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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
out the tabor to her master。 Ali Baba and his son put a
piece of gold into it； and Cogia Hassan； seeing that she
was coming to him； pulled out his purse to make her a
present； but while he was putting his hand into it
Morgiana plunged the dagger into his heart。
〃Unhappy girl！〃 cried Ali Baba and his son； 〃what have
you done to ruin us？〃
〃It was to preserve you； master； not to ruin you；〃
answered Morgiana。 〃See here；〃 opening the false
merchant's garment and showing the dagger； 〃see what an
enemy you have entertained！ Remember； he would eat
no salt with you； and what more would you have？ Look
at him！ he is both the false oil merchant and the Captain
of the Forty Thieves。〃
Ali Baba was so grateful to Morgiana for thus saving
his life that he offered her to his son in marriage； who
readily consented； and a few days after the wedding was
celebrated with greatest splendor。
At the end of a year Ali Baba； hearing nothing of the
two remaining robbers； judged they were dead； and set
out to the cave。 The door opened on his saying： 〃Open
Sesame！〃 He went in； and saw that nobody had been
there since the Captain left it。 He brought away as much
gold as he could carry； and returned to town。 He told
his son the secret of the cave； which his son handed down
in his turn； so the children and grandchildren of Ali Baba
were rich to the end of their lives。＇1＇
＇1＇ Arabian Nights