Soon they saw a great procession of men, women and children advancing toward them, and at their head walked an [[128]]old man with snowy beard and hair and clad in long white garments. The people came straight up to the Prince and Saran, and there halted, while the old man addressed them in eager, trembling tones.
“You are strangers,” said he, “and we are seeking strangers; I pray you, can you show us some magic sign whereby we may know that you are not as other mortals are?”
“Indeed,” said Prince Schalu, “we are no different from other men, but by great good fortune we have this day become possessed of several wonders.”
“Show us! Show us!” cried the crowd in great excitement.
“This,” continued Schalu, drawing the battered magic cap from his pocket, “has the power of making its wearer invisible.” He put it on, and the people cried out in wonder and anxiety, “Where are they? Where are they? They are gone! Find them! They are truly the ones!”
“No, we are still here,” said the Prince, [[129]]removing the cap. “But why does it matter so much to you? And why are you so anxious to see our marvels?”
“Show us more! Show us more!” the crowd shouted, and the old man in white tried vainly to quiet them, for he was as much excited as they.
“These boots,” Schalu went on, pointing to the magic ones, “are also very wonderful, for they will bear us wheresoever we wish to be in the twinkling of an eye. It was by their means that we came here.”
“Don’t try them! We’ll believe you!” cried somebody, as if fearful of losing them, and the crowd surged eagerly forward again.
“And finally,” said Schalu, smiling at them and thoroughly enjoying their wonder, “my friend and I have a little trick which may interest you.” Opening their mouths, the two began to pour forth gold and emeralds and toss them in great handfuls among the crowd.