Quoth she'The old woman told me that thou wast weak with illness on my account；and beholdthou art stronger than a horse.'He made her no reply；so she put her hand to his face and felt a beard like a bath-broomas he were a hog that had swallowed feathers and they had come out at his gullet；whereat she took fright and said to him'What art thou？'O strumpet，'
answered he'I am the sharper Jewan the Kurdof the band of Ahmed ed Denef；we are forty sharperswho will all tilt at thy tail this nightfrom dusk to dawn.'When she heard his words，she wept and buffeted her faceknowing that Fate had gotten the better of her and that there was nothing for it but to put her trust in God the Most High. So she took patience and submitted herself to the ordinance of Godsaying'There is no god but God！ As often as we escape from one troublewe fall into a worse.'
Now the manner of Jewan's coming thither was thus：he had said to Ahmed ed Denef'O captainI have been here before and know a cavern without the townthat will hold forty souls；so I will go before you thither and set my mother therein. Then will I enter the city and steal somewhat on your account and keep it till you come；so shall you be my guests this day.'Do what thou wilt，'replied Ahmed. So Jewan forewent them to the cavern and left his mother there；butas he came outhe found a trooper lying asleepwith his horse tethered beside him；so he slew him and taking his clothes and armshid them with his mother in the cavewhere also he tied up the horse. Then he betook himself to the city and prowled abouttill he happened on the Christian's house and did with Ali Shar and Zumurrud as we have said. He ceased not to runwith Zumurrud on his backtill he came to the cavernwhere he gave her in charge of his mothersaying'Keep watch over her till I come back to thee at point of day，'and went away.
Meanwhile Zumurrud said to herself'Now is the time to cast about for a means of escape. If I wait till these forty men come，they will take their turns at metill they make me like a water-logged ship.'Then she turned to the old woman and said to her，'O my auntwilt thou not come without the cavethat I may louse thee in the sun？'Ayby AllahO my daughter！'replied the old woman. 'This long time have I been out of reach of the bath；for these hogs cease not to hale me from place to place.'So they went without the cavernand Zumurrud combed out the old woman's hair and killed the vermin in her headtill this soothed her and she fell asleep；whereupon Zumurrud arose and donning the clothes of the murdered troopergirt herself with his sword and covered her head with his turbanso that she became as she were a man.
Then she took the saddle-bags full of gold and mounted the horse，saying in herself'O kind ProtectorI adjure thee by the glory of Mohammed（whom God bless and preserve，）protect me！ If I enter the citybelike one of the trooper's folk will see meand no good will befall me.'So she turned her back on the city and rode forth into the desert.
She fared on ten dayseating of the fruits of the earth and drinking of its watersshe and her horse；and on the eleventh dayshe came in sight of a pleasant and safe citystablished in good；the season of winter had departed from it with its cold and the spring-tide came to it with its roses and orange-blossoms；its flowers blew brightits streams welled forth and its birds warbled. As she drew nearshe saw the troops and Amirs and notables of the place drawn up before the gateat which she marvelled and said to herself'The people of the city are all collected at the gate： there must needs be a reason for this.'
Then she made towards them；butas she drew nearthe troops hastened forward to meet her and dismountingkissed the ground before her and said'God aid theeO our lord the Sultan！'
Then the grandees ranked themselves before herwhilst the troops ranged the people in ordersaying'God aid thee and make thy coming a blessing to the MuslimsO Sultan of all men！ God stablish theeO king of the age and pearl of the day and the time！'What ails youO people of the city？'asked Zumurrud；and the chamberlain answered'VerilyHe who is no niggard in giving hath been bountiful to thee and hath made thee Sultan of this city and ruler over the necks of all that are therein；for know that it is the custom of the citizenswhen their king dies，leaving no sonthat the troops should sally forth of the pace and abide there three days；and whoever cometh from the quarter whence thou hast comethey make him king over them. So praised be God who hath sent us a well-favoured man of the sons of the Turks；for had a lesser than thou presented himselfhe had been Sultan.'
Now Zumurrud was well-advised in all she did；so she said'Think not that I am of the common folk of the Turks；nayI am a man of condition；but I was wroth with my familyso I went forth and left them. See these saddle-bags full of gold I brought with me，that I might give alms thereof to the poor and needy by the way.'
So they called down blessings upon her and rejoiced in her with an exceeding joy and she also rejoiced in them and said in herself'Now that I have attained to this estateit may be God will reunite me with my lord in this placefor He can do what He will.'Then the troops escorted her to the city and dismounting，walked before her to the palace. Here she alighted and the Amirs and grandeestaking her under the armpitscarried her into the palace and seated her on the throne；after which they all kissed the ground before her. Then she bade open the treasuries and gave largesse to the troopswho offered up prayers for the continuance of her reignand all the townsfolk and the people of the kingdom accepted her rule.
