The Arabian Nights

by Padraic Colum

  Baba Mustapha hesitated a little at these words. Oh! oh! replied he, you would have me do something against my conscience or against my honor?

  God forbid that I should ask anything contrary to your honor! said Marjaneh, putting another piece of gold into his hand. Only come along with me and fear nothing.

  Baba Mustapha went with Marjaneh, who, after she had bound his eyes with a handkerchief at the place she had mentioned, guided him to her deceased master’s house, and never unloosed his eyes till he had entered the room where she had the corpse. Baba Mustapha, said she, you must make haste and sew the parts of this body together; and when you have finished, I will give you another piece of gold.

  When Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him again, gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, and recommending secrecy to him, led him back to the place where she first bound his eyes. There she pulled off the bandage, and let him go home, but watched him till he was quite out of sight to make sure that he returned toward his stall. The next day four neighbors carried the corpse to the burying-ground, following the priest, who recited some prayers. ‘Ali Baba came after with some neighbors. Marjaneh, who had been a servant to the deceased, came last in the procession, weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair. Kasim’s wife stayed at home mourning, uttering woeful cries with the women of the neighborhood, who came, according to custom, during the funeral, and joining their wailings with hers, filled the quarter far and near with sounds of sorrow.

  The manner of Kasim’s melancholy death was concealed and hushed up between his widow, Marjaneh, and ‘Ali Baba, with so much contrivance that nobody in the city had the least knowledge or suspicion of the cause of it. Three or four days after the funeral, ‘Ali Baba removed his few goods openly to his sister-in-law’s house, where it was agreed that he should in future live; but the money he had taken from the robbers he conveyed thither by night. Lastly, he entrusted his eldest son with the entire management of Kasim’s warehouse.

  While these things were being done, the forty robbers again visited their retreat in the forest. Great, then, was their surprise to find Kasim’s body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. We are certainly discovered, said the captain. The removal of the body and the loss of more of our money plainly shows that the man whom we killed had an accomplice; and for our own lives’ sake, we must try to find him. What say you, my lads?

  All the robbers approved of the captain’s proposal.

  Well, said the captain, one of the boldest and most skillful among you must go into the town, disguised as a traveler and a stranger, to try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we have killed, and endeavor to find out who he was and where he lived. This is a matter of the first importance, and for fear of treachery, I propose that whoever undertakes this business without success, even though the failure arises only from an error of judgment, shall suffer death.

  Without waiting for the sentiments of his companions, one of the robbers started up and said, I submit to this condition and think it an honor to expose my life to serve the troop.

  After this robber had received great commendations from the captain and his comrades, he disguised himself; and taking his leave of the troop that night, went into the town just at daybreak, and walked up and down, till accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha’s stall, which was always open before any of the shops.

  Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to work. The robber saluted him, bidding him good morrow; and perceiving that he was old, said: Honest man, you begin to work very early. Is it possible that one of your age can see so well? I question, even if it were somewhat lighter, whether you could see to stitch.

  You do not know me, replied Baba Mustapha; for old as I am I have extraordinary good eyes; and you will not doubt it when I tell you that I sewed the body of a dead man together in a place where I had not so much light as I have now.

  Where was that? asked the robber.

  You shall know no more, answered Baba Mustapha.

  The robber felt sure that he had discovered what he sought. He pulled out a piece of gold, and putting it into Baba Mustapha’s hand, said to him: I do not want to learn your secret, though I can assure you that you might safely trust me with it. The only thing I desire of you is to show me the house where you did this work.

  If I were disposed to do you that favor, replied Baba Mustapha, I assure you I cannot. I was taken to a certain place, whence I was led blindfold to the house, and afterward brought back in the same manner. You see, therefore, the impossibility of my doing what you desire.

  Well, replied the robber, you may, however, have some remembrance of the way that you were led blindfold. Come, let me blind your eyes at the same place. We will walk together; perhaps you may be able to go where you did before, and as everybody ought to be paid for their trouble, there is another piece of gold for you. Gratify me in what I ask you.

  So saying, he put another piece of gold into the shoemaker’s hand.

  The two pieces of gold were great temptations to Baba Mustapha. He looked at them a long time in his hand, without saying a word, but at last he pulled out his purse and put them in it. I am not sure that I can remember the way exactly, said he to the robber; but since you desire, I will try what I can do.

  At these words Baba Mustapha rose, to the great joy of the robber, and led him to the place where Marjaneh had bound his eyes. It was here that I was blindfolded, said Baba Mustapha; and afterward I turned this way.

