The Story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves - Part II

In the meantime the thief rejoined his troop in the forest,
and recounted to them his success. All the robbers listened to
him with the utmost satisfaction; when the captain, after com-
mending his diligence, addressing himself to them all, said;
"Comrades, we have no time to lose: let us set off well armed;
but that we may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two go
into the town together, and join at our rendezvous, which shall
be the great square. In the meantime, our comrade who
brought us the good news, and I, will go and find out the house,
that we may consult what had best be done."

This plan was approved of by all, and they were soon ready.
They filed off in parties of two each, and got into the town without
being in the least suspected. The captain, and he who had
visited the town in the morning as spy, came in the last. He led
the captain into the street where he had marked Ali Baba's
residence; and when they came to the first of the houses which
Morgiana had marked, he pointed it out. But the captain
observed that the next door was chalked in the same manner;
and shewing it to his guide, asked him which house it was, that,
or the first .^ The guide was so confounded, that he knew not
what answer to make; but still more puzzled, when he saw
five or six houses similarly marked. He assured the captain,
with an oath, that he had marked but one, and could not tell
who had chalked the rest so that he could not distinguish the
house which the cobbler had stopped at.

The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive,
went directly to the place of rendezvous, and told the first of his
troop whom he met that they had lost their labour, and must
return to their cave. When the troop was all got together, the
captain told them the reason of their returning; and presently
the conductor was declared by all worthy of death. He con-
demned himself, acknowledging that he ought to have taken
better precaution, and prepared to receive the stroke from him
who was appointed to cut off his head. Another of the gang,
who promised himself that he should succeed better, immediately
presented himself, and his offer being accepted, he went and
corrupted Baba Mustapha, as the other had done; and being
shewn the house, marked it in a place more remote from sight,
with red chalk.

Not long after, Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could escape,
went out, and seeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as
she had done before, marked the other neighbours' houses in the
same place and manner. The robber, at his return to his com-
pany, valued himself much on the precaution he had taken,
which he looked upon as an infallible way of distinguishing Ali
Baba's house from the others; and the captain and all of them
thought it must succeed. They conveyed themselves into the
town with the same precaution as before; but when the robber
and his captain came to the street, they found the same diflSculty :
at which the captain was enraged, and the robber in as great
confusion as his predecessor. Thus the captain and his troop
were forced to retire a second time, and much more dissatisfied;
while the unfortunate robber, who had been the author of the
mistake, underwent the same punishment; which he willingly
submitted to.

The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was
afraid of diminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get
information of the residence of their plunderer. He found by
their example that their heads were not so good as their hands on
such occasions; and therefore resolved to take upon himself the
important commission. Accordingly, he went and addressed
himself to Baba Mustapha, who did him the same service
he had done to the other robbers. He did not set any particu-
lar mark on the house, but examined and observed it so care-
fully, by passing often by it, that it was impossible for him to
mistake it.

The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of
what he wanted to know, returned to the forest; and when he
came into the cave, where the troop waited for him, said: "Now,
comrades, nothing can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain
of the house, and in my way hither I have thought how to put
it into execution, but if any one can form a better expedient, let
him communicate it." He then told them his contrivance ; and
as they approved of it, ordered them to go into the villages
about, and buy nineteen mules, with thirty-eight large leather
jars, one full of oil, and the others empty. In two or three
days' time the robbers had purchased the mules and jars, and
as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for his
purpose, the captain caused them to be widened; and after
having put one of his men into each, with the weapons
which he thought fit, leaving open the seam which had been
undone to leave them room to breathe, he rubbed the jars on the
outside with oil from the full vessel. Things being thus prepared,
when the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty-seven robbers
in jars, and the jar of oil, the captain, as their driver, set out with
them, and reached the town by the dusk of the evening, as he
had intended. He led them through the streets till he came to
Ali Baba's, at whose door he designed to have knocked; but
vv^as prevented by his sitting there after supper to take a little
fresh air. He stopped his mules, addressed himself to him, and
said: "I have brought some oil a great way, to sell at to-morrow's
market ; and it is now so late that I do not know where to lodge.
If I should not be troublesome to you, do me the favour to let me
pass the night with you, and I shall be very much obliged by
your hospitality."

Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the
forest, and had heard him speak, it was hardly possible to know
him in the disguise of an oil-merchant. He told him he should
be welcome, and immediately opened his gates for the mules to
go into the yard. At the same time he called to a slave, and
ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, to put them into
the stable, and give them fodder ; and then went to Morgiana, to
bid her get a good supper. He did more. When he saw the
captain had unloaded his mules, and that they were put into the
stables as he had ordered, and he was looking for a place to pass
the night in the air, he brought him into the hall where he received
his company, .telling him he would not suffer him to be in the
court. The captain excused himself on pretence of not being
troublesome ; but really to have room to execute his design, and it
was not till after the most pressing importunity that he yielded.
Ali Baba, not content to keep company, till supper was ready,
with the man who had a design on his life, continued talking with
him till it was ended, and repeating his offer of service. The
captain rose up at the same time with his host; and while Ali
Baba went to speak to Morgiana he withdrew into the yard,
under pretence of looking at his mules. Ali Baba, after charging
Morgiana afresh to take care of his guest, said to her: ''To-
morrow morning I design to go to the bath before day ; take care
my bathing linens be ready, give them to Abdoollah," which was
the slave's name, "and make me some good broth against I
return." After this he went to bed.

In the meantime, the captain went from the stable to give his
people orders what to do; and beginning at the first jar, and so
on to the last, said to each man: "As soon as I throw some
stones out of the chamber window where I lie, do not fail to cut
the jar open with the knife you have about you for the purpose,
and come out, and I will immediately join you." After this he
returned into the house, when Morgiana, taking up a light, con-
ducted him to his chamber, where she left him; and he, to avoid
any suspicion, put the light out soon after, and laid himself
down in his clothes, that he might be the more ready to rise.

Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's orders, got his bathing
linens ready, and ordered Abdoollah to set on the pot for the
broth; but while she was preparing it, the lamp went out, and
there was no more oil in the house, nor any candles. What to
do she did not know, for the broth must be made. Abdoollah
seeing her very uneasy, said: "Do not fret and tease yourself,
but go into the yard, and take some oil out of orte of the jars."
Morgiana thanked Abdoollah for his advice, took the oil-pot,
and w^ent into the yard ; when as she came nigh the first jar, the
robber within said softly: "Is it time.^" Though the robber
spoke low, Morgiana was struck with the voice the more, because
the captain, when he unloaded the mules, had taken the lids off
this and all the other jars to give air to his men, who were ill
enough at their ease, almost wanting room to breathe. iVs much
surprised as Morgiana naturally was at finding a man in a jar,
instead of the oil she wanted, many would have made such an
outcry as to have given an alarm; whereas Morgiana compre-
hending immediately the importance of keeping silence, and the
necessity of applying a speedy remedy without noise, conceived
at once the means, and collecting herself without shewing the
least emotion, answered: "Not yet, but presently." She went in
this manner to all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came
to the jar of oil.

By this means, Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba,
who thought that he had entertained an oil merchant, had ad-
mitted thirty-eight robbers into his house, regarding this pre-
tended merchant as their captain. She made what haste she
could to fill her oil-pot, and returned into her kitchen ; where, as
soon as she had lighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went
again to the oil-jar, filled the kettle, set it on a large wood-fire,
and as soon as it boiled went and poured enough into every jar
to stifle and destroy the robber within.

When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was
executed without any noise, she returned into the kitchen with
the empty kettle ; and having put out the great fire she had made
to boil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the broth, put out
the lamp also, and remained silent; resolving not to go to rest
till she had observed what might follow through a window of the
kitchen, which opened into the yard.

She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers
got up, opened the window, and finding no light, and hearing
no noise, or any one stirring in the house, gave the appointed
signal, by throwing little stones, several of which hit the jars,
as he doubted not by the sound they gave. He then listened, but
not hearing or perceiving anything whereby he could judge that
his companions stirred, he began to grow very uneasy, threw
stones again a second and also a third time, and could not com-
prehend the reason that none of them should answer his signal.
Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, and going to
the first jar, whilst asking the robber, whom he thought alive,
if he was in readiness, smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent forth
a steam out of the jar. Hence he suspected that his plot to
murder Ali Baba and plunder his house was discovered. Exam-
ining all the jars one after another, he found that all the
members of his gang were dead ; and by the oil he missed out of
the last jar guessed the means and manner of their death. En-
raged to despair at having failed in his design, he forced the lock
of a door that led from the yard to the garden, and climbmg over
the walls, made his escape.

