ce a great cloud of dust, which
seemed to approach him. He observed it with attention, and
distinguished soon after a body of horsemen, whom he suspected might
be robbers. He determined to leave his asses to save himself. He
climbed up a large tree, planted on a high rock, whose branches were
thick enough to conceal him, and yet enabled him to see all that
passed without being discovered.

The troop, who were to the number of forty, all well mounted and
armed, came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood, and there
dismounted. Every man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub, and
hung about his neck a bag of corn which they had brought behind them.
Then each of them took off his saddle-bag, which seemed to Ali Baba
from its weight to be full of gold and silver. One, whom he took to be
their captain, came under the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed;
and making his way through some shrubs, pronounced these words:
"Open, Sesame!"[49] As soon as the captain of the robbers had thus
spoken, a door opened in the rock; and after he had made all his troop
enter before him, he followed them, when the door shut again of
itself.

[Footnote 49: "Sesame" is a small grain.]

The robbers stayed some time within the rock, during which Ali Baba,
fearful of being caught, remained in the tree.

At last the door opened again, and as the captain went in last, so he
came out first, and stood to see them all pass by him; when Ali Baba
heard him make the door close by pronouncing these words, "Shut,
Sesame!" Every man at once went and bridled his horse, fastened his
wallet, and mounted again. When the captain saw them all ready, he put
himself at their head, and they returned the way they had come.

Ali Baba followed them with his eyes as far as he could see them; and
afterward stayed a considerable time before he descended. Remembering
the words the captain of the robbers used to cause the door to open
and shut, he had the curiosity to try if his pronouncing them would
have the same effect. Accordingly, he went among the shrubs, and
perceiving the door concealed behind them, stood before it, and said,
"Open, Sesame!" The door instantly flew wide open.

Ali Baba, who expected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see a
well-lighted and spacious chamber, which received the light from an
opening at the top of the rock, and in which were all sorts of
provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, and valuable
carpeting,