orrow a measure of some one
while you dig the hole." So she ran to the wife of Cassim and borrowed
a measure. Knowing Ali Baba's poverty, the sister was curious to find
out what sort of grain his wife wished to measure, and artfully put
some suet at the bottom of the measure. Ali Baba's wife went home and
set the measure on the heap of gold, and filled it and emptied it
often, to her great content. She then carried it back to her sister,
without noticing that a piece of gold was sticking to it, which
Cassim's wife perceived directly her back was turned. She grew very
curious, and said to Cassim when he came home: "Cassim, your brother
is richer than you. He does not count his money, he measures it." He
begged her to explain this riddle, which she did by showing him the
piece of money and telling him where she found it. Then Cassim grew so
envious that he could not sleep, and went to his brother in the
morning before sunrise. "Ali Baba," he said, showing him the gold
piece, "you pretend to be poor and yet you measure gold." By this Ali
Baba perceived that through his wife's folly Cassim and his wife knew
their secret, so he confessed all and offered Cassim a share. "That I
expect," said Cassim; "but I must know where to find the treasure,
otherwise I will discover all, and you will lose all." Ali Baba, more
out of kindness than fear, told him of the cave, and the very words to
use. Cassim left Ali Baba, meaning to be beforehand with him and get
the treasure himself. He rose early next morning, and set out with ten
mules loaded with great chests. He soon found the place, and the door
in the rock. He said: "Open, Sesame!" and the door opened and shut
behind him. He could have feasted his eyes all day on the treasures,
but he now hastened to gather together as much of it as possible; but
when he was ready to go he could not remember what to say for
thinking of his great riches. Instead of "Sesame," he said: "Open,
Barley!" and the door remained fast. He named several different sorts
of grain, all but the right one, and the door still stuck fast. He was
so frightened at the danger he was in that he had as much forgotten
the word as if he had never heard it.

About noon the robbers returned to their cave, and saw Cassim's mules
roving about with great chests on their backs. This gave them the
alarm; they drew their sabres, and went to the door, which opened on
their Captain's saying: "Open, Sesame!" Cassim, who had heard the