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the refuse heap to the great surprise of the king. On themorrow a huge palace with magnificent gardens stood inits place. The people wondered, went there to see it, and theprincess heard of it and also went there after having ob-tained permission from her father who had kept her lockedup in the palace. She recognised her husband and promisedto flee with him. After 30 days she was able to bring hertwo children and a large amount of treasure. The boatmenwaited for them and then carried them swiftly home. Inthe morning the people found that the palace and gardenshad disappeared and the refuse heap was again there. Whenthey approached the port, the two boatmen asked theyoung man to divide the spoils according to arrange-ment. He was to take one, either the treasure, or thewife or children; the other two belonged to them. Hewillingly gave up the treasure, but neither wife nor
children.
When they saw his despair, they comforted him and toldhim that he could keep all; they had only put him to thetest and would take nothing, for one of the boatmen wasthe dead rabbi whom he had ransomed from the Sultanand brought to honourable burial and the other, his com-panion, was none other than the prophet Elijah who hadbeen allowed by God to accompany him and reward himfor his pious deeds. It was he who had built the palace andthen made it disappear again. Henceforth, the young manhis wife and children all lived happily together.
441 a. A man carrying a jug of milk heard a snake crying. Congin ét. 626
It was thirsty. The man gave it to drink and the snake
promised him a treasure. After it had drunk it showed him G73a spot under a stone where the man found a great treasure.Then the snake coiled itself round his neck and wanted tokill him, because he had robbed it of its treasure. Theycame to Solomon for judgment. The snake pleaded justifi-cation by referring to the words in Scripture," Thou shaltbruise his heel." Solomon ordered it to get down as theymust both be standing equal in the court. When the snake