A MAN-EATING tiger was ravaging1 the Kingdom of Damnasia, and the

　　King, greatly concerned for the lives and limbs of his Royal

　　subjects, promised his daughter Zodroulra to any man who would kill

　　the animal. After some days Camaraladdin appeared before the King

　　and claimed the reward.

　　"But where is the tiger?" the King asked.

　　"May jackasses sing above my uncle's grave," replied Camaraladdin,

　　"if I dared go within a league of him!"

　　"Wretch2!" cried the King, unsheathing his consoler-under-

　　disappointment; "how dare you claim my daughter when you have done

　　nothing to earn her?"

　　"Thou art wiser, O King, than Solyman the Great, and thy servant is

　　as dust in the tomb of thy dog, yet thou errest. I did not, it is

　　true, kill the tiger, but behold3! I have brought thee the scalp of

　　the man who had accumulated five million pieces of gold and was

　　after more."

　　The King drew his consoler-under-disappointment, and, flicking4 off

　　Camaraladdin's head, said:

　　"Learn, caitiff, the expediency5 of uncalculating zeal6. If the

　　millionaire had been let alone he would have devoured7 the tiger."