ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES. 37

red mark, and did not fail to make a
similar red mark on the neighbouring
doors.

The thief, when he returned to the
forest, boasted of his success, and the
Captain and the rest repaired to the city
with as much care as before, and the
Captain and his guide went immediately
to the street where Ali Baba resided;
but the same thing occurred as before.

Thus they were obliged to return

again to the forest disappointed, where
-the second thief had his head cut
off.
_ The Captain next time himself went
to the city, and, with the help of Baba
Mustapha, found the house of Ali Baba.
But not choosing to amuse himself in
making marks on it, he examined it so
well, not only by looking at it, but by
passing before it several times, that. at
last he was certain he could not mistake
it.

Thereupon he returned to the forest,
and told the thieves he had made sure
of the house, and had made a plan that
they must help him to carry out.

And first he charged them to divide
into small parties, and go into the neigh-
bouring towns and villages, and to buy