ALI BABA AND THE FORTY ROBBERS. 4It

Baba, and announced the cause of her early visit, less by her
words than her tears.

Ali Baba did not wait for his sisters entreaties, to go
and seek for Cassim. He immediately set off with his three
asses, and went to the forest. As he drew near the rock, he
was astonished on observing that blood had been shed near
the door. He reached the door, and on pronouncing the words,
it opened. He was struck with horror when he distinguished
the body of his brother cut into four quarters. He found mate-
rials in the cave to wrap up the body ; and making two packets
of the four quarters, he placed them on one of his asses, covering
them with sticks, to conceal them. The other two asses he
quickly loaded with sacks of gold, putting wood over them as
on the preceding occasion ; and having finished all he had to
do, and commanded the door to close, he took the road to the
city. When he got home, he left the two asses that were laden
with gold, desiring his wife to take care to unload them; and
having in a few words acquainted her with what had happened
to Cassim, he led the other ass to his sister-in-law.

Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened to him by
Morgiana: this Morgiana was a female slave, crafty, cunning,
and fruitful in inventions to forward the success of the most dif-
ficult enterprise, in which character Ali Baba knew her well.
When he had entered the court, he took off the wood and the
two packages from the ass, and taking the slave aside, “ Mor-
giana,” said he, “the first thing I have to request of you is in-
violable secrecy. These two packets contain the body of your
master, and we must endeavour to bury him as if he had died a
natural death. Let me speak to your mistress, and be attentive
to what I shall say to her.”

Morgiana went to acquaint her mistress, and Ali Baba fol-
lowed her, He then related to her all that had happened during
his journey, until his arrival with the body of Cassim: “ Sister,”
added he, “here is a new cause of affliction for you, the more
distressing, as it was unexpected ; although the evil is without
remedy, if, nevertheless, anything can afford you consolation, I
offer to join the small property Heaven has granted me, to yours,
by marrying you; I can assure you my wife and you will live
comfortably together. If this proposal meets your approbation,