o split the very
mountains; and Arzeng, when he heard it, rushed out of his tent.
Rustem set spurs to his horse, and galloping up to the Genius, caught
him by the head, tore it from the body, and threw it into the midst
of the army. When the Genii saw it, and caught sight also of the great
club, they fled in the wildest confusion, fathers trampling upon their
sons in their eagerness to escape. The hero put the whole herd of them
to the sword, and then returned as fast as he could to the place where
he had left Aulad bound to the tree. He unloosed the knots of the
lasso, and bidding him lead the way to the prison-house of the King,
set spurs to Raksh, Aulad running in front as before.

When they entered the town, Raksh neighed. His voice was as loud as
thunder, and the King heard it, and in a moment understood all that
had happened. "That is the voice of Raksh," he said to the Persians
that were with him; "our evil days are over. This was the way in which
he neighed in King Kobad's time, when he made war on the Scythians."

The Persians said to themselves, "Our poor King has lost his senses,
or he is dreaming. There is no help for us." But they had hardly
finished speaking when the hero appeared, and did homage to the King.
Kaoues embraced him, and then said: "If you are to help me, you must
go before the Genii know of your coming. So soon as the White Genius
shall hear of the fall of Arzeng, he will assemble such an army of his
fellows as shall make all your pains and labor lost. But you must know
that you have great difficulties to overcome. First, you must cross
seven mountains, all of them occupied by troops of Genii; then you
will see before you a terrible cavern--more terrible, I have heard
say, than any other place in the world. The entrance to it is guarded
by warrior Genii, and in it dwells the White Genius himself. He is
both the terror and the hope of his army. Conquer him, and all will be
well. A wise physician tells me that the only remedy for my blindness
is to drop into my eyes three drops of the White Genius's blood. Go
and conquer, if you would save your King."

Without any delay Rustem set forth, Raksh carrying him like the wind.
When he reached the great cavern, he said to Aulad, who had guided him
on his way as before, "The time of conflict is come. Show me the way."

Aulad answered, "When the sun shall grow hot, the Genii will go to
sleep. That will be your time to conquer them."

Rustem waited