He quickly laid
as many bags of gold as he could carry at the door of the cavern; but
his thoughts were so full of the great riches he should possess that
he could not think of the necessary word to make it open, but instead
of "Sesame," said, "Open, Barley!" and was much amazed to find that
the door remained fast shut. He named several sorts of grain, but
still the door would not open.
Cassim had never expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at the
danger he was in, that the more he endeavored to remember the word
"Sesame," the more his memory was confounded, and he had as much
forgotten it as if he had never heard it mentioned. He threw down the
bags he had loaded himself with, and walked distractedly up and down
the cave, without having the least regard to the riches that were
around him.
About noon the robbers visited their cave. At some distance they saw
Cassim's mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on their
backs. Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the cave. They
drove away the mules, who strayed through the forest so far that they
were soon out of sight, and went directly, with their naked sabers in
their hands, to the door, which, on their captain pronouncing the
proper words, immediately opened.
Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet, at once guessed the
arrival of the robbers, and resolved to make one effort for his life.
He rushed to the door, and no sooner saw the door open, than he ran
out and threw the leader down, but could not escape the other robbers,
who with their scimitars soon deprived him of life.
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