The sultan had a cat and loved it much, and the cat was very handsome, and growing fast, and what that cat caught for its beginning was a hen's little chicks. And the sultan was told, the cat is catching chickens, and he said, "The cat is mine, and the chickens are mine, let it be, then."
The dates ripened at the plantation, and news was brought by his head-man, and he said, "Master, the dates are ripening fast. I think if we delay till to-morrow, they will be the worse, because they are ripe, and this year not many abortive ones have fallen; in a whole day, eight, or nine, so much have they grown. So send me a son, that he may come and watch the date-tree." And the sultan told the two that remained, and he said to them, "To-day go both of you that are left." And they said, "All right, father." And they girded themselves and went on till they reached the garden.
And they told the slaves who were at the plantation. And they said to them, "We lions are come, we are come to look at this bird, which comes and eats these dates, so to-day is its fate sealed, and its fate is in our hands." And they said, "Perhaps we shall be here, and a gun may miss fire." And they said, "Very good, masters." And they sat till night. And they said to them, "Light bonfires in the garden." And they lit bonfires. And the fire blazed bravely there in the garden. If a needle were to fall, you would see it, because of the brightness of the fire. And they waited till one o'clock struck. And a great rain-cloud lowered, and there was a great storm, and when half-past two o'clock was passed, the rain fell heavily, with much wind, and perfect darkness. Any one in one place could not see who was in that place; perhaps, if they listened for one another's voices, and went feeling for their companions, they might know that this is