When Morgiana heard no noise, and found, after waiting
some time, that the captain did not return, she concluded that
he had chosen rather to make his escape by the garden than the
street door, which was double-locked. Satisfied and pleased to
have succeeded so well, in saving her master and family, she went
to bed.

Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed by his slave, went to
the baths, entirely ignorant of the important event which had
happened at home; for Morgiana had not thought it safe to
wake him before, for fear of losing her opportunity; and after
her successful exploit she thought it needless to disturb him.

When he returned from the baths, the sun was risen; he
was very much surprised to see the oil jars and that the merchant
was not gone with the mules. He asked Morgiana, who opened
the door, and had let all things stand as they were, that he might
see them, the reason of it. "My good master," answered she,
"God preserve you and all your family; you will be better in-
formed of what you wish to know when you have seen what I
have to show you, if you will but give yourself the trouble to
follow me."

As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed
her; when she requested him to look into the first jar and see
if there was any oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started
back in alarm, and cried out. "Do not be afraid," said Morgi-
ana; "the man you see there can neither do you nor anybody
else any harm. He is dead." "Ah, Morgiana!" said Ali Baba,
"what is it you show me ? Explain yourself." "I will," replied
Morgiana; "moderate your astonishment, and do not excite the
curiosity of your neighbours. Look into all the other jars."

Ali Baba examined all the other jars, and when he came to that
which had the oil in, found it prodigiously sunk, and stood for
some time motionless, sometimes looking at the jars, and some-
times at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his
surprise: at last, when he had recovered himself, he said: **And
what is become of the merchant?"

"Merchant!" answered she, "he is as much one as I am;
I will tell you who he is, and what is become of him: but you
had better hear the story in your own chamber ; for it is time for
your health that you had your broth after your bathing."

While Ali Baba retired to his chamber, Morgiana went into
the kitchen to fetch the broth, but before he would drink it, he
first entreated her to satisfy his impatience, and tell him what had
happened, with all the circumstances; and she obeyed him.

"This," she said, when she had completed her story, "is the
account you asked of me; and I am convinced it is the conse-
quence of what I observed some days ago, but did not think fit
to acquaint you with; for when I came in one morning early I
found our street door marked with white chalk, and the next
morning with red ; upon which, both times without knowing what
was the intention of those chalks, I marked two or three neigh-
bours' doors on each side in the same manner. If you reflect
on this, and what has since happened, you will find it to be a
plot of the robbers of the forest, of whose gang there are two
wanting, and now they are reduced to three: all this shows that
they had sworn your destruction, and it is proper you should be
upon your guard, while there is one of them alive: for my part,
I shall neglect nothing necessary to your preservation, as I am
in duty bound."

When Morgiana had left off speaking, Ali Baba was so sensible
of the great service she had done him, that he said to her: "I will
not die without rewarding you as you deserve; I owe my life to
you, and for the first token of my acknowledgment, give you your
liberty from this moment, till I can complete your recompense as
I intend. I am persuaded with you, that the forty robbers
have laid snares for my destruction. God, by your means, has
delivered me from them as yet, and I hope will continue to pre-
serve me from their wicked designs, and deliver the world from
their persecution. All that we have to do is to bury the bodies
of these pests of mankind immediately, and with all the secrecy
imaginable, that nobody may suspect what is become of them.
But that labour Abdoollah and I will undertake."

Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the farther
end by a great number of large trees. Under these he and the
slave dug a trench, long and wide enough to hold all the robbers.
Afterward they lifted the bodies out of the jars, took away their
weapons, carried them to the end of the garden, laid them in the
trench, and levelled the ground again. When this was done,
Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as he had no occasion
for the mules, he sent them at different times to be sold in the
market by his slave.

While Ali Baba took these measures to prevent the public
from knowing how he came by his riches in so short a time, the
captain of the forty robbers returned to the forest with inconceiv-
able mortification; and in his confusion at his ill success, so
contrary to what he had promised himself, entered the cave, not
being able, all the way from the town, to come to any resolution
how to revenge himself of Ali Baba.

