and signs which were necessary, until at last he found one who at once fell asleep, and then, one after another, they all fell asleep, and no one could awake them except the shoemaker! I could not have believed this, your highness," said Hadji Baba, "if I had not been told it by the shoemaker himself, who also taught me the mysterious power of thus throwing men into sleep, which in some languages is signified by the term 'throwing dust into their eyes.'"
"How!" exclaimed the Dey, "dost mean to tell me that thou couldst really do as that shoemaker did, and put my guards to sleep before mine eyes?"
"Your highness's slave presumes to answer emphatically—yes."
"By the beard of the Prophet, thou shalt prove it," said the Dey, whose curiosity was aroused.—"Ho, there! order the guard into my presence."
"Hold!" exclaimed Hadji Baba; "they must appear absolutely unarmed. In order that men should be brought under the influence of this power, it is necessary that they should divest themselves not only of all ordinary weapons, but also of the defensive armour of common-sense. That is the reason why the exercise of the power is so difficult. But, once accomplished, the effect is unquestionable and very amazing."
"Let them leave their arms behind them, then,"
