Chaninah, who was now one of the King’s counsellors, offered to find the lady destined to be their queen. He hastened home to bid his wife farewell and to prepare for his journey. He took a bag into which he put six loaves, a small assortment of his precious herbs and roots and twelve silver coins. Having blessed his wife he set out on his quest.
He walked during the best part of the day and at sunset, feeling very tired, he sat down on a large stone beneath a tree. He was just about to doze off when he was suddenly startled by hearing a raven’s croak. He listened and [[32]]understood that the bird had not found any food for three days. He at once opened his bag and gave the raven a large piece of bread. On the morrow Chaninah met a dog howling miserably.
“Come and tell me,” he said to the dog, “all your troubles. I understand the speech of beasts and birds.”
The dog said that he was very ill and hungry, for it was just a week since he had eaten any food. Chaninah gave him one of the healing roots and a loaf of bread. The dog devoured the bread and ate the root and thanked his good friend.
Next day Chaninah came to a river and found some fishermen trying in vain to pull in their net, which contained a large fish. The fishermen pulled so hard that they feared their net would break. Chaninah lent them a willing hand and then they were able to pull in the net. The fishermen shouted with joy,—
“We have enough now for dinner to-day and to-morrow.”
Chaninah asked them to sell the fish and he would give them twelve pieces of silver as its price. They agreed and gave him the fish as soon as he had paid them. They could hardly believe their eyes when they saw Chaninah throwing the fish back into the river. [[33]]Bidding them farewell he continued his journey.
At last he came to a large town where, unknown to him, dwelt the maiden whom he was seeking. She was a princess, the only daughter of the King of that country.
Chaninah came to the courtyard of the palace and stood still awhile gazing around. The Princess was looking out of the window of her room, and saw Chaninah, whose strange attire attracted her attention. She sends her chamberlain to bring him to her presence.
In reply to her inquiry as to the why and wherefore of his visit to her father’s land, Chaninah tells her the story of his quest. Looking at her he sees that she is the very lady whom he has to find to be the wife of the King, his master, for her tresses were golden even like the hue of the hair which the King found upon his shoulder.