422 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

about what remained, to make the surface of the grouna appeaa
even as it was before. Ali Baba carefully concealed the oil jars;
and as for the mules, he sent them to the market at different
times, where he disposed of them by means of this slave.

Whilst Ali Baba was taking these precautions to prevent its
being publicly known by what means he had become rich in so
short a space of time, the captain of the forty thieves had re-
turned to the forest, mortified beyond measure at having met
with such bad success. He determined, however, yet to com-
pass the destruction of Ali Baba.

The next morning he awoke at an early hour, and put on a
dress suitable to a design he had formed, and repaired to the city,
where he took a lodging ina khan. Ashe supposed that what had
happened in the house of Ali Baba might have become generally
known, he asked the host if there were any news stirring ; in reply
to which the host talked on a variety of subjects, but none relat-
ing to what he wished to be informed of. By this he concluded
that Ali Baba had kept the transaction profoundly secret.

The captain provided himself with a horse, which he made
use of to convey to his lodging several kinds of rich stuffs and
fine linens, bringing them from the forest at various times, with
all the necessary precautions for keeping the place from whence
he brought them still concealed. In order to dispose of this
merchandise, when he had collected together as much as he
thought proper, he sought fora shop. Having found one that
would suit him, he hired it of the proprietor, furnished it with
goods, and established himself in it. The shop that was exactly
opposite to his was that which had belonged to Cassim, and was
now occupied by the son of Ali Baba.

The captain of the robbers, who had assumed the name of
Cogia Houssain, did not fail in the proper civilities to the mer-
chants his neighbours. But the son of Ali Baba being young
and of a pleasing address, and the captain having more frequent
occasion to converse with him than the others, he very soon
formed an intimacy with him. This acquaintance he soon re-
solved to cultivate with greater assiduity and care, when three
or four days after he was settled in his shop, he recognised Ali
Baba, who came to see his son, as he was in the constant habit
of doing ; and on inquiring of the son after his departure, dis-
covered that he was his father.