“Well, it is this,” said the owl; “I am as anxious as you are to regain my natural form, and this can only happen if one of you will offer me his hand.”
The storks appeared somewhat taken aback, and the Caliph beckoned his vizier aside.
“Grand vizier,” said he, “it is a great nuisance, but you must just take her.”
“Indeed,” replied the vizier, “and when I reach home my wife will scratch my eyes out for my pains. Besides, I am an old man, whilst you are young and unmarried, and are therefore a more suitable match for a young and beautiful princess.”
“Well, that is the point,” the Caliph sighed sadly; “who told you she was young and beautiful? I don’t care to buy a cat in a bag like that.”
They argued together for some time, but when the Caliph found his vizier would rather remain a stork than marry the owl, he made up his mind to fulfil the condition himself.
THE CALIPH STORK
“The owl warned them to be as silent as the grave”
(p. [25].)
The owl was overjoyed, and assured the two storks they could not have arrived at a more [!-- original location of full page illustration --] [!-- blank page --] opportune moment, for the magicians were to meet there that very night.