"Tell me how I shall reward thee for that thou hast restored my
talisman to me."
But he, who did not exert himself to think of any thing but just of
what was most present to his mind, answered,--
"Let there be given me, O Khan, the raiment, and the horse, the fox,
the dog, and the bow and arrows which I have lost."
When the Khan heard him ask for nothing save his horse and dog,
and raiment, and a fox, and bows and arrows, he said,--
"Of a truth this is a singular soothsayer. Nevertheless, let there
be given him over and above the things that he hath required of us
two elephants laden with meal and butter."
So they gave him all the things he had required and two elephants
laden with meal and butter to boot. Thus they brought him back unto
his own home.
Seeing him yet afar, his wife came out to meet him, carrying
brandy. She opened her eyes when she saw the two elephants laden
with butter and meal; but knowing that he loved to be left at ease,
forbore to question him that night. The next morning she made him
tell her the whole story before they got up; but when she heard what
little demands he had made after rendering the Khan so great a service
as restoring his talisman, she exclaimed,--
"If a man would be called a man, he ought to know better how to use
his opportunities."
And with that she sat to work to write a letter in her husband's name
to the Khan.