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refused； saying that he had been blindfolded； but when
the robber gave him another piece of gold he began to
think he might remember the turnings if blindfolded as
before。 This means succeeded； the robber partly led him；
and was partly guided by him； right in front of Cassim's
house； the door of which the robber marked with a piece
of chalk。 Then； well pleased； he bade farewell to Baba
Mustapha and returned to the forest。 By and by
Morgiana； going out； saw the mark the robber had made；
quickly guessed that some mischief was brewing； and
fetching a piece of chalk marked two or three doors on
each side； without saying anything to her master or
mistress。
The thief； meantime； told his comrades of his discovery。
The Captain thanked him； and bade him show him the
house he had marked。 But when they came to it they
saw that five or six of the houses were chalked in the same
manner。 The guide was so confounded that he knew not
what answer to make； and when they returned he was at
once beheaded for having failed。 Another robber was
dispatched； and； having won over Baba Mustapha； marked
the house in red chalk； but Morgiana being again too
clever for them； the second messenger was put to death
also。 The Captain now resolved to go himself； but； wiser
than the others； he did not mark the house； but looked at
it so closely that he could not fail to remember it。 He
returned； and ordered his men to go into the neighboring
villages and buy nineteen mules； and thirty…eight leather
jars； all empty except one； which was full of oil。 The
Captain put one of his men； fully armed； into each； rubbing
the outside of the jars with oil from the full vessel。
Then the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty…seven
robbers in jars； and the jar of oil； and reached the town
by dusk。 The Captain stopped his mules in front of Ali
Baba's house； and said to Ali Baba； who was sitting outside
for coolness： 〃I have brought some oil from a distance
to sell at to…morrow's market； but it is now so late that
I know not where to pass the night； unless you will do
me the favor to take me in。〃 Though Ali Baba had seen
the Captain of the robbers in the forest； he did not
recognize him in the disguise of an oil merchant。 He bade him
welcome； opened his gates for the mules to enter； and
went to Morgiana to bid her prepare a bed and supper for
his guest。 He brought the stranger into his hall； and after
they had supped went again to speak to Morgiana in the
kitchen； while the Captain went into the yard under pretense
of seeing after his mules； but really to tell his men
what to do。 Beginning at the first jar and ending at the
last； he said to each man： 〃As soon as I throw some
stones from the window of the chamber where I lie； cut
the jars open with your knives and come out； and I will
be with you in a trice。〃 He returned to the house； and
Morgiana led him to his chamber。 She then told Abdallah；
her fellow…slave； to set on the pot to make some broth for
her master； who had gone to bed。 Meanwhile her lamp
went out； and she had no more oil in the house。 〃Do not
be uneasy；〃 said Abdallah； 〃go into the yard and take
some out of one of those jars。〃 Morgiana thanked him
for his advice； took the oil pot； and went into the yard。
When she came to the first jar the robber inside said
softly： 〃Is it time？〃
Any other slave but Morgiana； on finding a man in the
jar instead of the oil she wanted； would have screamed
and made a noise； but she； knowing the danger her master
was in； bethought herself of a plan； and answered quietly：
〃Not yet； but presently。〃 She went to all the jars； giving
the same answer； till she came to the jar of oil。 She now
saw that her master； thinking to entertain an oil merchant；
had let thirty…eight robbers into his house。 She filled her
oil pot； went back to the kitchen； and； having lit her
lamp； went again to the oil jar and filled a large kettle full
of oil。 When it boiled she went and poured enough oil
into every jar to stifle and kill the robber inside。 When
this brave deed was done she went back to the kitchen；
put out the fire and the lamp； and waited to see what
would happen。
In a quarter of an hour the Captain of the robbers
awoke； got up； and opened the window。 As all seemed
quiet； he threw down some little pebbles which hit the
jars。 He listened； and as none of his men seemed to stir
he grew uneasy； and went down into the yard。 On going
