So the oil merchant took that reward of the Sultan, and also half of the dinars which had been restored to the merchant, as his fee for winning the case for him.
So he took these monies and shared them with the friend who helped him, and they went their way rejoicing.
XXVII
BATA THE DUCK
ONCE upon a time there was a duck called Bata, and she lived with her husband, and they were very happy, for they had never seen the face of man. Till one day there came a man to their home, and he fired his gun and killed Bata's husband.
When she saw that her husband was dead Bata was very unhappy, and flew far, far away to a country where man had never come.
There she met a peahen, and that peahen made friends with her and asked her name. She said, "I am called Bata."
Then she asked her, "Why are you trembling so?"
Bata answered, "Do you know man?"
The peahen said, "No, I have never seen one."