The prince was overjoyed; he had been deceived, but he was now happy. Mirza told him all, and he would have had the deceitful servants burned at the stake, but the princess interceded for them and they were banished from the country. The prince and Mirza lived long and happily together.
XII
THE KING OF THE LIONS
A Donkey one day thought that the time had come for him to go and seek his fortune; so he broke his halter and ran away into the broad fields. The grass was high and rank, and there was no lack of thistles. Happy over his good fortune, Brother Donkey brayed so loud and so joyously that Mr. Lion, who happened to be passing that way, stopped to inquire what the matter could be.
At the sight of Brother Donkey, Mr. Lion was paralyzed with astonishment. Never, in all his wanderings, had he seen such a creature. Mr. Lion looked at Brother Donkey from a distance. Then he approached a little nearer, and finally mustered up courage to say:
"Who are you, and what is your name?"
"My name is Brother Donkey," replied the other, "and I am the ruler of all Donkeydom."
"I do not know that country," said Mr. Lion, "but I myself am a monarch, and the most of the other animals have chosen me for their king."
"If that is the case," said Brother Donkey, "we are brothers, and we will continue our travels together."