44 ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES.

 

light to see to skim the pot, and mentioned
it to Abdalla. “Why,” said he, “go
and take some oil out of one of the jars
in the court.”

Morgiana accordingly took the oil-can
and went into the court. As she drew
near to the first jar, the thief who was
concealed within, said in a low voice,
“Ts it time 2?”

Although he had spoken softly, Mor-
giana was struck with the sound, which
she heard the more distinctly as the
Captain, when he had unladed his mules,
had opened all the jars, and this among
the rest, to give a little air to his men.

Any other slave except Morgiana, in
the first moment of surprise at finding a
man in the jar instead of some oil, would
have made a great uproar. But Morgiana
collected her thoughts, and without