dwelt his brother Ali Baba. The robber then made marks with white

chalk upon the door, to the end that he might readily find it at
some future time, and removing the bandage from the tailor's eyes,

said: "O Baba Mustafa, I thank thee for this favor, and Almighty Allah
guerdon thee for thy goodness. Tell me now, I pray thee, who

dwelleth in yonder house?" Quoth he: "In very sooth I wot not, for I
have little knowledge concerning this quarter of the city." And the

bandit, understanding that he could find no further clue from the
tailor, dismissed him to his shop with abundant thanks, and hastened

back to the tryst place in the jungle where the band awaited his
coming.

Not long after, it so fortuned that Morgiana, going out upon some
errand, marveled exceedingly at seeing the chalk marks showing white

in the door. She stood awhile deep in thought, and presently divined
that some enemy had made the signs that he might recognize the house

and play some sleight upon her lord. She therefore chalked the doors
of all her neighbors in like manner and kept the matter secret,

never entrusting it or to master or to mistress. Meanwhile the
robber told his comrades his tale of adventure and how he had found

the clue, so the captain and with him all the band went one after
other by different ways till they entered the city, and he who had

placed the mark on Ali Baba's door accompanied the chief to point
out the place. He conducted him straightway to the house and shewing

the sign exclaimed, "Here dwelleth he of whom we are in search!" But
when the captain looked around him, he saw that all the dwellings bore

chalk marks after like fashion, and he wondered, saying: "By what
manner of means knowest thou which house of all these houses that bear

similar signs is that whereof thou spokest?" Hereat the robber guide
was confounded beyond measure of confusion, and could make no

answer. Then with an oath he cried: "I did assuredly set a sign upon a
door, but I know not whence came all the marks upon the other

entrances, nor can I say for a surety which it was I chalked."
Thereupon the captain returned to the market place and said to his

men: "We have toiled and labored in vain, nor have we found the
house we went forth to seek. Return we now to the forest, our

rendezvous. I also will fare hither" target="_blank" title="ad.到那里 a.那边的">thither."
Then all trooped off and assembled together within the treasure

cave, and when the robbers had all met, the captain judged him
worthy of punishment who had spoken falsely and had led them through

the city to no purpose. So he imprisoned him in presence of them
all, and then said he: "To him amongst you will I show special favor

who shall go to town and bring me intelligencewhereby we may lay
hands upon the plunderer of our property." Hereat another of the

company came forward and said, "I am ready to go and inquire into
the case, and 'tis I who will bring thee to thy wish." The captain,

after giving him presents and promises, dispatched him upon his
errand, and by the decree of Destiny, which none may gainsay, this

second robber went first to the house of Baba Mustafa the tailor, as
had done the thief who had foregone him. In like manner he also

persuaded the snip with gifts of golden coin that he be led
hood-winked, and thus too he was guided to Ali Baba's door. Here,

noting the work of his predecessor, he affixed to the jamb a mark with
red chalk, the better to distinguish it from the others, whereon still

showed the white. Then hied he back in stealth to his company.
But Morgiana on her part also descried the red sign on the entrance,

and with subtle forethought marked all the others after the same
fashion, nor told she any what she had done. Meanwhile the bandit

rejoined his band and vauntingly said: "O our captain, I have found
the house and thereon put a mark whereby I shall distinguish it

clearly from all its neighbors." But, as aforetime, when the troop
repaired hither" target="_blank" title="ad.到那里 a.那边的">thither, they saw each and every house marked with signs of

red chalk. So they returned disappointed and the captain, waxing
displeased exceedingly and distraught, clapped also this spy into

gaol. Then said the chief to himself: "Two men have failed in their
endeavor and have met their rightful meed of punishment, and I trow

that none other of my band will essay to follow up their research.
So I myself will go and find the house of this wight."

Accordingly he fared along, aided by the tador Baba Mustafa, who had
gained much gain of golden pieces in this matter, he hit upon the

house of Ali Baba. And here he made no outward show or sign, but
marked it on the tablet of his heart and impressed the picture upon

the page of his memory. Then, returning to the jungle, he said to
his men: "I have full cognizance of the place and have limned it

clearly in my mind, so now there will be no difficulty in finding
it. Go forth straightway and buy me and bring hither nineteen mules,

together with one large leathern jar of mustard oil and seven and
thirty vessels of the same kind clean empty. Without me and the two

locked up in gaol ye number thirty-seven souls, so I will stow you
away armed and accoutered each within his jar and will load two upon

each mule, and upon the nineteenth mule there shall be a man in an
empty jar on one side and on the other the jar full of oil. I for my

part, in guise of an oil merchant, will drive the mules into the town,
arriving at the house by night, and will ask permission of its

master to tarry there until morning. After this we shall seek occasion
during the dark hours to rise up and fall upon him and slay him."

Furthermore, the captain spake, saying: "When we have made an end of
him we shall recover the gold and treasure whereof he robbed us and

bring it back upon the mules."
This counsel pleased the robbers, who went forthwith and purchased

mules and huge leathern jars, and did as the captain had bidden
them. And after a delay of three days, shortly before nightfall they

arose, and oversmearing all the jars with oil of mustard, each hid him
inside an empty vessel. The chief then disguised himself in trader's

gear and placed the jars upon the nineteen mules; to wit, the
thirty-seven vessels, in each of which lay a robber armed and

accoutered, and the one that was full of oil. This done, he drove
the beasts before him, and presently he reached Ali Baba's place at

nightfall, when it chanced that the housemaster was strolling after
supper to and fro in front of his home. The captain saluted him with

the salaam and said: "I come from such-and-such a village with oil,
and ofttimes have I been here a-selling oil, but now to my grief I

have arrived too late and I am sore troubled and perplexed as to where
I shall spend the night. An thou have pity on me, I pray thee grant

that I tarry here in thy courtyard and ease the mules by taking down
the jars and giving the beasts somewhat of fodder." Albeit Ali Baba

had heard the captain's voice when perched upon the tree and had
seen him enter the cave, yet by reason of the disguise he knew him not

for the leader of the thieves, and granted his request with hearty
welcome and gave him full license to halt there for the night. He then

pointed out an empty shed herein" target="_blank" title="ad.那里面">wherein to tether the mules, and bade one of
the slave boys go fetch grain and water. He also gave orders to the

slave girl Morgiana, saying: "A guest hath come hither and tarrieth
here tonight. Do thou busy thyself with all speed about his supper and

make ready the guest bed for him."
Presently, when the captain had let down all the jars and had fed

and watered his mules, Ali Baba received him with all courtesy and
kindness, and summoning Morgiana, said in his presence: "See thou fail

not in service of this our stranger, nor suffer him to lack for aught.
Tomorrow early I would fare to the hammam and bathe, so do thou give

my slave boy Abdullah a suit of clean white clothes which I may put on
after washing. Moreover, make thee ready a somewhat of broth

overnight, that I may drink it after my return home." Replied she,
"I will have all in readiness as thou hast bidden." So Ali Baba

retired to his rest, and the captain, having supped, repaired to the
shed and saw that all the mules had their food and drink for the

night, and finding utter privacy, whispered to his men who were in
ambush: "This night at midnight, when ye hear my voice, do you quickly

open with your sharp knives the leathern jars from top to bottom,
and issue forth without delay." Then, passing through the kitchen,

he reached the chamberherein" target="_blank" title="ad.那里面">wherein a bed had been dispread for him,