The loneliness of the gloomy cavern became frightful to him.
*'AMiere are you, my brave lads," cried he, "old companions of
my watchings, inroads, and labour ? What can I do without you ?
Did I collect you only to lose you by so base a fate, and so un-
worthy of your courage ! Had you died with your sabres in your
hands, like brave men, my regret had been less! When shall I
enlist so gallant a troop again ? And if I could, can I undertake
it without exposing so much gold and treasure to him who hath
already enriched himself out of it ? I cannot, I ought not to
think of it, before I have taken away his life. I will undertake
that alone, which I could not accomplish with your powerful assis-
tance ; and when I have taken measures to secure this treasure from
being pillaged, I will provide for it new masters and successors
after me, who shall preserve and augment it to all posterity."
This resolution being taken, he was not at a loss how to execute
his purpose; but full of hopes, slept all that night very quietly.

When he awoke early next morning, he dressed himself,
agreeably to the project he had formed, went to the town, and took
a lodging in a khan. As he expected what had happened at All
Baba's might make a great noise, he asked his host what news
there was in the city ? Upon which the innkeeper told him a
great many circumstances, which did not concern him in the
least. He judged by this, that the reason why Ali Baba kept his
affairs so secret, was for fear people should know where the
treasure lay; and because he knew his life would be sought on
account of it. This urged him the more to neglect nothing to
rid himself of so cautious an enemy.

The captain now assumed the character of a merchant, and
conveyed gradually a great many sorts of rich stuffs and fine
linen to his lodging from the cavern, but with all the necessary
precautions imaginable to conceal the place whence he brought
them. In order to dispose of the merchandise, when he had
amassed them together, he took a warehouse, which happened
to be opposite to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's son had occupied
since the death of his uncle.

He took the name of Khaujeh Houssain, and as a new-
comer, was, according to custom, extremely civil and com-
plaisant to all the merchants his neighbours. Ali Baba's son
was from his vicinity one of the first to converse with Khaujeh
Houssain, who strove to cultivate his friendship more particu-
larly when, two or three days after he was settled, he recognised
Ali Baba, who came to see his son, and stopped to talk with
him as he was accustomed to do. When he was gone, the
impostor learnt from his son who he was. He increased his
assiduities, caressed him in the most engaging manner, made
him some small presents, and often asked him to dine and sup
with him.

Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such obligation
to Khaujeh Houssain, without making the like return; but was
so much straitened for want of room in his house, that he could
not entertain him so well as he wished ; he therefore acquainted
his father Ali Baba with his intention, and told him that it did
not look well for him to receive such favours from Khaujeh
Houssain without inviting him in return.

Ali Baba, with great pleasure, took the treat upon himself.
"Son," said he, "to-morrow being Friday, which is a day that
the shops of such great merchants as Khaujeh Houssain and
yourself are shut, get him to take a walk with you, and as you
come back, pass by my door and call in. It will look better to
have it happen accidentally, than if you gave him a formal invita-
tion. I will go and order Morgiana to provide a supper."

The next day Ali Baba's son and Khaujeh Houssain met by
appointment, took their walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's
son led Khaujeh Houssain through the street where his father
lived; and when they came to the house, stopped and knocked
at the door. "This, sir," said he, "is my father's house; who,
from the account I have given him of your friendship, charged
me to procure him the honour of your acquaintance."

Though it was the sole aim of Khaujeh Houssain to introduce
himself into Ali Baba's house, that he might kill him without
hazarding his own life or making any noise ; yet he excused him-
self, and offered to take his leave. But a slave having opened the
door, Ali Baba's son took him obligingly by the hand, and in a
manner forced him in.

Ali Baba received Khaujeh Houssain with a smiling counte-
nance, and in the most obliging manner. He thanked him for
all the favours he had done his son ; adding withal, the obligation
w^as the greater, as he was a young man not much acquainted
with the world.

