And about midnight he arose to look at the tree , and the dates were all there -- beautiful dates , swinging in bunches . ` Ah , my father will have a feast , indeed , ' thought he . ` What a fool my brother was not to take more heed ! Now he is in disgrace , and we know him no more . Well , I will watch till the bird comes . I should like to see what manner of bird it is . ' And he sat and read till the cocks crew and it grew light , and the dates were still on the tree . ` Oh my father will have his dates ; they are all safe now , ' he thought to himself . ' I will make myself comfortable against this tree , ' and he leaned against the trunk , and sleep came on him , and the bird flew down and ate all the dates . When the sun rose , the head-man came and looked for the dates , and there were no dates . And he woke the young man , and said to him , ` Look at the tree . ' And the young man looked , and there were no dates . And his ears were stopped , and his legs trembled , and his tongue grew heavy at the thought of the sultan . His slave became frightened as he looked at him , and asked , ` My master , what is it ? ' He answered , ' I have no pain anywhere , but I am ill everywhere . My whole body is well , and my whole body is sick I fear my father , for did I not say to him , `` To-morrow at seven you shall taste the dates '' ? And he will drive me away , as he drove away my brother ! I will go away myself , before he sends me . ' Then he got up and took a road that led straight past the palace , but he had not walked many steps before he met a man carrying a large silver dish , covered with a white cloth to cover the dates . And the young man said , ` The dates are not ripe yet ; you must return to-morrow . '
And the slave went with him to the palace , where the sultan was sitting XXXXX his four sons .
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