filled his pockets and even the folds of his robe with the jewels, and hastened back to the mouth of the cave.

It was no part of the magician's plan to allow his assistant to return to the light of day. The man of evil arts had read in his books of magic that hidden in a cave 5 in China was a lamp, the possession of which would make him more powerful than any prince in the world. As he was not permitted to enter the cave himself, he had brought Aladdin to fetch him the wonderful talisman, intending, when it was in his own hands, to close the 10 entrance to the underground passage and leave the boy inside. So, now, when Aladdin called upon his uncle to help him climb out of the cave, he answered craftily, "Give me first the lamp, my boy, and then I will help you up." Aladdin was by no means distrustful, but as a matter 15 of fact he had thrust so many jewels into his robe that he could not get at the lamp.

"Let me come up, good uncle," he called out, "and then I will give you the lamp."

Just at this moment, to the magician's terror, he saw a 20 number of people approaching. Unwilling to have his secret discovered, he uttered the two magical words which replaced the stone and closed the earth. Then, having lost forever the power to open the cave again, he set off for his own country.

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THE WONDERFUL LAMP-II

Aladdin was extremely frightened when the stone sank into place and cut him off from the light and air of the outer world. He cried out in his despair to the magician, offering to give him the lamp at once, but it was too late. 5 He then attempted to return to the garden, but the door was shut fast and he beat upon its panels in vain. For two days he remained in the greatest misery and distress, when suddenly clasping his hands together he happened to rub the ring which the magician had placed upon his 10 finger. Immediately an enormous genie rose out of the earth and said to him: "What wouldst thou? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave so long as thou wearest that ring, I, and the other slaves of the ring."

Aladdin, for all his laziness, was neither dull nor slow. 15 He answered swiftly, "I charge you, by the ring, to release me from this place."

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He had no sooner spoken than the earth opened. The genie lifted him gently to the surface, and then disappeared, the earth closing again as before.

Aladdin found his way home, feeling a true gratitude for his escape, and a thankfulness at seeing his mother again, which filled them both with satisfaction and happiness. The next morning, as she began to clean the

lamp which her son had brought home, she was amazed to see an immense genie, who said to her: "What wouldst thou? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave; the slave of all those who hold that lamp in their hands,—I, and the 5 other slaves of the lamp."

Greatly terrified the poor woman called her son, who, taking the lamp from her hands, said: "I am hungry. Fetch me something to eat."

The genie disappeared, but in a minute he came back 10 again, bearing a huge tray covered with silver plates of the choicest food. Having placed these things on the table he vanished.

Aladdin and his mother feasted royally together and then sold the silver plates for a large sum of money. 15 When the money was gone, Aladdin summoned the genie, who supplied them with food as before. For some years they lived prudently and modestly, and in time Aladdin became a prosperous man. The wonderful jewels that he had brought from the cave still remained in his possession. 20 One day, as he was walking about the city, he hap

pened to catch a glimpse of the sultan's lovely daughter. Nothing short of making the princess his wife would now content the young man. In vain did his mother protest that the lovely princess would never take the son of a poor 25 tailor for her husband. Aladdin was not to be discouraged.

He began to send to her father presents of so magnificent a nature that they attracted the royal attention and curiosity. Never had such diamonds and pearls been seen in all China. But when Aladdin offered himself as a sonin-law the sultan was not at all disposed to grant the 5 request. He consulted with his vizier as to the manner in which he should refuse Aladdin's proposal.

"Demand of him a present so exceedingly valuable that he will be unable to furnish it," said the shrewd vizier.

The sultan was pleased with this advice and sent word 10 to Aladdin that the princess was his whenever he could send to the royal palace forty basins of gold filled with jewels of matchless quality.

With the genie's help Aladdin made ready his gift. Forty slave girls, each bearing upon her head a basin of 15 gold filled with wonderful jewels, presented themselves before the palace. The sultan received the gift with much astonishment, and notwithstanding the vizier's anger, honorably kept his word.

Aladdin then begged for a few days in which to build 20 a fitting home for the princess, and again the sultan was amazed at the unbounded riches and generosity of the young man. The wedding was celebrated with great splendor, and Aladdin and his bride lived for some time in peace and happiness.

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