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Cassim's wife and Morgiana； telling everyone that Cassim
was dead。 The day after Morgiana went to an old cobbler
near the gates of the town who opened his stall early； put
a piece of gold in his hand； and bade him follow her with
his needle and thread。 Having bound his eyes with a
handkerchief； she took him to the room where the body
lay； pulled off the bandage； and bade him sew the quarters
together； after which she covered his eyes again and led
him home。 Then they buried Cassim； and Morgiana his
slave followed him to the grave； weeping and tearing her
hair； while Cassim's wife stayed at home uttering lamentable
cries。 Next day she went to live with Ali Baba； who
gave Cassim's shop to his eldest son。
The Forty Thieves； on their return to the cave； were
much astonished to find Cassim's body gone and some of
their money…bags。 〃We are certainly discovered；〃 said
the Captain； 〃and shall be undone if we cannot find out
who it is that knows our secret。 Two men must have
known it； we have killed one； we must now find the other。
To this end one of you who is bold and artful must go
into the city dressed as a traveler； and discover whom we
have killed； and whether men talk of the strange manner
of his death。 If the messenger fails he must lose his life；
lest we be betrayed。〃 One of the thieves started up and
offered to do this； and after the rest had highly commended
him for his bravery he disguised himself； and happened
to enter the town at daybreak； just by Baba Mustapha's
stall。 The thief bade him good…day； saying： 〃Honest man；
how can you possibly see to stitch at your age？〃 〃Old as
I am；〃 replied the cobbler； 〃I have very good eyes； and
will you believe me when I tell you that I sewed a dead
body together in a place where I had less light than I have
now。〃 The robber was overjoyed at his good fortune； and；
giving him a piece of gold； desired to be shown the house
where he stitched up the dead body。 At first Mustapha
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