aning of this mark?" said she to herself. "Somebody
intends my master no good. However, with whatever intention it was
done, it is advisable to guard against the worst."

Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two or three
doors on each side in the same manner, without saying a word to her
master or mistress.

In the meantime the robber rejoined his troop in the forest, and
recounted to them his success, expatiating upon his good fortune in
meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of what he
wanted to know. All the robbers listened to him with the utmost
satisfaction. Then the captain, after commending his diligence,
addressing himself to them all, said, "Comrades, we have no time to
lose. Let us set off well armed, without its appearing who we are; but
that we may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two go into the
town together, and join at our rendezvous, which shall be the great
square. In the meantime, our comrade who brought us the good news and
I will go and find out the house, that we may consult what had best be
done."

This speech and plan was approved of by all, and they were soon ready.
They filed off in parties of two each, after some interval of time,
and got into the town without being in the least suspected. The
captain, and he who had visited the town in the morning as spy, came
in the last. He led the captain into the street where he had marked
Ali Baba's residence; and when they came to the first of the houses
which Morgiana had marked, he pointed it out. But the captain observed
that the next door was chalked in the same manner, and in the same
place; and showing it to his guide, asked him which house it was,
that, or the first. The guide was so confounded, that he knew not what
answer to make; but he was still more puzzled when he and the captain
saw five or six houses similarly marked. He assured the captain, with
an oath, that he had marked but one, and could not tell who had
chalked the rest, so that he could not distinguish the house which the
cobbler had stopped at.

The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, went
directly to their place of rendezvous, and told his troop that they
had lost their labor, and must return to their cave. He himself set
them the example, and they all returned as they had come.

When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the reason
of their returning; and presently the conductor was declared