rushed into the cavern, and put back as they were before the bags of
ashrafis which Kasim had heaped up at the doorway ready for taking

away, nor recked they aught of those which Ali Baba had removed, so
dazed and amazed were they to discover by what means the strange man

had effected an entrance. All knew that it was not possible for any to
drop through the skylights, so tall and steep was the rock's face,

withal slippery of ascent, and also that none could enter by the
portal unless he knew the magical words whereby to open it. However,

they presently quartered the dead body of Kasim and hung it to the
door within the cavern, two parts to the right jamb and as many to the

left, that the sight might be a warning of approaching doom for all
who dared enter the cave. Then, coming out, they closed the hoard door

and rode away upon their wonted work.
Now when night fell and Kasim came not home, his wife waxed uneasy

in mind, and running round to Ali Baba, said: "O my brother, Kasim
hath not returned. Thou knowest whither he went, and sore I fear me

some misfortune hath betided him." Ali Baba also divined that a mishap
had happened to prevent his return. Not the less, however, he strove

to comfort his sister-in-law with words of cheer, and said: "O wife of
my brother, Kasim haply exerciseth discretion and, avoiding the

city, cometh by a roundabout road and will he here anon. This I do
believe is the reason why he tarrieth." Thereupon, comforted in

spirit, Kasim's wife fared homeward and sat awaiting her husband's
return, but when half the night was spent and still he came not, she

was as one distraught. She feared to cry aloud for her grief, lest
haply the neighbors, hearing her, should come and learn the secret, so

she wept in silence and upbraiding herself, fell to thinking:
"Wherefore did I disclose this secret to him and beget envy and

jealousy of Ali Baba? This be the fruit thereof, and hence the
disaster that hath come down upon me."

She spent the rest of the night in bitter tears, and early on the
morrow hied in hottest hurry to Ali Baba and prayed that he would go

forth in quest of his brother. So he strove to console her, and
straightway set out with his asses for the forest. Presently, reaching

the rock, he wondered to see stains of blood freshly shed, and not
finding his brother or the ten mules, he forefelt a calamity from so

evil a sign. He then went to the door and saying, "Open, Sesame!" he
pushed in and saw the dead body of Kasim, two parts hanging to the

right and the rest to the left of the entrance. Albeit he was
affrighted beyond measure of affright, he wrapped the quarters in

two cloths and laid them upon one of his asses, hiding them
carefully with sticks and fuel that none might see them. Then he

placed the bags of gold upon the two other animals and likewise
covered them most carefully, and when all was made ready he closed the

cave door with the magical words, and set him forth wending homeward
with all ward and watchfulness. The asses with the load of ashrafis he

made over to his wife, and bade her bury the bags with diligence,
but he told her not the condition in which he had come upon his

brother Kasim. Then he went with the other ass- to wit, the beast
whereon was laid the corpse- to the widow's house and knocked gently

at the door.
Now Kasim had a slave girl shrewd and sharp-witted, Morgiana

hight. She as softly undid the bolt and admitted Ali Baba and the
ass into the courtyard of the house, when he let down the body from

the beast's back and said: "O Morgiana, haste thee and make thee ready
to perform the rites for the burial of thy lord. I now go to tell

the tidings to thy mistress, and I will quickly return to help thee in
this matter." At that instant Kasim's widow, seeing her

brother-in-law, exclaimed: "O Ali Baba, what news bringest thou of
my spouse? Alas! I see grief tokens written upon thy countenance.

Say quickly what hath happened." Then he recounted to her how it had
fared with her husband and how he had been slain by the robbers and in

what wise he had brought home the dead body. Ali Baba pursued: "O my
lady, what was to happen hath happened, but it behooveth us to keep

this matter secret, for that our lives depend upon privacy." She
wept with sore weeping and made answer: "It hath fared with my husband

according to the fiat of Fate, and now for thy safety's sake I give
thee my word to keep the affair concealed." He replied: "Naught can

avail when Allah hath decreed. Rest thee in patience until the days of
thy widowhood be accomplisht, after which time I will take thee to

wife, and thou shalt live in comfort and happiness. And fear not
lest my first spouse vex thee or show aught of jealousy, for that

she is kindly and tender of heart." The widow, lamenting her loss
noisily, cried, "Be it as e'en thou please."

