re was trouble brewing for Aladdin. The
wicked old Magician who had pretended to be Aladdin's uncle found out
by his magic powers that the boy had not perished when he left him
underground, but had somehow managed to escape and become rich and
powerful.

"He must have discovered the secret of the lamp," shrieked the
Magician, tearing his hair with rage. "I will not rest day or night
until I shall have found some way of taking it from him."

So he journeyed from Africa to China, and when he came to the city
where Aladdin lived and saw the wonderful palace, he nearly choked
with fury to see all its splendor and richness. Then he disguised
himself as a merchant, and bought a number of copper lamps, and with
these went from street to street, crying, "New lamps for old."

As soon as the people heard his cry, they crowded round him, laughing
and jeering, for they thought he must be mad to make such an offer.

Now it happened that Aladdin was out hunting, and the Princess sat
alone in the hall of the jeweled windows. When, therefore, she heard
the noise that was going on in the street outside, she called to her
slaves to ask what it meant.

Presently one of the slaves came back, laughing so much that she could
hardly speak.

"It is a curious old man who offers to give new lamps for old," she
cried. "Did any one ever hear before of such a strange way of
trading?"

The Princess laughed too, and pointed to an old lamp which hung in a
niche close by.

"There is an old enough lamp," she said. "Take it and see if the old
man will really give a new one for it."

The slave took it down and ran out to the street once more, and when
the Magician saw that it was indeed what he wanted, he seized the
Magic Lamp with both his hands.

"Choose any lamp you like," he said, showing her those of bright new
copper. He did not care now what happened. She might have all the new
lamps if she wanted them.

Then he went a little way outside the city, and when he was quite
alone he took out the Magic Lamp and rubbed it gently. Immediately the
Genie stood before him and asked what was his will.

"I order thee to carry off the palace of Aladdin, with the Princess
inside, and set it down in a lonely spot in Africa."

And in an instant the palace, with every one in it, had disappeared,
and when the Sultan happened to look out of his window, lo! there was
no longer a palace to be seen.

"This must be enchantment," he cried.

Then he ord