He had been gone but a little whilewhen I heard a noise of cries and found myself in the midst of a multitude of folk whose eyes were in their breasts. Quoth they'Who art thou and what brings thee hither？'So I told them my storyand they said'The girl thou seekest is in the city with the Marid；but we know not what he hath done with her. As for uswe are brethren of the white serpent. But go to yonder spring and note where the water entersand enter thou with it；for it will bring thee into the city.'I did as they bade me and followed the water-coursetill it brought me to a grotto under the earthfrom which I ascended and found myself in the midst of the city. Here I saw the damsel seated upon a throne of goldunder a canopy of brocademidmost a garden full of trees of goldwhose fruits were jewels of pricesuch as rubies and chrysolites and pearls and coral.
When she saw meshe knew me and accosted me with the[obligatory] salutationsaying'O my lordwho brought thee hither？'So I told her all that had passed and she said'Know that the accursed Maridof the greatness of his love for me，hath told me what doth him hurt and what profit and that there is here a talisman by means whereof he couldan he woulddestroy this city and all that are therein. It is in the likeness of an eaglewith I know not what written on itand whoso possesses itthe Afrits will do his commandment in everything. It stands upon a column in such a place；so go thou thither and take it.
Then set it before thee and taking a chafing-dishthrow into it a little muskwhereupon there will arise a smokethat will draw all the Afrits to theeand they will all present themselves before theenor shall one be absent；and whatsoever thou biddest themthat will they do. Arise therefore and do this thingwith the blessing of God the Most High.'
'I hear and obey，'answered I and going to the columndid what she bade mewhereupon the Afrits presented themselvessaying，'Here are weO our lord！ Whatsoever thou biddest usthat will we do.'Quoth I'Bind the Marid that brought the damsel hither.'
'We hear and obey，'answered they and disappearingreturned after awhile and informed me that they had done my bidding. Then I dismissed them and returning to my wifetold her what had happened and said to her'Wilt thou go with me？'Yes，'answered she. So I carried her forth of the cityby the underground channeland we fared ontill we fell in with the folk who had shown me the way into the city. I besought them to teach me how I should return to my native land；so they brought us to the seashore and set us aboard a shipwhich sailed on with us with a fair windtill we reached the city of Bassora. Here we landed，and I carried my wife to her father's house；and when her people saw herthey rejoiced with an exceeding joy. Then I fumigated the eagle with musk and the Afrits flocked to me from all sides，saying'At thy service；what wilt thou have us do？'I bade them transport all that was in the City of Brass of gold and silver and jewels and precious things to my house in Bassorawhich they did；and I then ordered them to fetch the ape. So they brought him before meabject and humiliatedand I said to him'O accursed onewhy hast thou dealt thus perfidiously with me？'
Then I commanded the Afrits to shut him in a brazen vessel： so they put him in a strait vessel of brass and sealed it with lead.
But I abode with my wife in joy and delight；and nowO Commander of the FaithfulI have under my hand such stores of precious things and rare jewels and other treasure as neither reckoning may comprise nor measure suffice unto. All this is of the bounty of God the Most Highand if thou desire aught of money or what notI will bid the Jinn bring it to thee forthright.'
The Khalif wondered greatly at his story and bestowed on him royal giftsin exchange for his presentsand entreated him with the favour he deserved.