Then Ali Baba farewelled her, weeping and wailing for her husband,
and joining Morgiana, took counsel with her how to manage the burial

of his brother. So, after much consultation and many warnings, he left
the slave girl and departed home driving his ass before him. As soon

as Ali Baba had fared forth Morgiana went quickly to a druggist's
shop, and that she might the better dissemble with him and not make

known the matter, she asked of him a drug often administered to men
when diseased with dangerous distemper. He gave it saying: "Who is

there in thy house that lieth so in as to require this medicine?"
and said she: "My master Kasim is sick well nigh unto death. For

many days he hath nor spoken nor tasted aught of food, so that
almost we despair of his life." Next day Morgiana went again and asked

the druggist for more of medicine and essences such as are adhibited
to the sick when at door of death, that the moribund may haply rally

before the last breath. The man gave the potion and she, taking it,
sighed aloud and wept, saying: "I fear me he may not have strength

to drink this draught. Methinks all will be over with him ere I return
to the house."

Meanwhile Ali Baba was anxiously awaiting to hear sounds of
wailing and lamentation" target="_blank" title="n.悲痛，哀悼，痛哭">lamentation in Kasim's home, that he might at such

signal hastenthither and take part in the ceremonies of the
funeral. Early on the second day Morgiana went with veiled face to one

Baba Mustafa, a tailor well shotten in years whose craft was to make
shrouds and cerecloths, and as soon as she saw him open his shop she

gave him a gold piece and said, "Do thou bind a bandage over thine
eyes and come along with me." Mustafa made as though he would not

go, whereat Morgiana placed a second gold coin in his palm and
entreated him to accompany her. The tailorpresently consented for

greed of gain, so, tying a kerchieftightly over his eyes, she led him
by the hand to the house wherein lay the dead body of her master.

Then, taking off the bandage in the darkened room, she bade him sew
together the quarters of the corpse, limb to its limb, and casting a

cloth upon the body, said to the tailor: "Make haste and sew a
shroud according to the size of this dead man, and I will give thee

therefor yet another ducat." Baba Mustafa quickly made the cerecloth
of fitting length and breadth, and Morgiana paid him the promised

ashrafi, then, once more bandaging his eyes, led him back to the place
whence she had brought him. After this she returned hurriedly home and

with the help of Ali Baba washed the body in warm water and donning
the shroud, laid the corpse upon a clean place ready for burial.

This done, Morgiana went to the mosque and gave notice to an imam
that a funeral was awaiting the mourners in a certain household, and

prayed that he would come to read the prayers for the dead, and the
imam went back with her. Then four neighbors took up the bier and bore

it on their shoulders and fared forth with the imam and others who
were wont to give assistance at such obsequies. After the funeral

prayers were ended four other men carried off the coffin, and Morgiana
walked before it bare of head, striking her breast and weeping and

wailing with exceeding loud lament, whilst Ali Baba and the
neighbors came behind. In such order they entered the cemetery and

buried him, then, leaving him to Munkar and Nakir- the Questioners of
the Dead- all wended their ways. Presently the women of the quarter,

according to the custom of the city, gathered together in the house of
mourning and sat an hour with Kasim's widow comforting and

condoling, presently leaving her somewhat resigned and cheered. Ali
Baba stayed forty days at home in ceremoniallamentation" target="_blank" title="n.悲痛，哀悼，痛哭">lamentation for the

loss of his brother, so none within the town save himself and his wife
(Kasim's widow) and Morgiana knew aught the secret. And when the forty

days of mourning were ended Ali Baba removed to his own quarters all
the property belonging to the deceased and openly married the widow.

Then he appointed his nephew, his brother's eldest son, who had