  The robber tied his handkerchief over the shoemaker’s eyes and walked by him till he stopped directly before Kasim’s house, where ‘Ali Baba then lived. The thief marked the door with a piece of chalk, which he had ready in his hand, and then he pulled off the bandage from Baba Mustapha’s eyes and asked him if he knew whose house that was. Baba Mustapha replied he did not live in the neighborhood, and he could not tell.

  The robber, finding he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, thanked him for the trouble he had taken and left him to go back to his stall, while he returned to the forest, persuaded that he should be very well received.

  A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Marjaneh went out of ‘Ali Baba’s house on some errand, and on her return, seeing the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe it. What can be the meaning of this mark? said she 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.

  By this time the robber had rejoined his troop in the forest. He told the others of his success, rejoicing over his good fortune, in meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of what he wanted to know. The robbers listened to him with the utmost satisfaction; and the captain, after commending his diligence, addressed himself to them all, and said: Comrades, we have no time to lose. Let us set off well armed; but that we may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two go into the town together and we will meet at the great square. In the meantime our comrade who brought us the good news and I will go and find the house he has marked, that we may consult what had best be done.

  This speech and plan were approved by all. They were soon ready, and filed off in parties of two each, and got into the town without being in the least suspected. The captain and he who had visited the town in the morning as a spy came in last. The spy 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, he pointed it out. But the captain observed that the next door was chalked in the same manner and in the same place; and showing it to his guide, asked him which house it was, that or the first. The guide was so confounded that he knew not what answer to make, and he was still more puzzled when he and the captain saw five or six houses similarly marked. He assured the captain, with an oath, that h
e had marked but one, and could not tell who had chalked the rest, so that he could not distinguish the house which the cobbler had stopped at.

  The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, went directly to the great square where the robbers were to meet and told his troop that they had lost their labor and must return to their cave. He himself set them the example, and they separated in parties of two and returned as they had come.

  When the troop were all got together, the captain told them the reason of their returning; and presently the robber who had acted as spy was declared deserving of death and was killed.

  But as the safety of the troop required the discovery of the second intruder into the cave, another of the gang offered to go and seek out the intruder’s dwelling. He promised himself that he should succeed better than his unlucky predecessor, and his offer being accepted, he went and corrupted Baba Mustapha, as the other had done; and being shown the house, marked it in a place more remote from sight with red chalk.

  Not long afterward, Marjaneh, whose eyes nothing could escape, went out, and seeing the red chalk mark, and arguing that some evil was planned against her master, marked the neighboring houses in the same place and manner.

  The robber, at his return to his company, prided himself much on the care he had taken. He believed he had adopted a sure way of distinguishing ‘Ali Baba’s house from the others, and the captain and all of them thought now they must succeed. They conveyed themselves into the town with the same caution as before; but when the robber spy and his captain came to the street where ‘Ali Baba lived they found several doors marked instead of one, at which the captain was enraged, and the spy was in as great confusion as the former guide.

  Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second time, even more dissatisfied; and the robber, who had been the author of the mistake, underwent the same punishment as the other spy.

  The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was afraid of diminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get information of the residence of their plunderer. It was evident that their heads were not so good as their hands on such occasions, and he therefore resolved to take on himself the important commission.

  Accordingly, he went and addressed himself to Baba Mustapha, who did him the same service he had done the other robbers. The captain did not set any particular mark on the house, but examined and observed it so carefully, that it was impossible for him to mistake it. Well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of what he wanted to know, he returned to the forest; and when he came into the cave, where the troop waited for him, said, Now, comrades, nothing can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain of the house; and on my way hither I have thought how to put the revenge into execution; but if anyone can form a better plan, let him communicate it.

  He then told his plan, and as they approved of it, ordered them to go into the villages about and buy nineteen mules, with thirty-eight large leather jars, one full of oil and the others empty.

  In two or three days’ time the robbers had purchased the mules and jars, and the captain after having put one of his men into each jar with the weapons which he thought fit, leaving open the seam which had been undone to allow them a chance to breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil from the full vessel.

  Things being thus prepared, the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty-seven robbers in jars and the jar of oil. Then the captain, as their driver, set out with them, and reached the town by the dusk of the evening, as he had intended. He led them through the streets till he came to ‘Ali Baba’s, at whose door he designed to knock; but ‘Ali Baba was sitting in the doorway after supper to take a little fresh air. The robber stopped his mules, addressed ‘Ali Baba, and said: I have brought some oil a great way to sell at to-morrow’s market, and it is now so late that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not be troublesome to you, do me the favor to let me pass the night with you, and I shall be very much obliged by your hospitality.

