hey almost reached the mountains.
Aladdin was so tired that he begged to go back, but the magician
beguiled him with pleasant stories and lead him on in spite of himself.
At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. "We
will go no farther," said his uncle. "I will show you something
wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a fire." When
it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, at the
same time saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little in
front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass ring in the
middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but the magician
caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down. "What have I
done, uncle?" he said piteously; whereupon the magician said more
kindly: "Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a
treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you
must do exactly as I tell you." At the word treasure Aladdin forgot
his fears, and grasped the ring as he was told, saying the names of his
father and grandfather. The stone came up quite easily, and some steps
appeared. "Go down," said the magician; "at the foot of those steps
you will find an open door leading into three large halls. Tuck up
your gown and go through them without touching anything, or you will
die instantly. These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees.
Walk on till you come to niche in a terrace where stands a lighted
lamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it me." He drew a ring
from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him prosper.
Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit
off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the
cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry: "Make haste and give me
the lamp." This Aladdin refused to do until he was out of the cave.
The magician flew into a terrible passion, and throwing some more
powder on to the fire, he said something, and the stone rolled back
into its place.
The man left the country, which plainly showed that he was no uncle of
Aladdin's but a cunning magician, who had read in his magic books of a
wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in the
world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receive it
from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for
this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards.
For two
|