that the king was seated at the lattice, hearkening to their talk, and Abu Sabir’s words angered him for the moment; wherefore he bade bring him before him and they brought him forthright.  Now there was in the king’s palace an underground dungeon and therein a vast silo[FN#170] and a deep, into which the king caused cast Abu Sabir, saying to him, “O little of wit, soon shall we see how thou wilt come forth of the pit to the throne of the kingdom.”  Then he used continuously to come and stand at the mouth of the pit and say, “O little of wit, O Abu Sabir,[FN#171] I see thee not come forth of the pit and sit down on the king’s throne!” And he assigned him each day two bannocks of bread, whilst Abu Sabir kept silence and spake not, but patiently bore whatso betided him.  Now the king had a brother, whom he had imprisoned in that pit of old time, and he had died there; but the folk of the realm deemed him still alive, and when his durance grew long, the courtiers of the king used to talk of this and of the tyranny of their liege Lord, and the bruit spread abroad that the sovran was a tyrant, so they fell upon him one day and slew him.  Then they sought the silo and brought out therefrom Abu Sabir, deeming him the king’s brother, for that he was the nearest of folk to him in favour and the likest, and he had been long in the pit.  So they doubted not but that he was the Prince and said to him, “Reign thou in thy brother’s room, for we have slain him and thou art sovran in his stead.”  But Abu Sabir was silent and spoke not a word;[FN#172] and he knew that this was the result of his patience.  Then he arose and sitting down on the king’s throne, donned the royal dress and dispensed justice and equity, and affairs prospered; wherefore the lieges obeyed him and the subjects inclined to him and many were his soldiers.  Now the king, who erst had plundered Abu Sabir’s goods and driven him forth of his village, had an enemy; and the foe mounted horse against him and overcame him and captured his capital; wherefore he betook him to flight and came to Abu Sabir’s city, craving support of him and seeking that he should succour him.  He knew not that the king of the city was the headman whom he had spoiled; so he presented himself before him and made complaint to him; but Abu Sabir knew him and said to him, “This is somewhat of the issue of patience.  Allah the Most High hath given me power over thee.”  Then he commanded his guards to plunder the unjust king and his suite; so they spoiled them and stripping them of their clothes, put them forth of his country.  When Abu Sabir’s troops saw this, they marvelled and said, “What be this deed the king doth?  There cometh a king to him, craving protection, and he spoileth him!  This is not the fashion of kings.”  But they dared not speak of this.  Presently, news came to the king of highwaymen in his land; so he set out in quest of them and ceased not to follow after them, till he had seized on them all. and behold,