"
The father of the young girl said to Mahomet: "If you find her you may have
her. But if not, I will kill you. Ninety-nine cavaliers have already met
death thus. You will be the hundredth."
The bird flew toward the woman.
"Where shall I find you?" it asked her.
She answered: "You see that door at which I am sitting; it is the usual
place of my father. I shall be hidden underneath."
The next day Mahomet presented himself before the Sultan: "Arise," he said,
"your daughter is hidden there."
The Sultan imposed this new condition: "My daughter resembles ninety-nine
others of her age. She is the hundredth. If you recognize her in the group
I will give her to you. But if not, I will kill you."
The young girl said to Mahomet, "I will ride a lame horse." Mahomet
recognized her, and the Sultan gave her to him, with a serving-maid, a
female slave, and another woman.
Mahomet and his companion departed. Arriving at a certain road they
separated. Mahomet retained for himself his wife and the slave woman, and
gave to his companion the two other women.
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