There was once a king whose son loved hunting. The king allowed this pastime but ordered his grand-vizir to always accompany the prince and never let him out of sight. One day, a huntsman roused a stag. The prince, believing the vizir was behind him, gave chase and rode so hard that he soon found himself alone. Having lost sight of the stag, he turned to rejoin the vizir, who had failed to keep up. The prince then lost his way.
While searching for the path, he saw a beautiful lady weeping by the roadside. He reined in his horse and asked who she was and if she needed help. "I am the daughter of an Indian king," she replied. "While riding, I fell asleep and tumbled from my horse, which has run away."
Feeling pity, the prince offered her a ride. As they passed a ruined building, the lady dismounted and entered. The prince followed. To his horror, he heard her say inside, "Rejoice, my children! I bring you a nice, fat youth." Other voices answered, "Where is he, Mother? We are very hungry and wish to eat him at once!"
The prince realized his peril. The lady was no princess but an ogress who lured and devoured travelers in desolate places. Terrified, he leaped onto his horse. The ogress appeared and, seeing her prey escaping, asked, "Do not be afraid. What do you want?"
"I am lost and seek the road," he answered.
"Keep straight on," said the ogress, "and you will find it."
Hardly believing his luck, the prince rode off as fast as he could. He found his way home safely and told his father of the danger caused by the vizir's negligence. The king, furious, immediately had the vizir strangled.