ement. 'How can I tell the
sultan that a head without a body wishes to become his son-in-law?
They will think that I am mad, and I shall be hooted from the palace
and stoned by the children.'

'Do as I bid you,' replied the head; 'it is my will.'

The old woman was afraid to say anything more, and, putting on her
richest clothes, started for the palace. The sultan granted her an
audience at once, and, in a trembling voice, she made her request.

'Are you mad, old woman?' said the sultan, staring at her.

'The wooer is powerful, O Sultan, and nothing is impossible to him.'

'Is that true?'

'It is, O Sultan; I swear it,' answered she.

'Then let him show his power by doing three things, and I will give
him my daughter.'

'Command, O gracious prince,' said she.

'Do you see that hill in front of the palace?' asked the sultan.

'I see it,' answered she.

'Well, in forty days the man who has sent you must make that hill
vanish, and plant a beautiful garden in its place. That is the first
thing. Now go, and tell him what I say.'

So the old woman returned and told the head the sultan's first
condition.

'It is well,' he replied; and said no more about it.

For thirty-nine days the head remained in its favourite corner. The
old woman thought that the task set before him was beyond his powers,
and that no more would be heard about the sultan's daughter. But on
the thirty-ninth evening after her visit to the palace, the head
suddenly spoke.

'Good mother,' he said, 'you must go to-night to the bridge, and when
you are there cry "Ali! Ali! Ali!" as loud as you can. A negro will
appear before you, and you will tell him that he is to level the hill,
and to make, in its place, the most beautiful garden that ever was
seen.'

'I will go at once,' answered she.

It did not take her long to reach the bridge which led to the city,
and she took up her position on the spot where she had first seen the
head, and called loudly 'Ali! Ali! Ali.' In an instant a negro
appeared before her, of such a huge size that the old woman was half
frightened; but his voice was mild and gentle as he said: 'What is it
that you want?'

'Your master bids you level the hill that stands in front of the
sultan's palace and in its place to make the most beautiful garden in
the world.'

'Tell my master he shall be obeyed,' replied Ali; 'it shall be done
this moment.' And the old woman went home and gave Ali's message to
the head.

Mean