to the first jar and saying； 〃Are you asleep？〃 he smelt the
hot boiled oil； and knew at once that his plot to murder
Ali Baba and his household had been discovered。 He
found all the gang was dead； and； missing the oil out of
the last jar； became aware of the manner of their death。
He then forced the lock of a door leading into a garden；
and climbing over several walls made his escape。 Morgiana
heard and saw all this； and； rejoicing at her success；
went to bed and fell asleep。
At daybreak Ali Baba arose； and； seeing the oil jars
still there； asked why the merchant had not gone with his
mules。 Morgiana bade him look in the first jar and see if
there was any oil。 Seeing a man； he started back in
terror。 〃Have no fear；〃 said Morgiana； 〃the man cannot
harm you： he is dead。〃 Ali Baba； when he had recovered
somewhat from his astonishment； asked what had become
of the merchant。 〃Merchant！〃 said she； 〃he is no more a
merchant than I am！〃 and she told him the whole story；
assuring him that it was a plot of the robbers of the forest；
of whom only three were left； and that the white and red
chalk marks had something to do with it。 Ali Baba at
once gave Morgiana her freedom； saying that he owed
her his life。 They then buried the bodies in Ali Baba's
garden； while the mules were sold in the market by his
slaves。
The Captain returned to his lonely cave； which seemed
frightful to him without his lost companions； and firmly
resolved to avenge them by killing Ali Baba。 He dressed
himself carefully； and went into the town； where he took
lodgings in an inn。 In the course of a great many journeys
to the forest he carried away many rich stuffs and much
fine linen； and set up a shop opposite that of Ali Baba's
son。 He called himself Cogia Hassan； and as he was both
civil and well dressed he soon made friends with Ali
Baba's son； and through him with Ali Baba； whom he
was continually asking to sup with him。 Ali Baba； wishing
to return his kindness； invited him into his house and
received him smiling； thanking him for his kindness to his
son。 When the merchant was about to take his leave Ali
Baba stopped him； saying： 〃Where are you going； sir； in
such haste？ Will you not stay and sup with me？〃 The
merchant refused； saying that he had a reason； and； on
Ali Baba's asking him what that was； he replied： 〃It is；
sir； that I can eat no victuals that have any salt in them。〃
〃If that is all；〃 said Ali Baba； 〃let me tell you that there
shall be no salt in either the meat or the bread that we eat
to…night。〃 He went to give this order to Morgiana； who
was much surprised。 〃Who is this man；〃 she said； 〃who
eats no salt with his meat？〃 〃He is an honest man；
Morgiana；〃 returned her master； 〃therefore do as I bid you。〃
But she could not withstand a desire to see this strange
man； so she helped Abdallah to carry up the dishes； and
saw in a moment that Cogia Hassan was the robber
Captain； and carried a dagger under his garment。 〃I am
not surprised；〃 she said to herself； 〃that this wicked
man； who intends to kill my master； will eat no salt with
him； but I will hinder his plans。〃
She sent up the supper by Abdallah； while she made
ready for one of the boldest acts that could be thought on。
When the dessert had been served； Cogia Hassan was left
alone with Ali Baba and his son； whom he thought to
make drunk and then to murder them。 Morgiana； meanwhile；
put on a head…dress like a dancing…girl's； and clasped
a girdle round her waist； from which hung a dagger with a
silver hilt； and said to Abdallah： 〃Take your tabor； and
let us go and divert our master and his guest。〃 Abdallah
took his tabor and played before Morgiana until they
came to the door； where Abdallah stopped playing and
Morgiana made a low courtesy。 〃Come in； Morgiana；〃
said Ali Baba； 〃and let Cogia Hassan see what you can
do〃； and； turning to Cogia Hassan； he said： 〃She's my
slave and my housekeeper。〃 Cogia Hassan was by no
means pleased； for he feared that his chance of killing Ali
Baba was gone for the present； but he pretended great
eagerness to see Morgiana； and Abdallah began to play
and Morgiana to dance。 After she had performed several
dances she drew her dagger and made passes with it；
sometimes pointing it at her own breast； sometimes at her
master's； as if it were part of the dance。 Suddenly； out
of breath； she snatched the tabor from Abdallah with her
left hand； and； holding the dagger in her right hand； held
o