The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of what he
wanted to know, 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 it into execution, but if any one
can form a better expedient, let him communicate it."
He then told them his contrivance; 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 as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for his
purpose, the captain caused them to be widened, and after having put
one of his men into each, with the weapons which he thought fit,
leaving open the seam which had been undone to leave them room to
breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil from the full
vessel.
Things being thus prepared, when the nineteen mules were loaded with
thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, 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 have knocked; but
was prevented by his sitting there after supper to take a little fresh
air.
Pages:
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260