Near the trees at the end of Ali Baba’s long garden, he and Abdalla dug a trench large enough to hold the bodies of the robbers.  When they were buried there, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as the mules were of no use to him, he sent them at different times to be sold in the market by his slave.

V

The captain of the forty robbers had returned to his cave in the forest, but found himself so lonely there that the place became frightful to him.  He resolved at the same time to avenge the fate of his comrades and to bring about the death of Ali Baba.  For this purpose he returned to the town, disguised as a merchant of silks.  By degrees he brought from his cavern many sorts of fine stuffs, and to dispose of these he took a warehouse that happened to be opposite Cassim’s, which Ali Baba’s son had occupied since the death of his uncle.

He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and as a newcomer was very civil to the merchants near him.  Ali Baba’s son was one of the first to converse with him, and the new merchant was most friendly.  Within two or three days Ali Baba came to see his son, and the captain of the robbers knew him at once, and soon learned from his son who he was.  From that time forth he was still more polite to Ali Baba’s son, who soon felt bound to repay the many kindnesses of his new friend.

As his own house was small, he arranged with his father that on a certain afternoon, when he and the merchant were passing by Ali Baba’s house they should stop, and he should ask them both to sup with him.  This plan was carried out, though at first the merchant, with whose own plans it agreed perfectly, made as if to excuse himself.  He even gave it as a reason for not remaining that he could eat no salt in his victuals.

“If that is all,” said Ali Baba, “it need not deprive me of the honor of your company;” and he went to the kitchen and told Morgiana to put no salt into anything she was cooking that evening.

Thus Cogia Houssain was persuaded to stay, but to Morgiana it seemed very strange that any one should refuse to eat salt.  She wished to see what manner of man it might be, and to this end, when she had finished what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla carry up the dishes.  Looking at Cogia Houssain, she knew him at first sight, in spite of his disguise, to be the captain of the robbers, and, scanning him very closely, saw that he had a dagger under his garment.

“I see now why this greatest enemy of my master would eat no salt with him.  He intends to kill him; but I will prevent him.”

While they were at supper Morgiana made up her mind to do one of the boldest deeds ever conceived.  She dressed herself like a dancer, girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, from which hung a poniard, and put a handsome mask on her face.  Then, when the supper was ended, she said to Abdalla,—­

“Take your tabor, and let us go and divert our master and his son’s friend, as we sometimes do when he is alone.”