Andrew Lang_Fairy Book 09 (33 page)

This very afternoon the princess had left all her women asleep,
and, after trying in vain to amuse herself indoors, she had
slipped out into the great garden, and rambled about in all her
favourite nooks and corners, feeling quite safe as there was not
a creature to be seen. Suddenly, on turning a corner, she
stopped in surprise, for before her lay a man fast asleep! In her
hurry she had almost tripped over him. But there he was, a young
man, tanned and dusty with travel, in the uniform of an officer
of the king's guard. One of the few faults of this lovely
princess was a devouring curiosity, and she lived such an idle
life that she had plenty of time to be curious. Out of one of
the folds of this young man's turban there peeped the corner of a
letter! She wondered what the letter was—whom it was for! She
drew her veil a little closer, and stole across on tip-toe and
caught hold of the corner of the letter. Then she pulled it a
little, and just a little more! A great big seal came into view,
which she saw to be her father's, and at the sight of it she
paused for a minute half ashamed of what she was doing. But the
pleasure of taking a letter which was not meant for her was more
than she could resist, and in another moment it was in her hand.
All at once she remembered that it would be death to this poor
officer if he lost the letter, and that at all hazards she must
put it back again. But this was not so easy; and, moreover, the
letter in her hand burnt her with longing to read it, and see
what was inside. She examined the seal. It was sticky with
being exposed to the hot sun, and with a very little effort it
parted from the paper. The letter was open and she read it! And
this was what was written:

'Behead the messenger who brings this letter secretly and at
once. Ask no questions.'

The girl grew pale. What a shame! she thought. SHE would not
let a handsome young fellow like that be beheaded; but how to
prevent it was not quite clear at the moment. Some plan must be
invented, and she wished to lock herself in where no one could
interrupt her, as might easily happen in the garden. So she
crept softly to her room, and took a piece of paper and wrote
upon it: 'Marry the messenger who brings this letter to the
princess openly at once. Ask no questions.' And even contrived
to work the seals off the original letter and to fix them to
this, so that no one could tell, unless they examined it closely,
that it had ever been opened. Then she slipped back, shaking
with fear and excitement, to where the young officer still lay
asleep, thrust the letter into the fold so his turban, and
hurried back to her room. It was done!

Late in the afternoon Nur Mahomed woke, and, making sure that the
precious despatch was still safe, went off to get ready for his
audience with the governor. As soon as he was ushered into his
presence he took the letter from his turban and placed it in the
governor's hands according to orders. When he had read it the
governor was certainly a little astonished; but he was told in
the letter to 'ask no questions,' and he knew how to obey orders.
He sent for his wife and told her to get the princess ready to be
married at once.

'Nonsense!' said his wife, 'what in the world do you mean?'

'These are the king's commands,' he answered; 'go and do as I bid
you. The letter says "at once," and "ask no questions." The
marriage, therefore, must take place this evening.'

In vain did his wife urge every objection; the more she argued,
the more determined was her husband. 'I know how to obey
orders,' he said, 'and these are as plain as the nose on my
face!' So the princess was summoned, and, somewhat to their
surprise, she seemed to take the news very calmly; next Nur
Mahomed was informed, and he was greatly startled, but of course
he could but be delighted at the great and unexpected honour
which he thought the king had done him. Then all the castle was
turned upside down; and when the news spread in the town, THAT
was turned upside down too. Everybody ran everywhere, and tried
to do everything at once; and, in the middle of it all, the old
governor went about with his hair standing on end, muttering
something about 'obeying orders.'

And so the marriage was celebrated, and there was a great feast
in the castle, and another in the soldiers' barracks, and
illuminations all over the town and in the beautiful gardens.
And all the people declared that such a wonderful sight had never
been seen, and talked about it to the ends of their lives.

The next day the governor despatched the princess and her
bridegroom to the king, with a troop of horsemen, splendidly
dressed, and he sent a mounted messenger on before them, with a
letter giving the account of the marriage to the king.