  Though ‘Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest and had heard him speak, it was impossible to know him in the disguise of an oil merchant. He told him he was welcome, and immediately opened his gates for the mules to go into the yard. At the same time he called to a servant and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, to put them into the stable and feed them; and then went to Marjaneh to bid her get a good supper for his guest. After they had finished supper, ‘Ali Baba charged Marjaneh afresh to take care of his guest.

  In the meantime the captain of the robbers went into the yard, and took off the lid of each jar, and gave his comrades orders what to do. Beginning at the first jar and so on to the last, he said to each man, As soon as I throw some pebbles from the chamber window where I lie, do not fail to come out, and I will immediately join you.

  After this he returned into the house, and Marjaneh taking up a light conducted him to his chambers. There she left him; and he, to avoid any suspicion, put the light out soon after and lay down in his clothes, that he might be the more ready to rise.

  Marjaneh began preparations for the morrow’s breakfast; but while she was doing this, the oil burned out of the lamp she was using, and there was no more oil in the house, nor any candles. What to do she did not know. A fellow-servant, seeing her very uneasy, said, Do not fret yourself, but go into the yard, and take some oil out of one of the jars.

  Marjaneh thanked him for his advice, took the oil-pot, and went into the yard; when as she came nigh the first jar, the robber within said softly, Is it time?

  Though naturally much surprised at finding a man in the jar instead of the oil she wanted she immediately felt the importance of keeping silence, as ‘Ali Baba, his family, and herself might be in great danger; and collecting herself, without showing the least emotion, she answered, Not yet, but presently.

  She went quietly in this manner to all the jars, giving the same answer till she came to the jar of oil.

  By this means Marjaneh found that her master, ‘Ali Baba had admitted thirty-eight robbers into his house, and that this pretended oil merchant was their captain. She made what haste she could to fill her oil-pot and returned to her kitchen, where, as soon as she had lighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went again to the oil-jar, filled the kettle, set it on a large wood fire, and as soon as it boiled, went and poured enough into every jar to stifle and destroy the robber within.

  When this action was executed without any noise, as she had intended, she returned to the kitchen with the empty kettle; and having put out the fire she had made to boil the oil, and the lamp also, she remained silent, resolving not to go to rest till she had observed through a window of the kitchen, which opened into the yard, what might follow.

  She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, opened the window, and finding no light and hearing no noise, or anyone stirring in the house, gave the appointed signal by throwing little stones, several of which hit the jars, as he doubted not by the sound they gave. He then listened, but not hearing or perceiving anything whereby he could judge that his companions stirred, he began to grow very uneasy, and threw stones a second and also a third time. He could not comprehend the reason that none of his men should answer his signal. Much alarmed he went softly down into the yard, and going to the first jar, asked the robber whom he thought alive, if he was in readiness. Then he smelt the hot boiled oil, and suspected that his plot to murder ‘Ali Baba and plunder his house was discovered. Examining all the jars, one after another, he found that all his gang were dead; and, enraged to despair at having failed in his design, he forced the lock of a door that led from the yard to the garden, and climbing over the garden wall made his escape.

  When Marjaneh saw him depart, she went to bed, satisfied and pleased to have succeeded so well in saving her master and family.

  ‘Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed by a servant, went to the baths, entirely ignorant of the important events which had happened at home.

  When he returned
, he was very much surprised to see the oil-jars, and wondered that the merchant was not gone with them and the mules. He asked Marjaneh, who opened the door, the reason. My good master, answered she, God preserve you and all your family. You will be better informed of what you wish to know when you have seen what I have to show you.

  As soon as Marjaneh had shut the door, ‘Ali Baba followed her, and she requested him to look into the first jar and see if there was any oil. ‘Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man started back in alarm and cried out. Do not be afraid, said Marjaneh, the man you see there is dead.

  Ah, Marjaneh, said ‘Ali Baba, explain yourself.

  I will, replied Marjaneh. Moderate your astonishment and do not excite the curiosity of your neighbors, for it is of great importance to keep this affair secret. Look into the other jars.

  ‘Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another; and when he came to that which contained oil, found the oil nearly gone. He stood for some time motionless, looking at the jars, without saying a word, so great was his surprise. At last, when he had recovered himself, he asked, And what is become of the merchant?

  Merchant! answered Marjaneh; he is as much one as I am. I will tell you who he is and what is become of him; but you had better hear the story in your own room, for it is time that you had your broth after your bathing.

  They went indoors and Marjaneh told all she had done, from first observing the mark on the house to the destruction of the robbers and the flight of their captain.

  On hearing of these brave deeds from the lips of Marjaneh, ‘Ali Baba said to her: God, by your means, has delivered me from the snares these robbers laid for my destruction. I therefore owe my life to you; and, for a token of my acknowledgment, I give you your liberty from this moment. I will complete your recompense later.