The Magic Ring

North Africa

A young man called Yusuf lost his father when he was only fifteen. He lived with his mother and the only livestock his father had bequeathed him, a dog, a cat and a falcon. Yusuf went out hunting with his three animal companions every day. When he saw a gazelle he sent

his dog after it. When he saw a rabbit or a squirrel he sent his cat, and when he saw a bird he sent his falcon.

One day he saw a cave and inside it he found an old man, who was trying to lift a large slab from the floor of the cave.

"Can you help me lift this stone?" asked the old man. "I will give you a reward."

Yusuf lifted the stone and saw under it a stair leading down into a strange place with vaulted halls, arches supported by pillars, and on the floor dazzling piles of precious stones and golden ornaments.

"Find my ring! Take what you like, but get me my ring!" Thus shouted the old man from above. Suddenly, Yusuf saw a flash of red light on the floor. He stooped and discovered a splendid ring with a priceless ruby. He picked it up and put it on his finger, whereupon the ring began to speak in human language, "Master! Tell me any wish and you will have it in your hand."

"Throw the ring! Throw it now!" shouted the old man through the hatch. "If you don't, I won't let you out!" Yusuf threw the ring and the old man caught it. At once he let the hatch down, so that Yusuf was locked in the cave. The old man put the ring on his finger, turned it and flew away by its magic force. Once you have a precious thing, never let it go!

Yusuf was now a prisoner locked in a room with more wealth than even the king possessed. He began to explore the vaults and suddenly he heard a voice, "Master, master!" He recognized the voice of his dog and tried to discover where it came from. At last he

saw a ray of light from above his head, and he could hear the dog digging away the earth from a broken vault which was caving in. With great effort Yusuf managed to climb out through the hole in the roof and then through the earth that the dog had dug away.

Yusuf was determined to get the magic ring for himself. He sent the falcon to look for the old man. The falcon flew up high in the sky, higher and higher until it discovered the old man sleeping in a great palace. The falcon came back and suggested that the cat sat between its wings. Together, they travelled over the countryside to the old man's palace. There, the cat entered the cellars and reappeared with the king of the palace rats between its teeth. The rat king was told that he could buy his freedom by finding the magic ring. The king assembled all his rats and told them to go and search for the old man's ring.

After a long time a little rat reported, "The old man has a ring hidden in his nose."

"Stick your tail into his nose," suggested the cat. The little rat did so. The old man sneezed, blew his ring out and went back to sleep. The falcon picked up the ring and flew with it to Yusuf.

Yusuf put it on his finger, and the ring said, "Command what you wish, master!" Yusuf ordered, "I want to fly to the old man's palace, and I want a good sword!" At once he soared up into the sky and soon found himself in the old man's bedroom, carrying a sharp sword. He severed the old man's head from the body so that the evil spirit flew away, by God's command.

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