382. THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

Before we left the treasure, the dervise went back again, and
I observed that he took from one of the vases of gold a small
box which he put into his bosom, after he had shewn me that it
contained only a sort of ointment.

The dervise uttered certain words, the door was shut upon
the treasure, and the rock appeared with the same unbroken
surface as before.

We then divided our camels, which we made get up with their
burdens. I placed myself at the head of the forty, which I had
reserved for myself, and the dervise at the head of the others,
which I had given up to him. We embraced one another with
the highest satisfaction, and after having mutually bidden each
other farewell, we parted.

I had taken but few steps to come up with my camels, before
the demon of ingratitude and envy got possession of my heart ;
I lamented the loss of my forty camels, and still more the wealth
they carried. And thus I gave myself up to the blackest ingra-
titude, and instantly determined to take from the dervise his
camels and their burdens.

In order to accomplish my purpose, I ran after the dervise,
and made signs to him to stop his camels and to wait for me.

When I had come up to him, “Brother,” said I, you are a
good dervise, used to live in great tranquillity, free from all
worldly care, and you have no conception, perhaps, of the
trouble you have undertaken, by charging yourself with the care
of so many camels. You had better take away only thirty, and
you will have difficulty enough in managing them. You may
leave the rest tome; I am used to them.” “TI believe you are
right,” said the dervise. “Select the ten most agreeable to you,
and take them away with you.”

I chose ten of them, and turned them back, to follow mine.
I did not think the dervise would have allowed himself to be so
easily persuaded. This increased my avidity, and I flattered
myself I should have but little trouble to obtain ten more. .

“ Brother,” said I again, “from the concern I take in your
quiet, I cannot determine to quit you without beseeching you
to consider, once more, how difficult it is to conduct thirty laden
camels. Relieve yourself, therefore, and turn over other ten
camels to a person like me, to whom it would be no more
trouble to take the care of a hundred than of a single one.”