She made what haste she could to fill her
oil pot, and returned into the 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, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executed
without any noise, as she had projected, she returned into the kitchen
with the empty kettle; and having put out the great fire she had made
to boil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the broth, put out
the lamp also, and remained silent, resolving not to go to rest till,
through a window of the kitchen, which opened into the yard, she had
seen 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 any
one 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, threw stones again a second and also a third
time, and could not comprehend the reason that none of them should
answer his signal. Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard,
and going to the first jar, while asking the robber, whom he thought
alive, if he was in readiness, smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent
forth a steam out of the jar.
Pages:
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263