13-the story of a gazelle-第2部分

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'Master；　that　is　the　house　we　are　going　to；　and　you　are　not　a
poor　man　any　longer：　　even　your　name　is　new。'

'What　IS　my　name；　eh；　my　father？'　asked　the　man。

'Sultan　Darai；'　said　the　gazelle。

Very　soon　some　soldiers　came　to　meet　them；　while　others　ran　off
to　tell　the　sultan　of　their　approach。　　And　the　sultan　set　off　at
once；　and　the　viziers　and　the　emirs；　and　the　judges；　and　the　rich
men　of　the　city；　all　followed　him。

Directly　the　gazelle　saw　them　coming；　it　said　to　its　master：　
'Your　father…in…law　is　coming　to　meet　you；　that　is　he　in　the
middle；　wearing　a　mantle　of　sky…blue。　　Get　off　your　horse　and　go
to　greet　him。'

And　Sultan　Darai　leapt　from　his　horse；　and　so　did　the　other
sultan；　and　they　gave　their　hands　to　one　another　and　kissed　each
other；　and　went　together　into　the　palace。

The　next　morning　the　gazelle　went　to　the　rooms　of　the　sultan；　and
said　to　him：　　'My　lord；　we　want　you　to　marry　us　our　wife；　for　the
soul　of　Sultan　Darai　is　eager。'

'The　wife　is　ready；　so　call　the　priest；'　answered　he；　and　when
the　ceremony　was　over　a　cannon　was　fired　and　music　was　played；
and　within　the　palace　there　was　feasting。

'Master；'　said　the　gazelle　the　following　morning；　'I　am　setting
out　on　a　journey；　and　I　shall　not　be　back　for　seven　days；　and
perhaps　not　then。　　But　be　careful　not　to　leave　the　house　till　I
come。'

And　the　master　answered；　'I　will　not　leave　the　house。'

And　it　went　to　the　sultan　of　the　country　and　said　to　him：　　'My
lord；　Sultan　Darai　has　sent　me　to　his　town　to　get　the　house　in
order。　　It　will　take　me　seven　days；　and　if　I　am　not　back　in　seven
days　he　will　not　leave　the　palace　till　I　return。'

'Very　good；'　said　the　sultan。

And　it　went　and　it　went　through　the　forest　and　wilderness；　till
it　arrived　at　a　town　full　of　fine　houses。　　At　the　end　of　the
chief　road　was　a　great　house；　beautiful　exceedingly；　built　of
sapphire　and　turquoise　and　marbles。　　'That；'　thought　the　gazelle；
'is　the　house　for　my　master；　and　I　will　call　up　my　courage　and　go
and　look　at　the　people　who　are　in　it；　if　any　people　there　are。　
For　in　this　town　have　I　as　yet　seen　no　people。　　If　I　die；　I　die；
and　if　I　live；　I　live。　　Here　can　I　think　of　no　plan；　so　if
anything　is　to　kill　me；　it　will　kill　me。'

Then　it　knocked　twice　at　the　door；　and　cried　'Open；'　but　no　one
answered。　　And　it　cried　again；　and　a　voice　replied：

'Who　are　you　that　are　crying　〃Open〃？'

And　the　gazelle　said；　'It　is　I；　great　mistress；　your　grandchild。'

'If　you　are　my　grandchild；'　returned　the　voice；　'go　back　whence
you　came。　　Don't　come　and　die　here；　and　bring　me　to　my　death　as
well。'

'Open；　mistress；　I　entreat；　I　have　something　to　say　to　you。'

'Grandchild；'　replied　she；　'I　fear　to　put　your　life　in　danger；
and　my　own　too。'

'Oh；　mistress；　my　life　will　not　be　lost；　nor　yours　either；　open；
I　pray　you。'　　So　she　opened　the　door。

'What　is　the　news　where　you　come　from；　my　grandson；'　asked　she。

'Great　lady；　where　I　come　from　it　is　well；　and　with　you　it　is
well。'

'Ah；　my　son；　here　it　is　not　well　at　all。　　If　you　seek　a　way　to
die；　or　if　you　have　not　yet　seen　death；　then　is　to…day　the　day
for　you　to　know　what　dying　is。'

'If　I　am　to　know　it；　I　shall　know　it；'　replied　the　gazelle；　'but
tell　me；　who　is　the　lord　of　this　house？'

And　she　said：　　'Ah；　father！　in　this　house　is　much　wealth；　and
much　people；　and　much　food；　and　many　horses。　　And　the　lord　of　it
all　is　an　exceeding　great　and　wonderful　snake。'

