excited his
attention.

The Caliph approved the proposal of the Vizier, and they went together
to the pond. When they had arrived they saw a stork walking gravely up
and down looking for frogs, and now and then clacking something to
himself. At the same time they saw also, far above in the air, another
stork hovering over the pond.

"I am pretty sure," said the Grand Vizier, "that these two long-legged
fellows are carrying on a fine conversation with each other. What if
we should become storks?"

"Well said!" replied the Caliph. "But first let us consider, once
more, how we are to become men again. True! three times must we bend
toward the East and in the direction of Mecca, and say 'Mutabor,' then
I am Caliph again and thou Vizier. But we must take care whatever we
do, not to laugh, or we are lost."

While the Caliph was thus speaking he saw the other stork hover over
their heads and slowly descend toward the earth. He drew the box
quickly from his girdle, took a good pinch, offered it to the Grand
Vizier, who also snuffed it, and both cried out "Mutabor!"

At once their legs began to shrivel up, and soon became thin and red.
The beautiful yellow slippers of the Caliph and of his companion were
changed into the strange-shaped feet of the stork; their arms were
changed to wings; their necks were lengthened out from their shoulders
and became a yard long; their beards had disappeared, and their bodies
were covered with feathers which were soft, fine and graceful.

"You have a beautiful beak," said the Caliph after a long pause of
astonishment. "By the beard of the Prophet, I have never seen anything
like it in my life."

"I thank you most humbly," replied the Grand Vizier, while he made his
obeisance. "But if it were permitted I might say that your Highness
looks even more handsome as a stork than as a Caliph. But come, if it
please you, let us listen to our comrades yonder, and find out whether
we really understand the language of the storks."

In the meanwhile the other stork had reached the ground. He trimmed
his feet with his beak, put his feathers in order, and advanced to his
companion. The two new storks hastened to get near them, and to their
great surprise heard the following conversation:--

"Good morning, Lady Longlegs, already so early in the meadow."

"Thank you, dear Clatterbeak, I have had only a slight breakfast."

"Would you like, perhaps, a piece of a duck or the leg of a frog?"

"Much o