would keep him from getting out again. I went back to the cutler woman, and told her how I met the crump alive, and in the manner I got rid of him: but instead of paying me the two sequins I expected, she pretended to tear her hair in grief, and threatened to carry me before the Cady for having drowned her husband. I never minded her tears; but swore I would have my money. I made a bloody noise about it; the neighbours ran in at her cries; I took to my heels. I was going home, grumbling in the gizard very much, when yo sir, forced me to take up this sack upon my head, and bring it hither.
Now, sir, continued the porter, you may easily guess the cause of my fright when at my arrival here, I found myself laden with the same man that I had three times flung into the Tygris, and beheld also two others so like him, that it is impossible to distinguish between them but by their clothes.
Though the Caliph could not see into the bottom of this adventure, he took abundance of pleasure in hearing the porter's story. Then having viewed the three brothers a little more narrowly, he thought he perceived in them some signs of life, and sent immediately for a physician: he came soon afterwards, and finding that Ibad and Syahouk threw up with the water they had swallowed a great deal of brandy, he did not doubt, as indeed it was true, but that their drunkennes was the occasion of their being thought dead. As for Babekan, nothing but want of air had almost susfoe ted him; but as soon as his head was out of the sack he recovered by degrees; so that in half an hours time his brothers and he were entirely out of danger.
Never was any body so amazed as Babekan was
