In the morning Moti followed the two Afghans outside the city to the horsemarket in which they horses were offered for sale . Choosing the best-looking horse amongst them he went up to it and said : ` Is this horse for sale ? may I try it ? ' and , the merchants assenting , he scrambled up on its back , dug in his heels , and off they flew . Now Moti had never been on a horse in his life , and had so much ado to hold on with both hands as well as with both legs that the animal went just where it liked , and very soon broke into a break-neck gallop and made straight back to the serai where it had spent the last few nights . ` This will do very well , ' thought Moti as they whirled in at the entrance . As soon as the horse had arrived at its table it stopped of its own accord and Moti immediately rolled off ; but he jumped up at once , tied the beast up , and called for some breakfast . Presently the Afghans appeared , out of breath and furious , and claimed the horse . ` What do you mean ? ' cried Moti , with his mouth full of rice , ` it 's my horse ; I paid you fifty pieces of silver for it -- quite a bargain , I 'm sure ! ' ` Nonsense ! it is our horse , ' answered one of the Afghans beginning to untie the bridle . ` Leave off , ' shouted Moti , seizing his staff ; ` if you do n't let my horse alone I 'll crack your skulls ! you thieves ! I know you ! Last night you took my money , so to-day I took your horse ; that 's fair enough ! ' Now the Afghans began to look a little uncomfortable , but Moti seemed so determined to keep the horse that they resolved to appeal to the law , so they went off and laid a complaint before the king that Moti had stolen one of their horses and would not give it up nor pay for it . Presently a soldier came to summon Moti to the king ; and , when he arrived and made his obeisance , the king began to question him as to why he had galloped off with the horse in this fashion . But Moti declared that he had got the animal in exchange for fifty pieces of silver , whilst the horse merchants vowed that the money they had on them was what they had received for the sale of other horses ; and in one way and another the dispute got so confusing that the king -LRB- who really thought that Moti had stolen the horse -RRB- said at last , ` Well , I tell you what I will do . I will lock something into this box before me , and if he guesses what it is , the horse is his , and if he does n't then it is yours . '
To this Moti agreed , and the king arose and went out alone by a little door XXXXX the back of the Court , and presently came back clasping something closely wrapped up in a cloth under his robe , slipped it into the little box , locked the box , and set it up where all might see .
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