ambassador to send to
the king."

"Very well," said Abdallah with a sigh; "let me have an ambassador or
whatever may be necessary. Only make haste, Genie, in thy doings."

"I shall lose no time," said the Genie; and in a moment was gone.

The king was sitting in council with all of the greatest lords of the
land gathered about him, for the Emperor of India had declared war
against him, and he and they were in debate, discussing how the country
was to be saved. Just then Abdallah's ambassador arrived, and when he
and his train entered the council-chamber all stood up to receive him,
for the least of those attendant upon him was more magnificently attired
than the king himself, and was bedecked with such jewels as the royal
treasury could not match.

Kneeling before the king, the ambassador touched the ground with his
forehead. Then, still kneeling, he unrolled a scroll, written in letters
of gold, and from it read the message asking for the princess to wife
for the Lord Abdallah.

When he had ended, the king sat for a while stroking his beard and
meditating. But before he spoke the oldest lord of the council arose and
said: "O sire! If this Lord Abdallah who asks for the princess for his
wife can send such a magnificent company in the train of his ambassador,
may it not be that he may be able also to help you in your war against
the Emperor of India?"

"True!" said the king. Then turning to the ambassador: "Tell your
master," said he, "that if he will furnish me with an army of one
hundred thousand men, to aid me in the war against the Emperor of India,
he shall have my daughter for his wife."

"Sire," said the ambassador, "I will answer now for my master, and the
answer shall be this: That he will help you with an army, not of one
hundred thousand, but of two hundred thousand men. And if to-morrow you
will be pleased to ride forth to the plain that lieth to the south of
the city, my Lord Abdallah will meet you there with his army." Then,
once more bowing, he withdrew from the council-chamber, leaving all them
that were there amazed at what had happened.

So the next day the king and all his court rode out to the place
appointed. As they drew near they saw that the whole face of the plain
was covered with a mighty host, drawn up in troops and squadrons. As the
king rode towards this vast army, Abdallah met him, surrounded by his
generals. He dismounted and would have kneeled, but the king would not
permit him,