When the king got the governor's letter, he grew so red in the
face that everyone thought he was going to have apoplexy. They
were all very anxious to know what had happened, but he rushed
off and locked himself into a room, where he ramped and raved
until he was tired. Then, after awhile, he began to think he had
better make the best of it, especially as the old governor had
been clever enough to send him back his letter, and the king was
pretty sure that this was in the princess's handwriting. He was
fond of his daughter, and though she had behaved badly, he did
not wish to cut HER head off, and he did not want people to know
the truth because it would make him look foolish. In fact, the
more he considered the matter, the more he felt that he would be
wise to put a good face on it, and to let people suppose that he
had really brought about the marriage of his own free will.

So, when the young couple arrived, the king received them with
all state, and gave his son-in-law a province to govern. Nur
Mahomed soon proved himself as able and honourable a governor as
he was a brave soldier; and, when the old king died, he became
king in his place, and reigned long and happily.

Nur Mahomed's old mother lived for a long time in her 'son's'
palace, and died in peace. The princess, his wife, although she
had got her husband by a trick, found that she could not trick
HIM, and so she never tried, but busied herself in teaching her
children and scolding her maids. As for the old hermit, no trace
of him was ever discovered; but the cave is there, and the leaves
lie thick in front of it unto this day.

(Told the writer by an Indian.)

Once upon a time there lived a poor old man whose name was Wali
Dad Gunjay, or Wali Dad the Bald. He had no relations, but lived
all by himself in a little mud hut some distance from any town,
and made his living by cutting grass in the jungle, and selling
it as fodder for horses. He only earned by this five halfpence a
day; but he was a simple old man, and needed so little out of it,
that he saved up one halfpenny daily, and spent the rest upon
such food and clothing as he required.

In this way he lived for many years until, one night, he thought
that he would count the money he had hidden away in the great
earthen pot under the floor of his hut. So he set to work, and
with much trouble he pulled the bag out on to the floor, and sat
gazing in astonishment at the heap of coins which tumbled out of
it. What should he do with them all? he wondered. But he never
thought of spending the money on himself, because he was content
to pass the rest of his days as he had been doing for ever so
long, and he really had no desire for any greater comfort or
luxury.

At last he threw all the money into an old sack, which he pushed
under his bead, and then, rolled in his ragged old blanket, he
went off to sleep.

Early next morning he staggered off with his sack of money to the
shop of a jeweller, whom he knew in the town, and bargained with
him for a beautiful little gold bracelet. With this carefully
wrapped up in his cotton waistband he went to the house of a rich
friend, who was a travelling merchant, and used to wander about
with his camels and merchandise through many countries. Wali Dad
was lucky enough to find him at home, so he sat down, and after a
little talk he asked the merchant who was the most virtuous and
beautiful lady he had ever met with. The merchant replied that
the princess of Khaistan was renowned everywhere as well for the
beauty of her person as for the kindness and generosity of her
disposition.

'Then,' said Wali Dad, 'next time you go that way, give her this
little bracelet, with the respectful compliments of one who
admires virtue far more than he desires wealth.'

With that he pulled the bracelet from his waistband, and handed
it to his friend. The merchant was naturally much astonished,
but said nothing, and made no objection to carrying out his
friend's plan.

Time passed by, and at length the merchant arrived in the course
of his travels at the capital of Khaistan. As soon as he had
opportunity he presented himself at the palace, and sent in the
bracelet, neatly packed in a little perfumed box provided by
himself, giving at the same time the message entrusted to him by
Wali Dad.

The princess could not think who could have bestowed this present
on her, but she bade her servant to tell the merchant that if he
would return, after he had finished his business in the city, she
would give him her reply. In a few days, therefore, the merchant
came back, and received from the princess a return present in the
shape of a camel-load or rich silks, besides a present of money
for himself. With these he set out on his journey.

Some months later he got home again from his journeyings, and
proceeded to take Wali Dad the princess's present. Great was the
perplexity of the good man to find a camel-load of silks tumbled
at his door! What was he to do with these costly things? But,
presently, after much thought, he begged the merchant to consider
whether he did not know of some young prince to whom such
treasures might be useful.

