SOME CURRENT PUSHTU FOLK STORIES. 
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bar of iron. The prince went forth into the plain, grasping his axe in his hand. 
But he forgot that the princess had given him a lock of her hair. 
Altogether, three blows were allowed him. To the first blow that he delivered, 
there was no result. He struck yet again, — still nothing happened. He was ready 
for the third blow, when he recollected the lock of hair that had been given him. 
Winding it about the axe-handle, he struck. The iron bar was cloven. 
The King of the Fairies marvelled greatly, thinking that mayhap this was 
a sorcerer. 
When the day of the last test came, the King of the Fairies commanded his 
servants to sow mustard-seed. They ploughed in criss-cross fashion, and (first of all) 
weighed the mustard-seed in scales. 
“This will you gather together again,” they said to the prince, “until the 
weight of the mustard-seed in the scales is once more correct. And if there be but one 
grain short, then will your head be the penalty.” 
Then they led the prince out to the plain : and all the people of the city were 
there gathered together. The prince, — in their midst,— proceeded to prepare the 
water for his ‘ hookah.’ 
“What a foolish man you are! ” remonstrated some of the bystanders. “ With 
the most difficult task possible hanging over your head, here you are fidgetting about 
in this fashion ! ’ ’ 
“ What kind of a task is this, that I need set to in haste! ’ ’ replied the prince ; 
“ Bring me my ‘ hookah.’ ” 
When they had brought the ‘hookah,’ and filled it, he set a match to it, and 
placed therein the wings which the queen-ant had given him. Soon after came 
the ants. 
“ What is our work ? ” they asked the prince. 
“ That in this field not a single grain of mustard- seed remain,” replied he. “All 
of it must be collected.” 
“Have no fear whatever,” said the ants, and they commenced to gather in 
the mustard-seed. The ants’ mustard-seed came in grain by grain; and they re- 
placed it in the scales, until only one grain remained to complete the full weight. 
Then the prince gave orders to the ants, telling them that a grain was missing, 
the leader of the ants said, “One of our number is lame: therefore has he not yet 
arrived,” — and sent one or two ants after him. They belaboured the lame 
one thoroughly, and taking the grain of mustard-seed from him, carried it to 
the prince. 
The mustard- seed was complete; the prince had gained his hazard! 
He was delighted, and gave the ants leave to depart. 
The King of the Fairies conducted him from the plain, and carried him straight 
to his palace : and there he celebrated his marriage with Laughing-Flower. 
So they were united, and passed their days in happiness and joy. 
When some time had elapsed, the prince requested permission of his father-in- 
law to revisit his own country. 
