ssim's body taken away, with some of their bags of gold. "We are
certainly discovered," said the captain, "and if we do not speedily
apply some remedy, shall gradually lose all the riches which we have,
with so much pains and danger, been so many years amassing together. All
that we can think of the loss which we have sustained is, that the thief
whom we surprised had the secret of opening the door, and we arrived
luckily as he was coming out: but his body being removed, and with it
some of our money, plainly shows that he had an accomplice; and as it is
likely that there were but two who had discovered our secret, and one
has been caught, we must look narrowly after the other. What say you, my
lads?" All the robbers thought the captain's proposal so advisable, that
they unanimously approved of it, and agreed that they must lay all other
enterprises aside, to follow this closely, and not give it up till they
had succeeded.

"I expected no less," said the captain, "from your fidelity: but, first
of all, one of you who is artful, and enterprising, must go into the
town disguised as a traveller, to try if he can hear any talk of the
strange death of the man whom we have killed, as he deserved; and
endeavour to find out who he was, and where he lived. This is a matter
of the first importance for us to ascertain, that we may do nothing
which we may have reason to repent of, by discovering ourselves in a
country where we have lived so long unknown. But to warn him who shall
take upon himself this commission, and to prevent our being deceived by
his giving us a false report, I ask you all, if you do not think that in
case of treachery, or even error of judgment, he should suffer death?"
Without waiting for the suffrages of his companions, one of the robbers
started up, and said: "I submit to this condition, and think it an
honour to expose my life, by taking the commission upon me; but
remember, at least, if I do not succeed, that I neither wanted courage
nor good will to serve the troop." After this robber had received great
commendations from the captain, he disguised himself, and taking his
leave of the troop that night, went into the town just at daybreak; and
walked up and down, till accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha's stall,
which was always open before any of the shops.

Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to work.
The robber saluted him, bidding him good morrow; and perceiving that he
was