The
captain, and he who had visited the town in the morning as spy, 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 Morgiana 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; but 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 he 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 their place of rendezvous, and told his troop that they
had lost their labor, and must return to their cave. He himself set
them the example, and they all returned as they had come.
When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the reason
of their returning; and presently the conductor was declared by all
worthy of death. He condemned himself, acknowledging that he ought to
have taken better precaution, and prepared to receive the stroke from
him who was appointed to cut off his head.
But as the safety of the troop required the discovery of the second
intruder into the cave, another of the gang, who promised himself that
he should succeed better, presented himself, 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.
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