'Oh！'　cried　the　gazelle　when　he　heard　this；　'tell　me　how　I　can
get　at　the　snake　to　kill　him？'

'My　son；'　returned　the　old　woman；　'do　not　say　words　like　these；
you　risk　both　our　lives。　　He　has　put　me　here　all　by　myself；　and　I
have　to　cook　his　food。　　When　the　great　snake　is　coming　there
springs　up　a　wind；　and　blows　the　dust　about；　and　this　goes　on
till　the　great　snake　glides　into　the　courtyard　and　calls　for　his
dinner；　which　must　always　be　ready　for　him　in　those　big　pots。　　He
eats　till　he　has　had　enough；　and　then　drinks　a　whole　tankful　of
water。　　After　that　he　goes　away。　　Every　second　day　he　comes；　when
the　sun　is　over　the　house。　　And　he　has　seven　heads。　　How　then　can
you　be　a　match　for　him；　my　son？'

'Mind　your　own　business；　mother；'　answered　the　gazelle；　'and
don't　mind　other　people's！　　Has　this　snake　a　sword？'

'He　has　a　sword；　and　a　sharp　one　too。　　It　cuts　like　a　dash　of
lightning。'

'Give　it　to　me；　mother！'　said　the　gazelle；　and　she　unhooked　the
sword　from　the　wall；　as　she　was　bidden。　　'You　must　be　quick；'　she
said；　'for　he　may　be　here　at　any　moment。　　Hark！　is　not　that　the
wind　rising？　　He　has　come！'

They　were　silent；　but　the　old　woman　peeped　from　behind　a　curtain；
and　saw　the　snake　busy　at　the　pots　which　she　had　placed　ready　for
him　in　the　courtyard。　　And　after　he　had　done　eating　and　drinking
he　came　to　the　door：

'You　old　body！'　he　cried；　'what　smell　is　that　I　smell　inside　that
is　not　the　smell　of　every　day？'

'Oh；　master！'　answered　she；　'I　am　alone；　as　I　always　am！　　But
to…day；　after　many　days；　I　have　sprinkled　fresh　scent　all　over
me；　and　it　is　that　which　you　smell。　　What　else　could　it　be；
master？'

All　this　time　the　gazelle　had　been　standing　close　to　the　door；
holding　the　sword　in　one　of　its　front　paws。　　And　as　the　snake　put
one　of　his　heads　through　the　hole　that　he　had　made　so　as　to　get
in　and　out　comfortably；　it　cut　it　of　so　clean　that　the　snake
really　did　not　feel　it。　　The　second　blow　was　not　quite　so
straight；　for　the　snake　said　to　himself；　'Who　is　that　who　is
trying　to　scratch　me？'　and　stretched　out　his　third　head　to　see；
but　no　sooner　was　the　neck　through　the　hole　than　the　head　went
rolling　to　join　the　rest。

When　six　of　his　heads　were　gone　the　snake　lashed　his　tail　with
such　fury　that　the　gazelle　and　the　old　woman　could　not　see　each
other　for　the　dust　he　made。　　And　the　gazelle　said　to　him；　'You
have　climbed　all　sorts　of　trees；　but　this　you　can't　climb；'　and
as　the　seventh　head　came　darting　through　it　went　rolling　to　join
the　rest。

Then　the　sword　fell　rattling　on　the　ground；　for　the　gazelle　had
fainted。

The　old　woman　shrieked　with　delight　when　she　saw　her　enemy　was
dead；　and　ran　to　bring　water　to　the　gazelle；　and　fanned　it；　and
put　it　where　the　wind　could　blow　on　it；　till　it　grew　better　and
gave　a　sneeze。　　And　the　heart　of　the　old　woman　was　glad；　and　she
gave　it　more　water；　till　by…and…by　the　gazelle　got　up。

'Show　me　this　house；'　it　said；　'from　beginning　to　end；　from　top
to　bottom；　from　inside　to　out。'

So　she　arose　and　showed　the　gazelle　rooms　full　of　gold　and
precious　things；　and　other　rooms　full　of　slaves。　　'They　are　all
yours；　goods　and　slaves；'　said　she。

But　the　gazelle　answered；　'You　must　keep　them　safe　till　I　call　my
master。'

For　two　days　it　lay　and　rested　in　the　house；　and　fed　on　milk　and
rice；　and　on　the　third　day　it　bade　the　old　woman　farewell　and
started　back　to　its　master。

