I bid him do now?' And after thinking some time he sent for
the old woman, who was expecting the summons.

[Illustration: THE PRINCESS SEES THE MAGIC HEAD]

'The garden is wonderful, and the palace the finest in the world,'
said he, 'so fine, that my servants would cut but a sorry figure in
it. Let your son fill it with forty slaves whose beauty shall be
unequalled, all exactly like each other, and of the same height.'

This time the king thought he had invented something totally
impossible, and was quite pleased with himself for his cleverness.

Thirty-nine days passed, and at midnight on the night of the last the
old woman was standing on the bridge.

'Bekir! Bekir! Bekir!' cried she. And a negro appeared, and inquired
what she wanted.

'The head, your master, bids you find forty slaves of unequalled
beauty, and of the same height, and place them in the sultan's palace
on the other side of the garden.'

And when, on the morning of the fortieth day, the sultan went to the
blue palace, and was received by the forty slaves, he nearly lost his
wits from surprise.

'I will assuredly give my daughter to the old woman's son,' thought
he. 'If I were to search all the world through I could never find a
more powerful son-in-law.'

And when the old woman entered his presence he informed her that he
was ready to fulfil his promise, and she was to bid her son appear at
the palace without delay.

This command did not at all please the old woman, though, of course,
she made no objections to the sultan.

'All has gone well so far,' she grumbled, when she told her story to
the head, 'but what do you suppose the sultan will say, when he sees
his daughter's husband?'

'Never mind what he says! Put me on a silver dish and carry me to the
palace.'

So it was done, though the old woman's heart beat as she laid down the
dish with the head upon it.

At the sight before him the king flew into a violent rage.

'I will never marry my daughter to such a monster,' he cried. But the
princess placed her hand gently on his arm.

'You have given your word, my father, and you cannot break it,' said
she.

'But, my child, it is impossible for you to marry such a being,'
exclaimed the sultan.

'Yes, I will marry him. He has a beautiful head, and I love him
already.'

So the marriage was celebrated, and great feasts were held in the
palace, though the people wept tears to think of the sad fate of their
beloved princess. But w