Page:Fairy tales from the Arabian nights.djvu/435

 Having thus loaded himself with riches he knew not the value of, Aladdin returned through the three halls with the same precaution, and made all the haste he could, that he might not make his uncle wait, and soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the African magician awaited him with the utmost impatience. As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried out, 'Pray, uncle, lend me your hand, to help me out.'



'Give me the lamp first,' replied the magician, 'it will be troublesome to you.'

'Indeed, uncle,' answered Aladdin, 'I cannot now; it is not troublesome to me: but I will as soon as I am up.'

The African magician was so obstinate, that he would have the lamp before he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered himself so much with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused to give it to him till he was out of the cave. The African magician provoked at this obstinate refusal of the lad, flew into a terrible passion, and threw a little of his incense into the fire, which he had taken care to keep in, and no sooner had he pronounced two magical words than the stone which had closed