And　when　he　heard　that　the　gazelle　was　at　the　door　he　felt　like　a
man　who　has　found　the　time　when　all　prayers　are　granted；　and　he
rose　and　kissed　it；　saying：　　'My　father；　you　have　been　a　long
time；　you　have　left　sorrow　with　me。　　I　cannot　eat；　I　cannot
drink；　I　cannot　laugh；　my　heart　felt　no　smile　at　anything；
because　of　thinking　of　you。'

And　the　gazelle　answered：　　'I　am　well；　and　where　I　come　from　it
is　well；　and　I　wish　that　after　four　days　you　would　take　your　wife
and　go　home。'

And　he　said：　　'It　is　for　you　to　speak。　　Where　you　go；　I　will
follow。'

'Then　I　shall　go　to　your　father…in…law　and　tell　him　this　news。'

'Go；　my　son。'

So　the　gazelle　went　to　the　father…in…law　and　said：　　'I　am　sent　by
my　master　to　come　and　tell　you　that　after　four　days　he　will　go
away　with　his　wife　to　his　own　home。'

'Must　he　really　go　so　quickly？　　We　have　not　yet　sat　much
together；　I　and　Sultan　Darai；　nor　have　we　yet　talked　much
together；　nor　have　we　yet　ridden　out　together；　nor　have　we　eaten
together；　yet　it　is　fourteen　days　since　he　came。'

But　the　gazelle　replied：　　'My　lord；　you　cannot　help　it；　for　he
wishes　to　go　home；　and　nothing　will　stop　him。'

'Very　good；'　said　the　sultan；　and　he　called　all　the　people　who
were　in　the　town；　and　commanded　that　the　day　his　daughter　left
the　palace　ladies　and　guards　were　to　attend　her　on　her　way。

And　at　the　end　of　four　days　a　great　company　of　ladies　and　slaves
and　horses　went　forth　to　escort　the　wife　of　Sultan　Darai　to　her
new　home。　　They　rode　all　day；　and　when　the　sun　sank　behind　the
hills　they　rested；　and　ate　of　the　food　the　gazelle　gave　them；　and
lay　down　to　sleep。　　And　they　journeyed　on　for　many　days；　and　they
all；　nobles　and　slaves；　loved　the　gazelle　with　a　great　love
more　than　they　loved　the　Sultan　Darai。

At　last　one　day　signs　of　houses　appeared；　far；　far　off。　　And
those　who　saw　cried　out；　'Gazelle！'

And　it　answered；　'Ah；　my　mistresses；　that　is　the　house　of　Sultan
Darai。'

At　this　news　the　women　rejoiced　much；　and　the　slaves　rejoiced
much；　and　in　the　space　of　two　hours　they　came　to　the　gates；　and
the　gazelle　bade　them　all　stay　behind；　and　it　went　on　to　the
house　with　Sultan　Darai。

When　the　old　woman　saw　them　coming　through　the　courtyard　she
jumped　and　shouted　for　joy；　and　as　the　gazelle　drew　near　she
seized　it　in　her　arms；　and　kissed　it。　　The　gazelle　did　not　like
this；　and　said　to　her：　　'Old　woman；　leave　me　alone；　the　one　to　be
carried　is　my　master；　and　the　one　to　be　kissed　is　my　master。'

And　she　answered；　'Forgive　me；　my　son。　　I　did　not　know　this　was
our　master；'　and　she　threw　open　all　the　doors　so　that　the　master
might　see　everything　that　the　rooms　and　storehouses　contained。　
Sultan　Darai　looked　about　him；　and　at　length　he　said：

'Unfasten　those　horses　that　are　tied　up；　and　let　loose　those
people　that　are　bound。　　And　let　some　sweep；　and　some　spread　the
beds；　and　some　cook；　and　some　draw　water；　and　some　come　out　and
receive　the　mistress。'

And　when　the　sultana　and　her　ladies　and　her　slaves　entered　the
house；　and　saw　the　rich　stuffs　it　was　hung　with；　and　the
beautiful　rice　that　was　prepared　for　them　to　eat；　they　cried：　
'Ah；　you　gazelle；　we　have　seen　great　houses；　we　have　seen　people；
we　have　heard　of　things。　　But　this　house；　and　you；　such　as　you
are；　we　have　never　seen　or　heard　of。'

After　a　few　days；　the　ladies　said　they　wished　to　go　home　again。　
The