another. "But what case shall we take?"

"Let us take the case of Ali Cogia and Abul Hassan. We all know about
that, and if it had come before me I should have decided it differently
from the way the Cadi did."

All the boys agreed to this by clapping their hands.

The leader then appointed one boy to take the part of Ali Cogia and
another to be Abul Hassan. Still others were chosen to be guards and
merchants and so on.

The Caliph and his Vizier were much amused by this play of the boys,
and they sat down upon a bench so conveniently placed that they could
see all that went on without themselves being observed.

The pretended Cadi took his seat and commanded that Abul Hassan and
Ali Cogia should be brought before him. "And let Ali Cogia bring with
him the jar of olives in which he said he hid the gold," said he.

The lads who were taking the parts of Ali Cogia and Abul Hassan were
now led forward by some of the other boys and were told by the
pretended Cadi to state their cases. This they did clearly, for the
case had been much talked about by their elders, and they were well
acquainted with all the circumstances and had discussed them among
themselves.

The pretended Cadi listened attentively to what they said, and then
addressing the lad who took the part of Abul he asked, "Abul Hassan,
are you willing to swear that you have not touched the jar nor opened
it?"

The pretended merchant said he was.

The lad then asked, "Has Ali Cogia brought the jar of olives into
court with him?"

"It is here," said the boys who were taking the parts of officers of
the court.

The feigned Cadi ordered them to place the jar before him, which they
pretended to do. He then went through the motions of lifting the lid
and examining the olives and even of tasting one.

"These are very fine olives," said he. "Ali Cogia, when did you say
you placed this jar in the warehouse?"

"It was when I left Bagdad, seven years ago," answered the pretended
merchant.

"Abul Hassan, is that so?"

The boy who acted the part of Abul said that it was.

"Let the olive merchants be brought into court," commanded the
pretended Cadi.

The boys who were taking the parts of olive merchants now came
forward.

"Tell me," said the feigned Cadi, "how long is it possible to keep
olives?"

"However great the care that is taken," they answered, "it is
impossible to preserve them for more than three years. After that time
they lose both color an