ntil she could hardly stand, and even the
Demon was troubled.

"Why did you cast the goblet on the floor?" he asked.

"I did not," answered the Princess, "but some one struck it from my
hand"; and she began to weep.

The Demon comforted her and bade other slaves bring in the feast that
had been prepared for him and the Princess.

Quickly the slaves brought it and placed it before them. The lad had
never seen such a feast. All the dishes were of gold and were carved
to represent scenes in demon life, and the handles were set thick with
precious stones and enamelled in strange colors. There were all sorts
of delicious things to eat, so that the lad's mouth watered at the
smell of them.

The Demon and the Princess sat down to eat, but it was small good the
Princess got of the feast, for every time the Demon put anything on
her plate the lad snatched it away and ate it, and the Princess was
left hungry. The lad also took one of the golden forks and one of the
golden spoons and hid them in his bosom.

"What did I tell you," cried the Princess. "Something is wrong!
Something is _terribly_ wrong."

"Yes, I can see that myself," said the King Demon. "You had better go
on home again, for we will get no pleasure out of this night, and that
I can easily see."

Lala was called, the Princess mounted the buckler in haste, and away
the Demon flew with her. But this time the lad did not fly with them.

He waited until they were gone, and then he drew the Sword of
Sharpness and smote the King Demon's head from his shoulders.

At once a clap of thunder sounded; the castle rocked, and the walls
crumbled about him. The trees in the gardens were withered, and a
thick darkness fell, while all about him sounded cries and groans.

But the lad seated himself upon the carpet and wished himself back at
the door of the room in the tower, and there he was in a twinkling,
long before Lala had flown in through the window with the Princess,
even though he flew as swiftly as the wind.

The lad took off the Turban of Darkness, and rolled up the carpet, and
lay down and closed his eyes as though he were asleep.

Presently the Princess opened the door and peered out. There lay the
lad, snoring and with his eyes closed. The Princess drew a sharp
needle and ran it into the lad's heel, but he never flinched, so she
felt sure he was asleep.

"Thou fool!" said she scornfully. "Sleep on, and to-morrow thou shalt
pay the penalty."

Then she w