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The King's physicians at first laughed at the unknown
wayfarer； but the Sultan ordered that the stranger should
be admitted。 They brought the cauldron and the loads
of wood； and very soon the King was boiling away。
Toward mid…day the gardener's son arranged the bones in
their places； and he had hardly scattered the ashes over
them before the old King revived； to find himself once
more young and hearty。
〃How can I reward you； my benefactor？〃 he cried。
〃Will you take half my treasures？〃
〃No；〃 said the gardener's son。
〃My daughter's hand？〃
〃NO。〃
〃Take half my kingdom。〃
〃No。 Give me only the bronze ring which can instantly
grant me anything I wish for。〃
〃Alas！〃 said the King； 〃I set great store by that
marvelous ring； nevertheless； you shall have it。〃 And he gave
it to him。
The gardener's son went back to say good…by to the old
beggar…woman； then he said to the bronze ring：
〃Prepare a splendid ship in which I may continue my
journey。 Let the hull be of fine gold； the masts of silver；
the sails of brocade； let the crew consist of twelve young
men of noble appearance； dressed like kings。 St。 Nicholas
will be at the helm。 As to the cargo； let it be diamonds；
rubies； emeralds； and carbuncles。〃
And immediately a ship appeared upon the sea which
resembled in every particular THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY THE
GARDENER'S SON； and； stepping on board； he continued his
journey。 Presently he arrived at a great town and established
himself in a wonderful palace。 After several days
he met his rival； the minister's son； who had spent all his
money and was reduced to the disagreeable employment
of a carrier of dust and rubbish。 The gardener's son said
to him：
〃What is your name； what is your family； and from
what country do you come？〃
〃I am the son of the prime minister of a great nation；
and yet see what a degrading occupation I am reduced
to。〃
〃Listen to me； though I don't know anything more
about you； I am willing to help you。 I will give you a ship
to take you back to your own country upon one condition。〃
〃Whatever it may be； I accept it willingly。〃
〃Follow me to my palace。〃
The minister's son followed the rich stranger； whom he
had not recognized。 When they reached the palace the
gardener's son made a sign to his slaves； who completely
undressed the new…comer。
〃Make this ring red…hot；〃 commanded the master； 〃and
mark the man with it upon his back。〃
The slaves obeyed him。
〃Now； young man；〃 said the rich stranger； 〃I am going
to give you a vessel which will take you back to your own
country。〃
And； going out； he took the bronze ring and said：
〃Bronze ring； obey thy master。 Prepare me a ship of
which the half…rotten timbers shall be painted black； let
the sails be in rags； and the sailors infirm and sickly。 One
shall have lost a leg； another an arm； the third shall be a
hunchback； another lame or club…footed or blind； and
most of them shall be ugly and covered with scars。 Go；
and let my orders be executed。〃
The minister's son embarked in this old vessel； and
thanks to favorable winds； at length reached his own
country。 In spite of the pitiable condition in which he
returned they received him joyfully。
〃I am the first to come back；〃 said he to the King；
now fulfil your promise； and give me the princess in
marriage。
So they at once began to prepare for the wedding
festivities。 As to the poor princess； she was sorrowful and
angry enough about it。
The next morning； at daybreak； a wonderful ship with
every sail set came to anchor before the town。 The King
happened at that moment to be at the palace window。
〃What strange ship is this；〃 he cried； 〃that has a
golden hull； silver masts； and silken sails； and who are the
young men like princes who man it？ And do I not see St。
Nicholas at the helm？ Go at once and invite the captain
of the ship to come to the palace。〃
His servants obeyed him； and very soon in came an
enchantingly handsome young prince； dressed in rich
silk； ornamented with pearls and diamonds。
〃Young man；〃 said the King； 〃you are welcome；
whoever you may be。 Do me the favor to be my guest as long
as you remain in my capital。〃
〃Many thanks； sire；〃 replied the captain； 〃I accept
your offer。〃
〃My daughter is about to be married；〃 said the King；
〃will you give her away？〃
〃I shall be charmed； sire。〃
Soon after came the Princess and her betrothed。
〃Why； how is this？〃 cried the young captain； 〃would
you marry this charming princess to such a man as that？〃
〃But he is my prime minister's son！〃
〃What does that matter？ I cannot give your daughter
away。 The man she is betrothed to is one of my servants。〃
〃Your servant？〃
〃Without doubt。 I met him in a distant town reduced
to carrying away dust and rubbish from the houses。 I
had pity on him and engaged him as one of my servants。〃
〃It is impossible！〃 cried the King。
〃Do you wish me to prove what I say？ This young man
returned in a vessel which I fitted out for him； an unsea…
worthy ship with a black battered hull； and the sailors
were infirm and crippled。〃
〃It is quite true；〃 said the King。
〃It is false；〃 cried the minister's son。 〃I do not know
this man！〃
〃Sire；〃 said the young captain； 〃order your daughter's
betrothed to be stripped； and see if the mark of my ring
is not branded upon his back。〃
The King was about to give this order； when the
minister's son； to save himself from such an indignity；
admitted that the story was true。
〃And now； sire；〃 said the young captain； 〃do you not
recognize me？〃
〃I recognize you；〃 said the Princess； 〃you are the
gardener's son whom I have always loved； and it is you
I wish to marry。〃
〃Young man； you shall be my son…in…law；〃 cried the
King。 〃The marriage festivities are already begun； so you
shall marry my daughter this very day。〃
And so that very day the gardener's son married the
beautiful Princess。
Several months passed。 The young couple were as
happy as the day was long； and the King was more and
more pleased with himself for having secured such a son…
in…law。
But； presently； the captain of the golden ship found it
necessary to take a long voyage； and after embracing his
wife tenderly he embarked。
Now in the outskirts of the capital there lived an old
man； who had spent his life in studying black arts
alchemy； astrology； magic； and enchantment。 This man
found out that the gardener's son had only succeeded in
marrying the Princess by the help of the genii who obeyed
the bronze ring。
〃I will have that ring；〃 said he to himself。 So he went
down to the sea…shore and caught some little red fishes。
Really； they were quite wonderfully pretty。 Then he came
back； and； passing before the Princess's window； he began
to cry out：
〃Who wants some prett