“Behold,” he cried in a joyful voice, “your Royal Highness! is this not your ring? Your initials are engraved on the gold.”
The Princess admitted that this was her ring, and as the two tasks, which she had imposed, had been satisfactorily accomplished, she now consented to accompany Chaninah to the Holy Land.
On the way they were attacked by robbers. [[38]]Chaninah, fearing that he would be overpowered, called for help. At that moment a dog ran up to his side and barked so furiously that the robbers made off. The dog was glad to repay Chaninah for having fed him and healed him in days gone by.
At last they came to the Holy Land, and when the King saw the beautiful princess with the golden hair he was very happy. Amidst general rejoicing the royal wedding took place. The King rewarded Chaninah by making him his chief counsellor of State. The good man’s success, however, was marred by a great misfortune which had befallen him during his absence. His good wife had died. Moreover, some of the royal servants were envious of his advancement in the King’s favour. They resolved to hire some ruffians who were to waylay him. One day as he was leaving the palace the ruffians attacked him and killed him in the courtyard. As soon as the news of the sad event was told to the Queen, she cried,—
“Never mind! let me see what can be done.”
She went to her cabinet and took out the flask containing the water from Paradise. She then went to the courtyard where the King and nobles were gathered around the corpse.
“Make way for Her Majesty the Queen!” the people cried. [[39]]
When the Queen saw the dead body of her friend she smiled. All eyes were fixed on her. She sprinkled some of the precious water upon the corpse and immediately Chaninah opened his eyes and arose. Now the people understood why the Queen had smiled.
“Come now,” said the King to his wife, “kill me and restore me to life again. I should just like to know how it feels to be dead.”
The Queen declined to murder her husband, and turning to him she cried,—