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Thereat he rejoiced greatly and more when the Ifrit said to him,

"Carry these to the Sultan and set them in his presence; then he

will give thee what shall make thee a wealthy man; and now accept

my excuse, for by Allah at this time I wot none other way of

benefiting thee, inasmuch I have lain in this sea eighteen

hundred years and have not seen the face of the world save within

this hour. But I would not have thee fish here save once a day."

The Ifrit then gave him Godspeed, saying, Allah grant we meet

again;"[FN#104] and struck the earth with one foot, whereupon the

ground clove asunder and swallowed him up. The Fisherman, much

marvelling at what had happened to him with the Ifrit, took the

fish and made for the city; and as soon as he reached home he

filled an earthen bowl with water and therein threw the fish

which began to struggle and wriggle about.