Now it happened that Aladdin was out hunting, and the Princess sat alone in the hall of the jeweled windows.  When, therefore, she heard the noise that was going on in the street outside, she called to her slaves to ask what it meant.

Presently one of the slaves came back, laughing so much that she could hardly speak.

“It is a curious old man who offers to give new lamps for old,” she cried.  “Did any one ever hear before of such a strange way of trading?”

The Princess laughed too, and pointed to an old lamp which hung in a niche close by.

“There is an old enough lamp,” she said.  “Take it and see if the old man will really give a new one for it.”

The slave took it down and ran out to the street once more, and when the Magician saw that it was indeed what he wanted, he seized the Magic Lamp with both his hands.

“Choose any lamp you like,” he said, showing her those of bright new copper.  He did not care now what happened.  She might have all the new lamps if she wanted them.

Then he went a little way outside the city, and when he was quite alone he took out the Magic Lamp and rubbed it gently.  Immediately the Genie stood before him and asked what was his will.

“I order thee to carry off the palace of Aladdin, with the Princess inside, and set it down in a lonely spot in Africa.”

And in an instant the palace, with every one in it, had disappeared, and when the Sultan happened to look out of his window, lo! there was no longer a palace to be seen.

“This must be enchantment,” he cried.

Then he ordered his men to set out and bring Aladdin to him in chains.

The officers met Aladdin as he was returning from the hunt, and they immediately seized him, loaded him with chains, and carried him off to the Sultan.  But as he was borne along, the people gathered around him, for they loved him dearly, and vowed that no harm should befall him.

The Sultan was beside himself with rage when he saw Aladdin, and gave orders that his head should be cut off at once.  But the people had begun to crowd into the palace, and they were so fierce and threatening that he dared not do as he wished.  He was obliged to order the chains to be taken off, and Aladdin to be set free.

As soon as Aladdin was allowed to speak he asked why all this was done to him.

“Wretch!” exclaimed the Sultan, “come hither, and I will show thee.”

Then he led Aladdin to the window and showed him the empty space where his palace had once stood.

“Think not that I care for thy vanished palace,” he said.  “But where is the Princess, my daughter?”

So astonished was Aladdin that for some time he could only stand speechless, staring at the place where his palace ought to have been.

At last he turned to the Sultan.

“Your Majesty,” he said, “grant me grace for one month, and if by that time I have not brought back thy daughter to thee, then put me to death as I deserve.”