They entered the hall , but all stopped in surprise at finding a man lying on the king 's own bed . The soldiers wished to kill him at once , but the king said , ` Leave him alone , put me on a chair , ' and the soldiers who were carrying him knelt on the floor , and he slid from their shoulders on to a chair . When he was comfortably seated , he turned to his soldiers , and bade them wake the stranger gently . And they woke him , and he sat up and saw many snakes all round him , and one of them very beautiful , decked in royal robes . ` Who are you ? ' asked Hassebu . ' I am the King of the Snakes , ' was the reply , ` and this is my palace . And will you tell me who you are , and where you come from ? ' ` My name is Hassebu , but whence I come I know not , nor whither I go . ' ` Then stay for a little with me , ' said the king , and he bade his soldiers bring water from the spring and fruits from the forest , and to set them before the guest . For some days Hassebu rested and feasted in the palace of the King of the Snakes , and then he began to long for his mother and his own country . So he said to the King of the Snakes , ` Send me home , I pray . ' But the King of the Snakes answered , ` When you go home , you will do me evil ! ' ' I will do you no evil , ' replied Hassebu ; ` send me home , I pray . ' But the king said , ' I know it . If I send you home , you will come back , and kill me . I dare not do it . ' But Hassebu begged so hard that at last the king said , ` Swear that when you get home you will not go to bathe where many people are gathered . ' And Hassebu swore , and the king ordered his soldiers to take Hassebu in sight of his native city . Then he went straight to his mother 's house , and the heart of his mother was glad .
Now the Sultan of the city was very ill , and all the wise men said that the only thing to cure him was the flesh of the King of the Snakes , and that the only man who could get it was a man XXXXX a strange mark on his chest .
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