'Of course,' cried the merchant, greatly amused; 'from Delhi to
Baghdad, and from Constantinople to Lucknow, I know them all; and
there lives none worthier than the gallant and wealthy young
prince of Nekabad.'

'Very well, then, take the silks to him, with the blessing of an
old man,' said Wali Dad, much relieved to be rid of them.

So, the next time that the merchant journeyed that way he carried
the silks with him, and in due course arrived at Nekabad, and
sought an audience of the prince. When he was shown into his
presence he produced the beautiful gift of silks that Wali Dad
had sent, and begged the young man to accept them as a humble
tribute to his worth and greatness. The prince was much touched
by the generosity of the giver, and ordered, as a return present,
twelve of the finest breed of horses for which his country was
famous to be delivered over to the merchant, to whom also, before
he took his leave, he gave a munificent reward for his services.

As before, the merchant at last arrived at home; and next day, he
set out for Wali Dad's house with the twelve horses. When the
old man saw them coming in the distance he said to himself:
'Here's luck! a troop of horses coming! They are sure to want
quantities of grass, and I shall sell all I have without having
to drag it to market.' Thereupon he rushed off and cut grass as
fast he could. When he got back, with as much grass as he could
possibly carry, he was greatly discomfited to find that the
horses were all for himself. At first he could not think what to
do with them, but, after a little, a brilliant idea struck him!
He gave two to the merchant, and begged him to take the rest to
the princess of Khaistan, who was clearly the fittest person to
possess such beautiful animals.

The merchant departed, laughing. But, true to his old friend's
request, he took the horses with him on his next journey, and
eventually presented them safely to the princess. This time the
princess sent for the merchant, and questioned him about the
giver. Now, the merchant was usually a most honest man, but he
did not quite like to describe Wali Dad in his true light as an
old man whose income was five halfpence a day, and who had hardly
clothes to cover him. So he told her that his friend had heard
stories of her beauty and goodness, and had longed to lay the
best he had at her feet. The princess then took her father into
her confidence, and begged him to advise her what courtesy she
might return to one who persisted in making her such presents.

'Well,' said the king, 'you cannot refuse them; so the best thing
you can do is to send this unknown friend at once a present so
magnificent that he is not likely to be able to send you anything
better, and so will be ashamed to send anything at all!' Then he
ordered that, in place of each of the ten horses, two mules laden
with silver should be returned by her.

Thus, in a few hours, the merchant found himself in charge of a
splendid caravan; and he had to hire a number of armed men to
defend it on the road against the robbers, and he was glad indeed
to find himself back again in Wali Dad's hut.

'Well, now,' cried Wali Dad, as he viewed all the wealth laid at
his door, 'I can well repay that kind prince for his magnificent
present of horses; but to be sure you have been put to great
expenses! Still, if you will accept six mules and their loads,
and will take the rest straight to Nekabad, I shall thank you
heartily.'

The merchant felt handsomely repaid for his trouble, and wondered
greatly how the matter would turn out. So he made no difficulty
about it; and as soon as he could get things ready, he set out
for Nekabad with this new and princely gift.

This time the prince, too, was embarrassed, and questioned the
merchant closely. The merchant felt that his credit was at
stake, and whilst inwardly determining that he would not carry
the joke any further, could not help describing Wali Dad in such
glowing terms that the old man would never have known himself had
he heard them. The prince, like the king of Khaistan, determined
that he would send in return a gift that would be truly royal,
and which would perhaps prevent the unknown giver sending him
anything more. So he made up a caravan on twenty splendid horses
caparisoned in gold embroidered cloths, with fine morocco saddles
and silver bridles and stirrups, also twenty camels of the best
breed, which had the speed of race-horses, and could swing along
at a trot all day without getting tired; and, lastly, twenty
elephants, with magnificent silver howdahs and coverings of silk
embroidered with pearls. To take care of these animals the
merchant hired a little army of men; and the troop made a great
show as they travelled along.