16
ALI BABA
men in oil jars, would have screamed out; but the prudent Morgiana instantly recollected herself, and replied softly, 'No not yet; lie still till I call you.'
She passed on to every jar repeating the same question, and receiving the same answer, till she came to the last, which was really filled with oil.
Morgiana was now convinced that this was a plot of the robbers to murder her master Ali Baba; so she ran back to the kitchen, and brought out a large kettle which she had filled with oil, and set it on a great wood fire; and as soon as it boiled, she went and poured into the jars sufficient of the boiling oil to kill every man within them.
Having done this she put out her fire and her lamp, and crept softly to her chamber.
The captain of the robbers, hearing every thing quiet in the house, and perceiving no light any where, arose and went down into the yard to assemble his men.
Coming to the first jar, he felt the stream of the boiled oil; he ran hastily to the rest, and found every one of his troop put to death in the same manner.
Full of rage and despair at having failed in his design, he forced the lock of a door that led to the garden, and made his escape over the walls.
On the following morning Morgiana related to her master, Ali Baba, his wonderful
