jacob Stuck, why, he was
not the first in the world by many and one over who has failed to know
a piece of good luck when they have found it. Yes; it looked just like a
piece of blue glass no bigger than my thumb, and nothing else.

"Is that all?" said Jacob Stuck. "And have I travelled all this weary
way and into the blinding desert only for this? Have I passed by silver
and gold enough to make me rich for all my life, only to find a little
piece of blue glass?"

He looked at the bit of glass, and he turned it over and over in his
hand. It was covered with dirt. Jacob Stuck blew his breath upon it, and
rubbed it with his thumb.

Crack! dong! bang! smash!

Upon my word, had a bolt of lightning burst at Jacob Stuck's feet he
could not have been more struck of a heap. For no sooner had he rubbed
the glass with his thumb than with a noise like a clap of thunder there
instantly stood before him a great, big man, dressed in clothes as red
as a flame, and with eyes that shone sparks of fire. It was the Genie of
Good Luck. It nearly knocked Jacob Stuck off his feet to see him there
so suddenly.

"What will you have?" said the Genie. "I am the slave of good luck.
Whosoever holds that piece of crystal in his hand him must I obey in
whatsoever he may command."

"Do you mean that you are my servant and that I am your master?" said
Jacob Stuck.

"Yes; command and I obey."

"Why, then," said Jacob Stuck, "I would like you to help me out of this
desert place, if you can do so, for it is a poor spot for any Christian
soul to be."

"To hear is to obey," said the Genie, and, before Jacob Stuck knew what
had happened to him, the Genie had seized him and was flying with him
through the air swifter than the wind. On and on he flew, and the earth
seemed to slide away beneath. On and on flew the flame-colored Genie
until at last he set Jacob down in a great meadow where there was a
river. Beyond the river were the white walls and grand houses of the
king's town.

"Hast thou any further commands?" said the Genie.

"Tell me what you can do for me?" said Jacob Stuck.

"I can do whatsoever thou mayest order me to do," said the Genie.

"Well, then," said Jacob Stuck, "I think first of all I would like to
have plenty of money to spend."

"To hear is to obey," said the Genie, and, as he spoke, he reached up
into the air and picked out a purse from nothing a