The unfortunate brothers soon saw an empty sloop. They took possession of it, and at once began to drift out to sea. It was an unfortunate voyage. All the hopes of the brothers were deceptive. Their cruelty to their crippled brother Abdallah was to be severely punished. A frightful tempest arose, and the sea overwhelmed them; the sloop was wrecked and the cruel brothers found their graves in the cold and creeping waters.
Meanwhile what had become of Abdallah, the poor cripple whom the brothers had deserted? Overwhelmed with sorrow and fatigue, he had fallen asleep where he had been abandoned. Fortunately for him a good fairy, who had seen all, took pity on him, and while he lay asleep she cured his crippled leg; and then, disguising herself as a poor beggar, the fairy sat on a stone by the roadside. Abdallah soon opened his eyes, his heart filled with sadness. He arose for the purpose of continuing his painful journey, but what was his astonishment to find that he could walk without any trouble whatever. He was no longer a cripple. He felt of himself, and ran and jumped to convince himself that he was not dreaming. He laughed and cried at the same time, and was filled with happiness and joy.
All of a sudden he saw an old woman by the roadside who looked at him smilingly.
"Do you know, madam," he cried, "if a great physician has passed this way?"
"And why, my friend?" inquired the old woman.
"It is because that, during my sleep, he has rendered me the greatest of services. He has cured my leg that was too short, and I want to thank him for his kindness."
"Well, well," said the old woman, "the physician is myself. I gathered a few herbs that I alone know, and it was easy to perform the miracle that makes you so happy."
Abdallah could not restrain his transports. He fell on the old woman's neck and embraced her, and then, to prove his gratitude, he asked her: