Page:Ali Baba, or, The forty thieves (2).pdf/13

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                    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
                    troop to the forest; and the second robber
                    was also condemned to death. 
                      The captain having thus lost two of his
                    troop, judged that their hands were more
                    active than their heads in such service; 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 cobbler Mustapha,
                    who for six pieces of gold readily performed
                    the same service for him as 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 by it
                    very often to be certain that he should know
                    it again.
                      He then returned to the forest and ordered
                    his troop to go into the town, and buy nine-
                    teen mules and thirty-eight large jars, one
                    full of oil and the rest empty.
                      In two or three days the jars were brought
                    and all things in readiness, and the captain