224 ALI BABA AND

it out. But the captain observed that the next
door was chalked in the same manner and in
the same place; and showing it to his guide,
asked him which house it was, that, or the
first? The guide was so confounded, that he
knew not what answer to make; but still more
puzzled when he and the captain saw five or
six houses similarly marked. He assured the
captain, with an oath, that he had marked but
one, and could not tell who had chalked the
rest so that he could not distinguish the house
which the cobbler had stopped at.

The captain, finding that their design had
proved abortive, went directly to the place of
rendezvous, and told the first of his troops
whom he met that they had lost their labour,
and must return to their cave. He himself set
them the example, and they all returned as
they had come.

When the troop was all got together, the cap-
tain told them the reason of their returning ;
and presently the conductor was declared by
all worthy of death. He condemned himself,
acknowledging that he ought to have taken
better precaution, and prepared to receive the
stroke from him who was appointed to cut off
his head.