Khaujeh Houssain returned the compliment, by assuring
Ali Baba, that though his son might not have acquired the ex-
perience of older men, he had good sense equal to the knowledge
of many others. After a little more conversation on different
subjects, he offered again to take his leave; when Ali Baba,
stopping him, said : " Where are you going, sir, in so much haste .^
I beg you would do me the honour to sup with me, though what
I have to give you is not worth your acceptance ; but such as it is,
I hope you will accept it as heartily as I give it." *'Sir," replied
Khaujeh Houssain, "I am thoroughly persuaded of your good
will ; and if I ask the favour of you not to take it ill that I do not
accept your obliging invitation, I beg of you to believe that it does
not proceed from any slight or intention to affront, but from a
reason which you would approve if you knew it.

"And what may that reason be, sir," replied Ali Baba, "if
I may be so bold as to ask you?" "It is," answered Khaujeh
Houssain, "that I can eat no victuals that have any salt in them;
therefore judge how I should feel at your table." "If that is the
only reason," said Ali Baba, " it ought not to deprive me of the-
honour of your company at supper ; for, in the first place, there
is no salt ever put into my bread, and as to the meat we shall
have to-night, I promise you there shall be none in that. There-
fore you must do me the favour to stay. I will return imme-
diately."

Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to
put no salt to the meat that was to be dressed that night ; and to
make quickly two or three ragouts besides what he had ordered,
but be sure to put no salt in them.

Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could
not help seeming somewhat dissatisfied at his strange order.
"Who is this difficult man," said she, "who eats no salt with his
meat.^ Your supper will be spoiled, if I keep it back so long."
"Do not be angry, Morgiana," replied Ali Baba; "he is an honest
man; therefore do as I bid you."

Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a
curiosity to see this man w^ho ate no salt. To this end, when she
had finished what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdool-
lah to carry up the dishes; and looking at Khaujeh Houssain,
knew him at first sight, notwithstanding his disguise, to be the
captain of the robbers, and examining him very carefully, per-
ceived that he had a dagger under his garment. "I am not in
the least amazed," said she to herself, "that this wicked wretch,
who is my master's greatest enemy, would eat no salt with him,
since he intends to assassinate him; but I will prevent him."

Morgiana, while they were eating, made the necessary prepara-
tions for executing one of the boldest acts ever meditated, and
had just determined, when Abdoollah came for the dessert of
fruit, which she carried up, and as soon as he had taken the meat
away, set upon the table; after that, she placed three glasses
by Ali Baba, and going out, took Abdoollah with her to sup,
and to give Ali Baba the more liberty of conversation v^ith his
guest.

Khaujeh Houssain, or rather the captain of the robbers,
thought he had now a favourable opportunity of being revenged
on Ali Baba. "I will," said he to himself, "make the father and
son both drunk: the son, whose life I intend to spare, will not
be able to prevent my stabbing his father to the heart ; and while
the slaves are at supper, or asleep in the kitchen, I can make my
escape over the gardens as before."

Instead of going to supper, Morgiana, who had penetrated
the intentions of the counterfeit Khaujeh Houssain, would not
give him time to put his villainous design into execution, but
dressed herself neatly with a suitable head-dress like a dancer,
girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, to which there hung a
poniard with a hilt and guard of the same metal, and put a hand-
some mask on her face. When she had thus disguised herself, she
said to Abdoollah: "Take your tabor, and let us go and divert
our master and his son's guest, as we do sometimes when he is
alone."

Abdoollah took his tabor and played all the way into the hall
before Morgiana, who when she came to the door made a low
obeisance, with a deliberate air, in order to draw attention, and
by way of asking leave to exhibit her skill. Abdoollah, seeing
that his master had a mind to say something, left off playing.
"Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Khaujeh Hous-
sain see what you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks of
you. But, sir," said he, turning toward his guest, "do not think
that I put myself to any expense to give you this diversion, since
these are my slave and my cook and housekeeper; and I hope
you will not find the entertainment they give us disagreeable."

Khaujeh Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after
supper, began to fear he should not be able to improve the
opportunity he thought he had found: but hoped, if he now
missed his aim, to secure it another time, by keeping up a friendly
correspondence with the father and son; therefore, though he
could have wished Ali Baba would have declined the dance,
he had the complaisance to express his satisfaction at what he
saw pleased his host.

