nst him that merits this！' 'Verily；' rejoined the captain； 'thou wast in high favour with the king； such as none ever enjoyed before thee； and all who are prosperous are envied。 Belike some one envied thee thy good fortune and missaid of thee to the king； by reason whereof he is bee thus enraged against thee： but be of good cheer； no harm shall befall thee： for； even as thou entreatedst me generously； without knowledge of me； so now I will deliver thee。 But； if I release thee； thou must abide with me in this island till some galleon set sail from the city to thy native land； when I will send thee thither therein。'
Abousir kissed his hand and thanked him for this； after which the captain fetched the lime and laid it in a sack； together with a great stone； the bigness of a man； saying； 'I put my trust in God。' Then he gave the barber a ； saying； 'Cast this into the sea； so haply thou mayst take somewhat of fish。 For I am bounden to furnish the king's kitchen with fish every day； but today I have been distracted from fishing by this calamity that hath befallen thee； and I fear lest the cook's servants e to me in quest of fish and find none。 So； if thou take aught； they will find it and thou wilt veil my face； （193） whilst I go and play off my device in front of the palace and feign to cast thee into the sea。' 'Go；' answered Abousir； 'and God be thy helper。 I will fish the while。'
So the captain laid the sack in the boat and rowed till he came under the palace； where he saw the king seated at the lattice and said to him； 'O king of the age； shall I Cast him in？' 'Cast；' answered the king and signed to him with his hand； whereupon something flashed and fell into the sea。 Now this that had fallen into the sea was the king's sealring； which was enchanted on such wise that； when the king was wroth with any one and was minded to slay him； he had but to sign to him with his right hand； whereon was the ring； and there issued lightning therefrom； which smote the offender； and thereupon his head fell from his shoulders。 It was this ring that gave him authority over the troops； nor did he overe the mighty save by means thereof； so； when it dropped from his finger； he concealed the matter and kept silence； for that he dared not say； 'My ring is fallen into the sea；' for fear of the troops； lest they should rise against him and slay him。
Meanwhile； Abousir cast the into the sea and drew it up full of fish。 Then he cast it again and it came up full of fish； nor did he cease to cast it and pull it up full； till there was a great heap of fish before him。 So he said to himself； 'By Allah； I have not eaten fish this long while！' And chose himself a large fat fish； saying； 'When the captain es back； I will bid him fry it for me； so I may make the morning meal of it。' Then he cut its throat with a knife he had with him； but the knife stuck in its gills and there he saw the king's sealring； for the fish had swallowed it and destiny had driven it to the island； where it had fallen into the 。 So he took the ring and put it on his little finger； not knowing its properties。 Presently； up came two of the cook's underlings in quest of fish and seeing Abousir； said to him； 'O man； whither is the captain gone？' 'I know not；' answered he and signed to them with his right hand； when； behold； their heads dropped from their shoulders。
At this Abousir was amazed and said； 'I wonder who slew them！' And their case was grievous to him and he was still musing upon it； when the captain returned and seeing the two men lying dead and the ring on Abousir's finger； said to him； 'O my brother； move not thy hand whereon is the ring； else thou wilt slay me。' Abousir wondered at this speech and the captain ing up to him； said； 'Who slew these two men？' 'By Allah； O my brother；' answered the barber； 'I know not！' 'Thou sayst sooth；' rejoined the captain； 'but tell me whence hadst thou that ring？' Quoth Abousir； 'I found it in this fish's gills。' ' True；' said the captain； 'for I saw it fall flashing from the king's palace and disappear in the sea； what time he signed toward ＇the sack in which he deemed＇ thee ＇to be＇； saying； 〃Cast him in。〃 So I cast the sack into the water； and it was then that the ring slipped from his finger and fell into the sea； where the fish swallowed it； and God drove it to thee； so that thou tookest it； for this ring was thy lot； but knowest thou its property？' 'I knew not that it had any properties；' answered Abousir； and the captain said； 'Know； then； that the king's troops obey him not save for fear of this ring； for it is enchanted； and when he was wroth with any one and had a mind to put him to death； he would sign at him therewith and his head would drop from his shoulders； for there issued a lightning from the ring and its ray smote the object of his wrath； who died forthright。'
