Arabian Nights: 282nd Night: Ali Baba & Forty Thieves - 5

The following night Shahrazad said:

A little after Baba Mustafa and the robber had parted, Marjaneh went out of Ali Baba's house upon an errand, and upon her return, seeing the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it.  "What can be the meaning of this marks?" she said to herself; somebody intends my master no good; however, with whatever intention it was done, it is advisable to guard against the worst."  Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk and marked two or three doors on each side, in the same manner without saying a word to her master or mistress.

In the meantime the robber joined his troop in the forest; and recounted to them his success, expatiating upon his good fortune in meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of what he wanted to know.  All the robbers listened to him attentively, and the captain after commenting his diligence, said to all, "Comrades, "We have no time to lose; let us set off well armed, but in disguise.  Let only one or two go into the town together, and join at our rendezvous which shall be the great square.  In the meantime, our comrade, who brought us the good news and I will go and find out the house, and we may consult what had best be done."

This was approved by all, and they field off in parties of two each, and after some interval of time got into the town without being suspected. He who visited the town in the morning and the captain came in the last.  He led the captain into the street where he had marked Ali Baba's residence and when they came to the first of the houses which Marjaneh had marked, the captain observed that the next door also 
bore the same marks, and in the same place, and showing it to his guide, asked him what house it was, that or the first.  The robber who  marked the house was confounded, and his confusion doubled when they saw five or six houses similarly marked. The robber assured the captain that he marked only one, and could not tell who had chalked the rest. The problem was that he could not distinguish which one was his.  All of them were identical.

The captain found that their design could not be implemented; directly went to their rendezvous, and told his followers that they had lost their labour, and must return to their cave. They all returned as they had come.

When the robbers were assembled the captain told the assembly the reasons for their return.  And all of them unanimously found fault with their companion who went to identify the house of Alibaba.  And he was executed for his fault.  And another unfortunate enthusiast took up the errand, and he went with a red chalk as if the red chalk were rare thing in the locality.  He met the cobbler Baba Mustafa, lured him with gold coin, conducted him to the place where Mustafa's eyes were blind folded, identified the house of Alibaba made a mark with his red chalk on a remotest corner of the door. 

But Marjaneh's keen eyes detected the mark, felt the hands of an enemy of her master, drew identical mark on the doors of neighbours.  When the robber and his captain came to the street they found the same difficulty and failed to identify Ali Baba's house.  The captain and the assembly of robbers found fault with their companion and he was executed.

The captain was in a dilemma. He had lost two of his best associates, and brave members; and therefore he decided to take up the task of locating his enemy, Ali Baba.  Accordingly He went to Baba Mustafa who did him the same service, at the same reward.   He had not set any particular mark on the door of the house, but examined and observed it so carefully, by passing often by it, that it was impossible for him to mistake it.  Well satisfied with his attempt, he returned to the forest, and when he came into the cave, where the troop waited for him, 
he said, "Now, comrades, nothing can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain of the house." Then he elaborated upon his plan of execution. He ordered them to go to the villages, and buy nineteen mules with thirty eight large leather jars, one full of oil and the other empty.  The robbers had purchased the mules and empty leather jars; and then the oil to fill one of it. The captain found that the mouth of jars were narrow. After widening it he put one of his men into each of the empty jars with necessary weapons.  Weapon inside the seam of jar was left wide open.  He took out weapons, rubbed the empty jars together with the oil, and thus the seam was conditioned as to leave it closed. When the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, the captain set out with his caravan, and reached the town by dusk. He led them through the streets and came to Ali Baba's door.  Ali Baba had been sitting after supper to take the air.

The captain stopped his mule, looked at Ali Baba, greeted him, and said, "I have brought some oil a great way, to sell at tomorrow's market.  It is too late, and I am new to this place. And I do not know where to lodge.  If I should not be troublesome to you, do me the favour to let me pass the night with you."

Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest and had heard him speak to his robbers, it was impossible to recognise him in the garb of a merchant.  He greeted him, and welcomed him, and immediately ordered his servants to open the gate for the merchant.  The caravan entered into the yard, and the mules were unloaded; Ali Baba had bade his servants to put the mules into the stable and feed them. Then he went to Marjaneh to bid her make a good supper for the guest, said to her, "Tomorrow I am going to take bath before daybreak; take care of my bathing linen be ready, give them to 
Abd Allah, and make me some good broth by the time I return."

After this he went to bed.

The morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.





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