Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/204

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182
The Book of Wonder Voyages

Hasan and his wife went to the right. And Hasan and his wife rode till they came to a city surrounded with trees and streams, and as they rested there they were greeted by King Hassun, Lord of the Land of Camphor and Castle of Crystal. And they rejoiced to meet one another and Hasan told all that had befallen him. Whereupon the King said: "O my son, none ever reached the Islands of Wak and returned thence but thou; indeed thy case is wondrous." And Hasan with his wife and children lodged in the guest house of the palace three days, eating and drinking in mirth and merriment, after which they sought the King's permission to depart. And the King granted it and rode with them ten days, after which he bade them farewell. And they journeyed for a month, after which they came to the cavern with the brass door, out of which the Shaykh Abu al-Ruwaysh issued, and saluted Hasan, and gave him joy of his safety. And when Hasan told him all that had befallen him, the Shaykh replied, "O my son, but for this rod and cap, thou hadst never delivered thy wife and children." And as they talked together there came a knocking at the door, and Abu al-Ruwaysh went and found Abu al-Kaddus mounted on his elephant. And he embraced Hasan and congratulated him on his safety. And Hasan told him everything from first to last until he came to the story of the rod and cap, when Abu al-Kaddus said: "O my son, thou hast delivered wife and children, and hast no further need of the two. Now we were the means of thy getting to the Islands of Wak,