At this； Abousir rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said to the captain； 'Carry me back to the city。' 'That will I；' answered he； 'now that I no longer fear for thee from the king； for； wert thou to sign at him with thy hand； purposing to kill him； his head would fall down before thee； and if thou be minded to slay him and all his troops； thou mayst do so without hindrance。' So saying； he embarked with him in the boat and rowed him back to the city； where Abousir landed and going up to the palace； entered the councilchamber； where he found the king seated in the midst of his officers； sore concerned by reason of the ring and daring not tell any of its loss。
When he saw Abousir； he said to him； 'Did we not cast thee into the sea？ How hast thou made shift to e forth therefrom？' 'O king of the age；' answered Abousir； 'whenas thou badst throw me into the sea； thy captain carried me to an island and questioned me of the cause of thy wrath against me； saying； 〃What hast thou done with the king； that he should decree thy death？〃 〃By Allah；〃 answered I； 〃I know not that I have offended against him in aught！〃 Quoth he； 〃Thou wast in high favour with the king； and most like some one envied thee and slandered thee to him； so that he is bee incensed against thee。 But； when I visited thee in thy bath； thou entreatedst me hospitably； and I will requite thee thy hospitality by setting thee free and sending thee back to thine own country。〃 Then he laid a great stone in the sack and cast it into the sea in my stead； but； when thou signedst to him to throw me in； thy sealring dropped from thy finger into the sea； and a fish swallowed it。
Now I was on the island； fishing； and this fish came up ＇in the ＇ with others； whereupon I took it； thinking to broil it； but； when I opened its maw； I found the ring therein； so I took it and put it on my finger。 Presently； up came two of the servants of the kitchen； in quest of fish； and I signed to them with my hand； knowing not the property of the ring； and their heads fell off。 Then the captain came back and seeing the ring on my finger； acquainted me with its enchantment； and behold； I have brought it back to thee； for that thou dealtest bounteously by me and entreatedst me with the utmost generosity； nor is that which thou hast done me of kindness lost upon me。 Here is thy ring； take it； and if I have done with thee aught deserving of death； tell me my crime and slay me and thou shalt be quit of my blood。' So saying； he pulled the ring from his finger and gave it to the king； who put it on and his life returned to him。
Then he rose to his feet and embracing Abousir； said to him； 'O man； thou art indeed of the flower of the noble！ Bear me not malice； but five me the wrong I have done thee。 Had any but thou e by this ring； he had never restored it to me。' 'O king of the age；' answered Abousir； 'if thou wouldst have me five thee； tell me what was my offence that drew down thine anger upon me； so that thou mandedst to put me to death。' 'By Allah；' rejoined the king； 'it is clear to me that thou art altogether guiltless of offence； since thou hast done this good deed； only the dyer denounced thee to me；' and he told him all that Aboukir had said。 'By Allah； O king of the age；' replied Abousir； 'I know not the King of the Christians and have never journeyed to their country； nor did it ever enter my thought to kill thee； but this dyer was my rade and neighbour in the city of Alexandria； and life was straitened upon us there； wherefore we departed thence； to seek our fortunes； by reason of the straitness of our livelihood there； after we had recited the first chapter of the Koran together ＇in token of our agreement＇ that he who got work should feed him who lacked thereof； and there befell me with him such and such things。'
Then he went on to relate to the king all that had befallen him with the dyer； how he had robbed him and left him alone and sick in the khan and how the porter had fed him of his own monies till God recovered him of his sickness； when he went forth and walked about the city with his shaving gear； as of his wont； till he espied a dyery； about which the folk were crowding； so he looked at the door and seeing Aboukir seated on a bench there； went in to salute him； whereupon he accused him of being a thief and beat him grievously； brief； he told him his whole story； from first to last； and added； 'O king of the age； it was he who counselled me to make the depilatory and present it to thee； saying； 〃The bath is perfect in all things but that it lacketh this；〃 and know； O king； that this unguent is harmless and we use it in our country； where it is one of the requisites of the bath； but I had fotten it： so； when he visited the bath； I entreated him with honour and he reminded me thereof。 But do thou send after the porter of such a khan and the workmen of the dyery and question them all of that which I have told thee。'
So the king sent for them and questioned them and they acquainted him with the truth of the matter。 Then he sent to fetch the dyer； bidding bring him barefoot and bareheaded； with his hands bound behind him。 Now he was sitting in his house； rejoicing in Abousir's ＇supposed＇ death； when； before he could be ware； the king's guards rushed in upon him and cuffed him on the nape of the neck； after which they bound him and carried him into the royal presence； where he saw Abousir seated by the king's side and the porte