l the haste he could to town; but the uncertainty of
the event made him choose the safest course.

At last the door opened again, and the forty robbers came out. As the
captain went in last, 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 went and bridled his horse, fastened
his wallet, and mounted again; and when the captain saw them all ready,
he put himself at their head, and they returned the way they had come.
Ali Baba did not immediately quit his tree; for, said he to himself,
they may have forgotten something and may come back again, and then I
shall be taken. He 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 it well lighted and
spacious, in the form of a vault, which received the light from an
opening at the top of the rock. He saw all sorts of provisions, rich
bales of silk stuff, brocade, and valuable carpeting, piled upon one
another; gold and silver ingots in great heaps, and money in bags. The
sight of all these riches made him suppose that this cave must have been
occupied for ages by robbers, who had succeeded one another. Ali Baba
did not stand long to consider what he should do, but went immediately
into the cave, and as soon as he had entered, the door shut of itself,
but this did not disturb him, because he knew the secret to open it
again. He never regarded the silver, but made the best use of his time
in carrying out as much of the gold coin as he thought his three asses
could carry. He collected his asses, which were dispersed, and when he
had loaded them with the bags, laid wood over in such a manner that they
could not be seen. When he had done he stood before the door, and
pronouncing the words: "_Shut, Sesame!"_ the door closed after him, for
it had shut of itself while he was within, but remained open while he
was out. He then made the best of his way to town.

When Ali Baba got home, he drove his asses into a little yar