ALADDIN, OR THE WONDERFUL Lamp. 333

in an angry manner, giving him, at the same moment, a blow so
violent as to beat him down, and very nearly knocked some of his
teeth out, as it appeared from the blood that ran from his mouth.
“You have observed,” said the magician, “ what I have done by
virtue of my perfumes, and the words that I pronounced. Under
the stone which you see here, there is a concealed treasure that
is destined for you, and which will one day render you richer
than any of the most powerful potentates of the earth. It is,
moreover, the fact, that no one in the whole world but you can
be permitted to touch, or lift up this stone, and go beneath it,
Even I myself am not able to approach it, and to take possession
of the treasure which is under it. And in order to insure your
success, you must observe and execute in every respect, even to
the minutest point, what I am now going to instruct you in.
This is a matter of the greatest consequence both to you and to
myself.”

Wrapped in astonishment at everything he had seen and
heard, and full of the idea of this treasure which the magician
said was to make him for ever happy, Aladdin forgot everything
else that had passed. Aladdin did exactly as the magician told
him, raised the stone without any trouble, and laid it by the side
of him.

When the stone was taken away, a small excavation was
visible, between three and four feet deep, at the bottom of which
tere appeared a small door, with steps to go down still lower.
“You must now, my good boy,” said the African magician to
Aladdin, “observe very exactly everything I am going to tell
you. Go down into this cavern, and when you have come to
the bottom of the steps which you see, you will perceive an open
door, which leads into a large vaulted space, that is divided into
three successive halls. In each of these you will see, on both
sides of you, four bronze vases, as large as tubs, full of gold and
silver ; but you must take particular care not to touch any of
it. When you get into the first hall, take up your robe and
bind it round you. Then observe, and go on to the second with
out stopping, and from thence in the same manner to the third.
Above all, mind and be very particular not to go near the walls,
nor even to touch them with your robe ; for if any part of your
dress comes in contact, your instant death will be the inevitable
consequence. This is the reason of My having desired you to