PART I
THE DRAGON OF THE APPLES
Once upon a time, in the pleasure garden of a king, there grew a tree which produced three apples every year. But the king had never tasted one of them. In the middle of the night, before they were quite ripe, a seven-headed genie always came and carried them away.
Now, the king had three sons. One day the eldest son came into his father’s presence, kissed the ground, then arose and stood before him.
“What dost thou wish, my son?” asked the king. [[19]]
“My father,” was the answer, “thou knowest that the precious apples should be ripe upon the morrow. To-night I would keep watch in the garden and kill the genie.”
“Thou speakest well, my son,” said the king.
Thereupon the prince took a bow in his hand and hid himself in the garden. At midnight there was a terrific earthquake, followed by a black cloud, out of which the genie emerged and walked toward the tree upon which hung the precious fruit. At sight of him the affrighted prince forgot his determination and ran to the palace for safety. The genie plucked the apples and carried them away.
In the morning the king sent for the prince and inquired if he had accomplished his purpose.
“Sire,” was the reply, “I barely escaped with my life!”