with them. And his home was a large house, and everything was in it.
And he taught them until they knew all learning, and they made letters, and then he took them to their father. And one of those lads was very clever. And he said to their father, "Come, let us divide the children to-day." And he said, "You divide them." And he divided them, and took two and put them separate, and he took one and put him separate, and said, "Choose, Sultan." And the Sultan took the two, and he took the one, and went his way.
And he went home, and gave him all the keys, and said, "Open whatever you like." And the lad remained in the house, and that, his father, going out, went travelling for a month, when he returned.
Well, the youth remained, till one day he took a key and went and unlocked a room. And he saw molten gold, and put in his finger, and it clung to it; and when he had wiped it, it did not come off, and he tied on a rag. And his father came and asked him, "What is the matter with your finger?" And he said, "I have cut myself." And he remained, till the next day his father went out, and went on his way travelling.
And the boy took all the keys, and went and opened the first room, and saw goats' bones; and he opened the second, and saw sheep's bones; and he opened a third, and saw those of oxen; and he opened the fourth, and saw those of donkeys; and he opened the fifth, and saw those of horses; and he opened the sixth, and saw skulls of men; and he opened the seventh, and saw a living horse.
And it said, "Oh, you son of Adam, where do you come from?" And he said, "As for me, this is my father." And it said, "His business is to eat people, and donkeys, and horses, and oxen, and goats, and all things; and now you and I are left."
