Atondido Stories
their brother-in-law in the least.
"Well," said the young prince, "I will give you something to
eat and drink if you will do as I bid you." "We will do all you tell
us to do," they answered, "for if we do not get water to drink, we
shall die." "Very good," said the young prince. "Now you must
let me put a red-hot pice on the back of each of you, and then I
will give you food and water. Do you agree to this?" The six
princes consented, for they thought, "No one will ever see the
mark of the pice, as it will be covered by our clothes; and we
shall die if we have no water to drink." Then the young prince
took six pice, and made them red-hot in the fire; he laid one on
the back of each of the six princes, and gave them good food and
water. They ate and drank; and when they had finished they
made him many salaams and went home.
The young prince stayed under the tree till it was evening;
then he mounted his horse and rode off to the King's palace. All
the people looked at him as he came riding along, saying, "What
a splendid young prince that is! He has a moon on his forehead
and a star on his chin." But no one recognised him. When he
came near the King's palace, all the King's servants asked him
who he was; and as none of them knew him, the gate-keepers
would not let him pass in. They all wondered who he could be,
and all thought him the most beautiful prince that had ever been
seen.
At last they asked him who he was. "I am the husband of
your youngest princess," he answered.
"No, no, indeed you are not," they said; "for he is a poor,
common- looking, and ugly man."
"But I am he," answered the prince; only no one would be-
lieve him.
"Tell us the truth," said the servants; "who are you?"
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