As soon as Abdoollah saw that Ali Baba and Khaujeh Hous-
sain had done talking, he began to play on the tabor, and ac-
companied it with an air; to which Morgiana, who was an excel-
lent performer, danced in such a manner as would have created
admiration in any other company besides that before which she
now exhibited, among whom, perhaps, none but the false Khaujeh
Houssain was in the' least attentive to her, the rest having seen
her so frequently.

After she had danced several dances with equal propriety
and grace, she drew the poniard, and holding it in her hand,
began a dance, in which she outdid herself, by the many differ-
ent figures, light movements, and the surprising leaps and won-
derful exertions with which she accompanied it. Sometimes she
presented the poniard to one person's breast, sometimes to an-
other's, and oftentimes seemed to strike her own. At last, as if
she was out of breath, she snatched the tabor from Abdoollah
with her left hand, and holding the dagger in her right, pre-
sented the other side of the tabor, after the manner of those
who get a livelihood by dancing, and solicit the liberality of
the spectators.

Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as did also his son :
and Khaujeh Houssain, seeing that she was coming to him, had
pulle 1 his purse out of his bosom to make her a present ; but
while he was putting his hand into it, Morgiana, with a courage
and resolution worthy of herself, plunged the poniard into his
heart. Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out
aloud. "Unhappy wretch!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have
you done to ruin me and my family .?" "It was to preserve, not
to ruin you," answered Morgiana; "for see here," continued she
(opening the pretended Khaujeh Houssain's garment, and show-
ing the dagger), "what an enemy you had entertained! Look
well at him, and you will find him to be both the fictitious oil-
merchant, and the captain of the gang of forty robbers. Remem-
ber, too, that he would eat no salt with you ; and what would you
have more to persuade you of his wicked design ? Before I saw
him, I suspected him as soon as you told me you had such a
guest. I knew him, and you now find that my suspicion was not
groundless."

Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to
Morgiana for saving his life a second time, embraced her:
"Morgiana," said he, "I gave you your liberty, and then prom-
ised you that my gratitude should not stop there, but that I would
soon give you higher proofs of its sincerity, which I now do by
making you my daughter-in-law." Then addressing himself to
his son, he said: "I believe you, son, to be so dutiful a child, that
you will not refuse Morgiana for your wdfe. You see that Khau-
jeh Houssain sought your friendship with a treacherous design
to take away my life; and, if he had succeeded, there is no doubt
but he would have sacrificed you also to his revenge. Consider,
that by marrying Morgiana you marry the preserver of my
family and your own."

The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to
the marriage ; not only because he would not disobey his father,
but also because it was agreeable to his inclination.

After this, they thought of burying the captain of the robbers
with his comrades, and did it so privately that nobody discovered
their bones till many years after, when no one had any concern
in the publication of this remarkable histoiy.

A few days afterward, Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of
his son and Morgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous feast,
and the usual dancing and spectacles; and had the satisfaction to
see that his friends and neighbours, whom he invited, had no
knowledge of the true motives of the marriage; but that those
who were not unacquainted with Morgiana' s good qualities
commended his generosity and goodness of heart,

Ali Baba forbore, after this marriage, from going again to the
robbers' cave, as he had done, for fear of being surprised, from
the time he had brought away his brother Cassim's mangled
remains. He had kept away after the death of the thirty-seven
robbers and their captain, supposing the other two, whom he
could get no account of, might be alive.

At the year's end, when he found that they had not made any
attempt to disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another
journey, taking the necessary precautions for his safety. He
mounted his horse, and when he came to the cave, and saw no
footsteps of men or beasts, looked upon it as a good sign. He
alighted, tied his horse to a tree, then approaching the entrance
and pronouncing the words. Open, Sesame! the door opened.
He entered the cavern, and by the condition he found things in,
judged that nobody had been there since the false Khaujeh
Houssain, when he had fetched the goods for his shop; that the
gang of forty robbers was completely destroyed, and no longer
doubted that he was the only person in the world who had
the secret of opening the cave, so that all the treasure was
at his sole disposal. Having brought with him a wallet, he
put into it as much gold as his horse would carry, and returned
to town.

Afterward AH Baba carried his son to the cave, and taught
him the secret, which they handed down to their posterity, who,
using their good fortune with moderation^ lived in great honour
and splendour.