Indeed, uncle," replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; you must
help me."

"You have no occasion for my assistance," answered the magician; "if I
help you, we shall be able to do nothing. Take hold of the ring, and
lift it up; you will find it will come easily." Aladdin did as the
magician bade him, raised the stone with ease, and laid it on one
side.

When the stone was pulled up there appeared a staircase about three or
four feet deep, leading to a door.

"Descend those steps, my son," said the African magician, "and open
that door. It will lead you into a palace, divided into three great
halls. In each of these you will see four large brass cisterns placed
on each side, full of gold and silver; but take care you do not meddle
with them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure to tuck up your
robe, wrap it about you, and then pass through the second into the
third without stopping. Above all things, have a care that you do not
touch the walls so much as with your clothes; for if you do, you will
die instantly. At the end of the third hall you will find a door which
opens into a garden planted with fine trees loaded with fruit. Walk
directly across the garden to a terrace, where you will see a niche
before you, and in that niche a lighted lamp. Take the lamp down and
put it out. When you have thrown away the wick and poured out the
liquor, put it in your waistband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid
that the liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is not oil, and the
lamp will be dry as soon as it is thrown out."

After these words the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put it
on one of Aladdin's, saying, "It is a talisman against all evil, so
long as you obey me. Go, therefore, boldly, and we shall both be rich
all our lives."

Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the door, found the three
halls just as the African magician had described. He went through them
with all the precaution the fear of death could inspire, crossed the
garden without stopping, took down the lamp from the niche, threw out
the wick and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired, put it in
his waistband. But as he came down from the terrace, seeing it was
perfectly dry, he stopped in the garden to observe the trees, which
were loaded with extraordinary fruit of different colors on each tree.
Some bore fruit entirely white, and some clear and transparent as
crystal; some pale red, and others deeper; some green, blue, and
pu