Page:Ali Baba, or, The forty thieves (1).pdf/15

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parted when he discovered the red mark: and getting some red chalk, she marked seven doors on each side precisely in the same place and in the same manner.

The robber, valuing himself highly upon the precautions he had taken triumphantly conducted his captain to the spot: but great indeed was his confusion and dismay, when he found it impossible to say which, among fifteen houses marked exactly alike, was the right one. The captain, furious with his disappointment, returned again with the the troop to the forest; and the second robber was also condemned to death.

The captain having thus lost 2 of his troop, judged that their hands were more active than their heads in such services; and he resolved to employ no other of them, but to go himself upon the business.

Accordingly he repaired to the city, and addressed himself to the cobler Mustapha; who for six pieces of gold readily performed the same services for him he had done for the two other strangers, and the captain much wiser than his men, did not amuse himself with setting a mark upon the door, but attentively considered the house, counted the number of its windows, and passed