as a golden jug, beautifully adorned with
jewels. The man longed to drink the water, but he could not reach the
jug.

When the imperial Prince saw this he started backward; but the
fettered man cried, "Oh, come to me, I beseech you, in the name of the
living God!"

The Prince drew nearer, and the man continued, "Oh, do a pious act;
let me drain a jug of water! Be assured I will reward you for it with
an additional life."

The Prince considered the proposition. "Can there be anything better
for me than to secure for myself an additional life?" He took the jug,
filled it, and raised it to the man's lips, who emptied it at a single
draught. Upon this the Prince asked him, "In the name of heaven, who
are you?"

The man answered, "My name is Steelpacha."

The prince now turned toward the door, but the man implored him, "Give
me another jug of water, and I will give you a second life."

The Prince thought, "He will give me a second life; I have one into
the bargain. This will be a prodigy indeed!" and he filled the jug
again and put it to the man's lips.

He then turned away and already held the door-latch in his hand when
Steelpacha called to him, "Oh, sir, come back to me! You have twice
acted nobly by me; prove yourself a man a third time and I will give
you a third life. Take this jug, fill it to the brim, and pour it over
my head; and for this labour of love I will give you a third life."

When the Prince heard this he turned back, took the jug, filled it
with water, and poured it over the man's head. The moment the water
touched him the chains about his neck fell asunder and all the bonds
which held him were unloosed. Quick as lightning Steelpacha sprang up,
spread a pair of wings, flew out of the window, snatched up the
Princess, the wife of his deliverer, took flight with her under his
wing, and in a moment had disappeared from view. That was a prodigy
indeed!

The Prince now looked forward with deepest dread to the Emperor's
return. However, when the Emperor came home, the Prince told the whole
story exactly as it had happened. The Emperor was beside himself with
grief. "Why did you do thus?" said he reproachfully. "Did I not
expressly forbid you to enter the ninth room?"

The Prince answered soothingly, "Don't be angry with me. I will go at
once to seek Steelpacha and rescue my wife from him."

The Emperor tried to dissuade him from this plan. "Don't do that,"
said he; "you shall on no account move a