onger strive for it, I will keep my compact with you. When I
have this woman in my power and have avenged my brothers, I will make
you my solace.'

[Illustration: THE SHADOW IN THE STREAM]

'O wealth of my life and source of my joy!' responded Dil-aram, 'I
do not know what the rose did to the cypress; but so much I know that
the person who told Mihr-afruz about it is a negro whom she hides
under her throne. He fled here from Waq of the Caucasus--it is there
you must make inquiry; there is no other way of getting at the truth.'
On hearing these words, the prince said to his heart, 'O my heart!
your task will yet wear away much of your life.'

He fell into long and far thought, and Dil-aram looked at him and
said: 'O my life and my soul! do not be sad. If you would like this
woman killed, I will put poison into her cup so that she will never
lift her head from her drugged sleep again.'

'O Dil-aram! such a vengeance is not manly. I shall not rest till I
have gone to Waq of the Caucasus and have cleared up the matter.' Then
they repeated the agreement about their marriage, and bade one another
good-bye.

The prince now went back to the village, and told the old man that he
was setting out on a long journey, and begged him not to be anxious,
and to keep safe the goods which had been entrusted to him.

The prince had not the least knowledge of the way to Waq of the
Caucasus, and was cast down by the sense of his helplessness. He was
walking along by his horse's side when there appeared before him an
old man of serene countenance, dressed in green and carrying a staff,
who resembled Khizr[8]. The prince thanked heaven, laid the hands of
reverence on his breast and salaamed. The old man returned the
greeting graciously, and asked: 'How fare you? Whither are you bound?
You look like a traveller.'

'O revered saint! I am in this difficulty: I do not know the way to
Waq of the Caucasus.' The old man of good counsel looked at the young
prince and said: 'Turn back from this dangerous undertaking. Do not
go; choose some other task! If you had a hundred lives you would not
bring one out safe from this journey.' But his words had no effect on
the prince's resolve. 'What object have you,' the old man asked, 'in
thus consuming your life?'

'I have an important piece of business to do, and only this journey
makes it possible. I must go; I pray you, in God's name, tell me the
way.'

When the saint saw that the prince was not