Away she ran to the wife of Cassim, who lived near by, and asked for a measure.

"What," said Cassim's wife, as soon as her sister-in-law had left her, "has Ali Baba gold in such plenty that he measures it?

When Cassim came home, she said to him: "Cassim, you think yourself rich, but Ali Baba is much richer.

Cassim rose before the sun the next morning, and set out for the forest with ten mules bearing great chests which he meant to fill.

Cassim had never expected such a disaster, and was so frightened that the more he tried to recall the word "Sesame," the more confused his mind became.

Cassim had heard the noise of the horses' feet, and guessed that the robbers had come.

They found all the bags Cassim had brought to the door, but did not miss what Ali Baba had taken.

As for Cassim himself, they guessed rightly that, once within, he could not get out again; but how he had managed to learn their secret words that let him in, they could not tell.

One thing was certain,there he was; and to warn all others who might know their secret and follow in Cassim's footsteps, they agreed to cut his body into four quartersto hang two on one side and two on the other, within the door of the cave.

II THE MANNER OF CASSIM'S DEATH CONCEALED

By midnight Cassim's wife was still more alarmed, and wept till morning, cursing her desire to pry into the affairs of her brother and sister-in-law.

" They placed the body in Cassim's house, and, charging Morgiana to act well her part, Ali Baba returned home with his ass.

When he asked her for whom she wanted it, she answered with a sigh: "My good master Cassim.

" All that day Ali Baba and his wife were seen going sadly between their house and Cassim's, and in the evening nobody was surprised to hear the shrieks and cries of Cassim's wife and Morgiana, who told everybody that her master was dead.

At Cassim's house she made all things ready for the funeral, which was duly performed by the imaum[*] and other ministers of the mosque.

Cassim's wife stayed at home, uttering doleful cries with the women of the neighborhood, who, according to custom, came to mourn with her.

Thus the manner of Cassim's death was hushed up, and, besides his widow, Ali Baba, and Morgiana, the slave, nobody in the city suspected the cause of it.

As for Cassim's warehouse, Ali Baba put it entirely under the charge of his eldest son.

Great was their surprise to find Cassim's body taken away, with some of their bags of gold.

Cassim the Covetous, whose god was gold, Once, by strange chance, found riches manifold Hid in a rocky cavern, where a band Of robbers who were ravaging the land Kept their bright spoils.

Cassim had learnt the spell By which the dazzling heaps were guarded well.

Cassim is ravished at the wondrous sight, And rubs his hands with ever new delight; Absorbed in gazing, lets the hours go by, Nor can enough indulge his gloating eye.

Cassim Baba, brother of Ali Baba, who entered the cave of the forty thieves, but forgot the pass-word, and stood crying "Open Wheat!" "Open Barley!" to the door, which obeyed to no sound but "Open Sesamê!" BABA MUS´TAPHA, a cobbler who sewed together the four pieces into which Cassim's body had been cleft by the forty thieves.

Cassim Baba, brother of Ali Baba, who entered the cave of the forty thieves, but forgot the pass-word, and stood crying "Open Wheat!" "Open Barley!" to the door, which obeyed to no sound but "Open Sesamê!" BABA MUS´TAPHA, a cobbler who sewed together the four pieces into which Cassim's body had been cleft by the forty thieves.

Mustapha pointed out to him the house of Cassim Baba's widow, and the thief marked it with a piece of white chalk.