The old woman thought that the task set before was beyond his powers , and that no more would be heard about the sultan 's daughter . But on the thirty-ninth evening after her visit to the palace , the head suddenly spoke . ` Good mother , ' he said , ` you must go to-night to the bridge , and when you are there cry `` Ali ! Ali ! Ali ! '' as loud as you can . A negro will appear before you , and you will tell him that he is to level the hill , and to make , in its place , the most beautiful garden that ever was seen . ' ' I will go at once , ' answered she . It did not take her long to reach the bridge which led to the city , and she took up her position on the spot where she had first seen the head , and called loudly ` Ali ! Ali ! Ali . ' In an instant a negro appeared before her , of such a huge size that the old woman was half frightened ; but his voice was mild and gentle as he said : ` What is it that you want ? ' ` Your master bids you level the hill that stands in front of the sultan 's palace and in its place to make the most beautiful garden in the world . ' ` Tell my master he shall be obeyed , ' replied Ali ; ` it shall be done this moment . ' And the old woman went home and gave Ali 's message to the head . Meanwhile the sultan was in his palace waiting till the fortieth day should dawn , and wondering that not one spadeful of earth should have been dug out of the hill . ` If that old woman has been playing me a trick , ' thought he , ' I will hang her ! And I will put up a gallows to-morrow on the hill itself . ' But when to-morrow came there was no hill , and when the sultan opened his eyes he could not imagine why the room was so much lighter than usual , and what was the reason of the sweet smell of flowers that filled the air . ` Can there be a fire ? '
he said XXXXX himself ; ` the sun never came in at this window before .
about after as before beyond of on than till to