"I cannot do that or the meat will burn," answered the old woman. "Come
in through the window."
Then the snake stuck one of its heads in through the window. The
gazelle was ready, and the moment the head appeared it cut it off with
the sword, and the sword was so very sharp and keen that the snake did
not feel the blow. "How dark it is in the house," it said. "I can see
nothing," and it stuck its other head in. Quick as a flash the gazelle
cut off that head too. "Oh! I think a hair fell on my neck," said the
snake, and it stuck its third head in through the window. Then the
gazelle cut off that head too, and the snake was dead.
The old woman rejoiced to know she was now free from the snake, and she
could not make enough of the little animal that had killed him.
"I must go and get my master," said the gazelle, "for now that I have
killed the snake, this city and all that is in it belongs to him; and
if anyone asks you must say, This is the palace of Prince Daardaaee."
When Haamdaanee heard from the gazelle all that he had done, and how
the palace and the treasures of the snake now belonged to him, he did
not know what to do with himself for joy.
He and the princess soon set out together, and with them a number of
people from the city, to whom Haamdaanee promised houses and wealth
when they should reach his city.
The gazelle ran along beside them pointing out the way, and when they
reached the palace it was more magnificent than anything the princess
had dreamed of.
So they lived there very happily, and the little gazelle had soft
cushions to lie on, and all the milk and rice that it could eat, so it
did not have to run off into the forest any more, but could stay in the
palace and take its ease.
[Illustration]