ts, and brought
him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to see her son
so fine.

Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long
way outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain, and the
magician pulled a cake from his girdle which he divided between them.
They then journeyed onward till they almost reached the mountains.
Aladdin was so tired that he begged to go back, but the magician
beguiled him with pleasant stories, and led him on in spite of
himself. At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow
valley. "We will go no farther," said the false uncle. "I will show
you something wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a
fire." When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about
him, at the same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a
little and opened in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone
with a brass ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run
away, but the magician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him
down. "What have I done, uncle?" he said, piteously; whereupon the
magician said more kindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this
stone lies a treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch
it, so you must do exactly as I tell you." At the word "treasure"
Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as he was told, saying
the names of his father and grandfather. The stone came up quite
easily, and some steps appeared. "Go down," said the magician; "at the
foot of those steps you will find an open door leading into three
large halls. Tuck up your gown and go through them without touching
anything, or you will die instantly. These halls lead into a garden of
fine fruit trees. Walk on till you come to a niche in a terrace where
stands a lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it me."
He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him
prosper.

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit
off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the
cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry: "Make haste and give me
the lamp." This Aladdin refused to do until he was out of the cave.
The magician flew into a terrible passion, and throwing some more
powder onto the fire, he said something, and the stone rolled back
into its place.

The magician left Persia forever, which plainly showed that he was no
uncle of Aladd