y is well, and my whole body is sick I fear my father, for did I not
say to him, "To-morrow at seven you shall taste the dates"? And he
will drive me away, as he drove away my brother! I will go away myself,
before he sends me.'

Then he got up and took a road that led straight past the palace, but
he had not walked many steps before he met a man carrying a large silver
dish, covered with a white cloth to cover the dates.

And the young man said, 'The dates are not ripe yet; you must return
to-morrow.'

And the slave went with him to the palace, where the sultan was sitting
with his four sons.

'Good greeting, master!' said the youth.

And the sultan answered, 'Have you seen the man I sent?'

'I have, master; but the dates are not yet ripe.'

But the sultan did not believe his words, and said; 'This second year I
have eaten no dates, because of my sons. Go your ways, you are my son no
longer!'

And the sultan looked at the four sons that were left him, and promised
rich gifts to whichever of them would bring him the dates from the tree.
But year by year passed, and he never got them. One son tried to keep
himself awake with playing cards; another mounted a horse and rode round
and round the tree, while the two others, whom their father as a last
hope sent together, lit bonfires. But whatever they did, the result was
always the same. Towards dawn they fell asleep, and the bird ate the
dates on the tree.

The sixth year had come, and the dates on the tree were thicker than
ever. And the head-man went to the palace and told the sultan what he
had seen. But the sultan only shook his head, and said sadly, 'What
is that to me? I have had seven sons, yet for five years a bird has
devoured my dates; and this year it will be the same as ever.'

Now the youngest son was sitting in the kitchen, as was his custom, when
he heard his father say those words. And he rose up, and went to his
father, and knelt before him. 'Father, this year you shall eat dates,'
cried he. 'And on the tree are five great bunches, and each bunch I will
give to a separate nation, for the nations in the town are five. This
time, I will watch the date tree myself.' But his father and his mother
laughed heartily, and thought his words idle talk.

One day, news was brought to the sultan that the dates were ripe, and he
ordered one of his men to go and watch the tree. His son, who happened
to be standing by, heard the order, and he said:

'How is