I have heard, O fortunate king, that when Hasan read the note, he was certain that he would escape from his difficulties and be reunited with his family. He took two steps forward and then found himself in a dangerous desert with no one there to befriend him. He shed bitter tears and recited the lines that have been quoted. He took another two steps along the river bank and found two small boys, who were descended from a line of sorcerers and diviners. In front of them was a brass rod engraved with talismans, and beside it was a leather cap with three segments, on each of which were worked names and seal inscriptions written in letters of steel. Both the rod and the cap had been thrown down on the ground, as the two boys were quarrelling and fighting. Blood was flowing. ‘No one is going to take this rod except me,’ one was saying. while other was insisting: ‘I’m going to have it.’ Hasan intervened and parted them before asking them the reason for their quarrel. ‘Uncle,’ they said, ‘decide this for us, since Almighty God must have sent you here to give us a fair ruling.’ ‘Tell me the story,’ said Hasan, ‘and I shall act as judge. ’They replied: ‘We are full brothers. Our father was one of the great sorcerers and he lived in a cave on this mountain.