“Stop!” cried Schalu again, shouting to make himself heard above the din. “Stop, and I will show you a marvel the like of which you have never seen!”
Hearing this, the boys ceased fighting on the instant, and all turned and stared at Schalu and Saran.
“Marvel, did you say?” exclaimed the leader scornfully. “You can’t show us a marvel greater than the one we have got right here!”
“Have you something wonderful, too?” asked the Prince. “Well, then, let us make a bargain; if my marvel is greater than yours, you shall give me yours, and if yours is greater than mine, I will give you each as much gold as two hands can carry.”
“Hurrah!” cried the boys, delighted. “Let us do it!” They all gathered around in a circle, while their leader picked up from the ground a torn and battered [[124]]cap. “This,” said he, “is what we were fighting about, for each of us wants it for himself. This is a magic cap, and whoever puts it on remains invisible until he takes it off again. Show us a marvel equal to that, if you can!”
Softly uttering a wish for gold, the Prince opened his mouth and immediately a great rain of coins tumbled to the ground. The boys fell upon them greedily, shouting, snatching and fighting.
“Come,” said Schalu to his friend, “these boys are not worthy of owning such a treasure as the cap, and besides, my marvel is greater than theirs, so I am entitled to it.”
He caught up the ragged cap, put it on his head and grasped Saran’s hand. Straightway they both became invisible, and so passed through the midst of the fighting boys unnoticed and continued on their way.
“This is a prize well worth having!” said the Prince, after they had walked [[125]]awhile and, taking the cap off, he hid it carefully in his bosom. “Now I wonder what our next adventure will be.”
They had not gone far before they came to a cross-roads where there was a great cloud of dust and, hearing shouts and angry words, they hastened to see what it all meant. In the midst of the dust were half a dozen ugly dwarfs, fighting furiously, screaming and cursing each other.