242 ALI BABA AND

had, went and filled it full of oil, set it on the
fire to boil, and then poured as much into each
jar as was sufficient to prevent them from exe-
cuting the pernicious design they had meditated.
After this I retired into the kitchen, and put out
the lamp; but, before I went to bed, waited at
the window to know what measures the pretended
merchant would take.

“‘ After I had watched some time for the signal,
he threw some stones out of the window against
the jars; but neither hearing nor perceiving any-
body stirring, after throwing three times, he came
down, when I saw him go to every jar, after
which, through the darkness of the night, I lost
sight of him. I waited some time longer, and
finding that he did not return, doubted not but
that, seeing he had missed his aim, he had made
his escape over the walls of the garden. Per-
suaded that the house was now safe, I went
to bed.

“This,” said Morgiana, “is the account you
asked of me; and I am convinced it is the con-
sequence of what I observed some days ago, but
did not think fit to acquaint you with: for when
I came in one morning early, I found our street-
door marked with white chalk, and the next
morning with red ; upon which, both times, with-