heaven forbid ! ' was the reply . ` He is talking nonsense again . How can the poor man have got such notions into his head ? ' With these words the king took Labakan 's arm to support him down the hill . They both mounted richly caparisoned horses and rode across the plain at the head of their followers . The unlucky prince was tied hand and foot , and fastened on a dromedary , a guard riding on either side and keeping a sharp look-out on him . The old king was Sached , Sultan of the Wachabites . For many years he had had no children , but at length the son he had so long wished for was born . But the sooth-sayers and magicians whom he consulted as to the child 's future all said that until he was twenty-two years old he stood in danger of being injured by an enemy . So , to make all safe , the sultan had confided the prince to his trusty friend Elfi Bey , and deprived himself of the happiness of seeing him for twenty-two years . All this the sultan told Labakan , and was much pleased by his appearance and dignified manner . When they reached their own country they were received with every sign of joy , for the news of the prince 's safe return had spread like wildfire , and every town and village was decorated , whilst the inhabitants thronged to greet them with cries of joy and thankfulness . All this filled Labakan 's proud heart with rapture , whilst the unfortunate Omar followed in silent rage and despair . At length they arrived in the capital , where the public rejoicings were grander and more brilliant than anywhere else . The queen awaited them in the great hall of the palace , surrounded by her entire court . It was getting dark , and hundreds of coloured hanging lamps were lit to turn night into day . The brightest hung round the throne on which the queen sat , and which stood above four steps of pure gold inlaid with great amethysts . The four greatest nobles in the kingdom held a canopy of crimson silk over the queen , and the Sheik of Medina fanned her with a peacock-feather fan . In this state she awaited her husband and her son .
She , too , had not seen XXXXX since his birth , but so many dreams had shown her what he would look like that she felt she would know him among a thousand .
Bey Labakan Medina Omar Sached Wachabites day look-out rejoicings wildfire