vender also began
pursuing him, calling out: "My arm!"

Ahmet was finally caught and brought before the Cadi, who no doubt was
feeling contented with the world, having just enjoyed the delicious
goose.

The Cadi heard each of the cases brought against Ahmet, who in turn
told his case truthfully as it had happened.

"A complicated matter," said the Cadi. "All these misfortunes come
from the flight of the goose, and I must refer to the book of the law
to give just judgment."

Taking down a ponderous manuscript volume, the Cadi turned to Ahmet
and asked him what number egg the goose had been hatched from. Ahmet
said he did not know.

"Then," replied the Cadi, "the book writes that such a phenomenon was
possible. If this goose was hatched from the seventh egg, and the
hatcher also from the seventh egg, the book writes that it is possible
for a roasted goose, under those conditions, to fly away."

"With reference to your eye," continued the Cadi, addressing the
baker's lad, "the book provides punishment for the removal of two
eyes, but not of one, so if you will consent to your other eye being
taken out, I will condemn Ahmet to have both of his removed."

The baker's lad, not appreciating the force of this argument, withdrew
his claim.

Then turning to the father of the dead child, the Cadi explained that
the only provision for a case like this in the book of the law, was
that he take Ahmet's child in its place, or if Ahmet had not a child,
to wait till he got one. The bereaved parent not taking any interest
in Ahmet's present or prospective children, also withdrew his case.

These cases settled, there remained but the vender's, who was wroth at
having his arm broken. The Cadi expatiated on the justice of the law
and its far-seeing provisions, that the vender at least could claim
ample compensation for having his arm broken. The book of the law
provided that he should go to the very same minaret, and that Ahmet
must station himself at the very same place where he had stood when
his arm was broken; and that he might jump down and break Ahmet's arm.

"But be it understood," concluded the Cadi, "if you break his leg
instead of his arm, Ahmet will have the right to delegate some one to
jump down on you to break your leg."

The vender not seeing the force of the Cadi's proposal, also withdrew
his claim.

Thus ended the cases of the goose, the eye, the daughter, and the
arm.

THE FORTY WISE MEN

On a da