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the sun is over the house。 And he has seven heads。 How then can
you be a match for him； my son？'
'Mind your own business； mother；' answered the gazelle； 'and
don't mind other people's！ Has this snake a sword？'
'He has a sword； and a sharp one too。 It cuts like a dash of
lightning。'
'Give it to me； mother！' said the gazelle； and she unhooked the
sword from the wall； as she was bidden。 'You must be quick；' she
said； 'for he may be here at any moment。 Hark！ is not that the
wind rising？ He has come！'
They were silent； but the old woman peeped from behind a curtain；
and saw the snake busy at the pots which she had placed ready for
him in the courtyard。 And after he had done eating and drinking
he came to the door：
'You old body！' he cried； 'what smell is that I smell inside that
is not the smell of every day？'
'Oh； master！' answered she； 'I am alone； as I always am！ But
to…day； after many days； I have sprinkled fresh scent all over
me； and it is that which you smell。 What else could it be；
master？'
All this time the gazelle had been standing close to the door；
holding the sword in one of its front paws。 And as the snake put
one of his heads through the hole that he had made so as to get
in and out comfortably； it cut it of so clean that the snake
really did not feel it。 The second blow was not quite so
straight； for the snake said to himself； 'Who is that who is
trying to scratch me？' and stretched out his third head to see；
but no sooner was the neck through the hole than the head went
rolling to join the rest。
When six of his heads were gone the snake lashed his tail with
such fury that the gazelle and the old woman could not see each
other for the dust he made。 And the gazelle said to him； 'You
have climbed all sorts of trees； but this you can't climb；' and
as the seventh head came darting through it went rolling to join
the rest。
Then the sword fell rattling on the ground； for the gazelle had
fainted。
The old woman shrieked with delight when she saw her enemy was
dead； and ran to bring water to the gazelle； and fanned it； and
put it where the wind could blow on it； till it grew better and
gave a sneeze。 And the heart of the old woman was glad； and she
gave it more water； till by…and…by the gazelle got up。
'Show me this house；' it said； 'from beginning to end； from top
to bottom； from inside to out。'
So she arose and showed the gazelle rooms full of gold and
precious things； and other rooms full of slaves。 'They are all
yours； goods and slaves；' said she。
But the gazelle answered； 'You must keep them safe till I call my
master。'
For two days it lay and rested in the house； and fed on milk and
rice； and on the third day it bade the old woman farewell and
started back to its master。
And when he heard that the gazelle was at the door he felt like a
man who has found the time when all prayers are granted； and he
rose and kissed it； saying： 'My father； you have been a long
time； you have left sorrow with me。 I cannot eat； I cannot
drink； I cannot laugh； my heart felt no smile at anything；
because of thinking of you。'
And the gazelle answered： 'I am well； and where I come from it
is well； and I wish that after four days you would take your wife
and go home。'
And he said： 'It is for you to speak。 Where you go； I will
follow。'
'Then I shall go to your father…in…law and tell him this news。'
'Go； my son。'
So the gazelle went to the father…in…law and said： 'I am sent by
my master to come and tell you that after four days he will go
away with his wife to his own home。'
'Must he really go so quickly？ We have not yet sat much
together； I and Sultan Darai； nor have we yet talked much
together； nor have we yet ridden out together； nor have we eaten
together； yet it is fourteen days since he came。'
But the gazelle replied： 'My lord； you cannot help it； for he
wishes to go home； and nothing will stop him。'
'Very good；' said the sultan； and he called all the people who
were in the town； and commanded that the day his daughter left
the palace ladies and guards were to attend her on her way。
And at the end of four days a great company of ladies and slaves
and horses went forth to escort the wife of Sultan Darai to her
new home。 They rode all day； and when the sun sank behind the
hills they rested； and ate of the food the gazelle gave them； and
lay down to sleep。 And they journeyed on for many days； and they
all； nobles and slaves； loved the gazelle with a great love
more than they loved the Sultan Darai。
At last one day signs of houses appeared； far； far off。 And
those who saw cried out； 'Gazelle！'
And it answered； 'Ah； my mistresses； that is the house of Sultan
Darai。'
At this news the women rejoiced much； and the slaves rejoiced
much； and in the space of two hours they came to the gates； and
the gazelle bade them all stay behind； and it went on to the
house with Sultan Darai。
When the old woman saw them coming through the courtyard she
jumped and shouted for joy； and as the gazelle drew near she
seized it in her arms； and kissed it。 The gazelle did not like
this； and said to her： 'Old woman； leave me alone； the one to be
carried is my master； and the one to be kissed is my master。'
And she answered； 'Forgive me； my son。 I did not know this was
our master；' and she threw open all the doors so that the master
might see everything that the rooms and storehouses contained。
Sultan Darai looked about him； and at length he said：
'Unfasten those horses that are tied up； and let loose those
people that are bound。 And let some sweep； and some spread the
beds； and some cook； and some draw water； and some come out and
receive the mistress。'
And when the sultana and her ladies and her slaves entered the
house； and saw the rich stuffs it was hung with； and the
beautiful rice that was prepared for them to eat； they cried：
'Ah； you gazelle； we have seen great houses； we have seen people；
we have heard of things。 But this house； and you； such as you
are； we have never seen or heard of。'
After a few days； the ladies said they wished to go home again。
The gazelle begged them hard to stay； but finding they would not；
it brought many gifts； and gave some to the ladies and some to
their slaves。 And they all thought the gazelle greater a
thousand times than its master； Sultan Darai。
The gazelle and its master remained in the house many weeks； and
one day it said to the old woman； 'I came with my master to this
place； and I have done many things for my master； good things；
and till to…day he has never asked me： 〃Well； my gazelle； how
did you get this house？ Who is the owner of it？ And this town；
were there no people in it？〃 All good things I have done for the
master； and he has not one day done me any good thing。 But
people say； 〃If you want to do any one good； don't do him good
only； do him evil also； and there will be peace between you。〃
So； mother； I have done： I want to see the favours I have done
to my master； that he may do me the like。'
'Good；' replied the old woman； and they went to bed。
In the morning； when light came； the gazelle