the journey safely, in company
with a number of other pilgrims. Arrived in Mecca, he visited the
celebrated temples and other objects of interest that were there. He
performed all his religious duties faithfully, and after that he went
to the bazaar and secured a place where he could display the goods he
had brought with him.

One day a stranger came through the bazaar and stopped to admire the
beauty of the things Ali had for sale.

"It is a pity," said the stranger, "that you should not go to Cairo.
You could go there at no great expense, and I feel assured that you
would receive a far better price for your goods there than here. I
know, for I have lived in that city all my life, and I am familiar
with the prices that are paid for such fine merchandise as yours." The
stranger talked with Ali for some time and then passed on his way.

After he had gone the merchant meditated upon what had been said, and
he finally determined to follow the stranger's advice and to take such
goods as he had left to Cairo, and place them on sale there. This he
did and found that, as the stranger had promised, the prices he could
get there were much higher than those paid in Mecca.

While Ali Cogia was in Cairo he made the acquaintance of some people
who were about to journey down into Egypt by caravan. They urged Ali
to join them, and after some persuasion he consented to do so, as he
had always wished to see that country. From Egypt Ali Cogia journeyed
to Constantinople, and then on to other cities and countries. Time
flew by so rapidly that when, finally, Ali stopped to reckon up how
long it was since he had left Bagdad, he found that seven years had
elapsed.

He now determined to return without delay to his own city. He found a
camel that suited him, and having bought it he packed upon it such
goods as he had left, and set out for Bagdad.

Now all the while that Ali Cogia had been travelling from place to
place the jar containing the gold pieces had rested undisturbed and
forgotten in Abul Hassan's warehouse. Abul and his wife sometimes
talked of Ali and wondered when he would return and how he had fared
upon his journey. They were surprised at his long absence and feared
some misfortune might have come upon him. At one time there was a
rumor that he was dead, but this rumor was afterward denied.

Now the very day that Ali Cogia set out upon his return journey Abul
Hassan and his wife were seated at the table at their evening m