ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES. 53.

‘is just as much a merchant as I am.
I can tell you who he is.”

She then described the marks madeupon
the door, and the way in which she had
copied them, adding: ‘‘ You see this is.
a plot contrived by the thieves of the -
forest, whose troop, I know not how,
seems to be diminished by two. But
be that as it may, it is now reduced to
three at most. This proves that they.
are determined on your death, and you
will do right to be on your guard against
them, so long as you are certain that
even one_remains.”

Ali Baba, full of gratitude for all he
owed her, replied, ‘I will reward you -
as you deserve before I die. I owe my
life to you, and from this moment give
you your liberty, and will soon do still
more for you.”

Meanwhile the Captain of the forty
thieves had returned to the forest full of

~rage, and determined to revenge himself
on Ali Baba.

Next morning he awoke at an early
hour, put on a merchant’s dress, and
returned to the city, where he took a
lodging in a khan. Then he bought a

_-horse, which he made use of to convey
_to his lodging several kinds of rich stuffs