TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 April 1928, Page 9

TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

ALADDIN—TOLD BY RICHARD ' . • (Continued)

Aladdin, however, soon recovered from his fright, and, being full of curi- ; osity, at the bidding nf the Magician, lifted the large stone and gazed into the I cavern. Gwendoline and 1 craned our necks to get a peep, you can well imagine. "Now," said the Magician, "listen my son! Go down those step?, and you will find three great halls, each with four large vases filled with silver and gold on either side. Be sure you do not meddle with them, but go straight forward, and at the end of the third hall you will come to a garden planted with fruit trees. In the garden in a niche you will find a lamp which I desire you to bring to me. You may gather some of the fruit if you like." "Yes. Uncle!" said Aladdin, very obediently.

Fully recovered from.his terror, Aladdin was only too ready to obey. He jumped info the pit. "Stop!" cried the Magician, "take this ring." Slipping the ring upon Aladdin's finger, he told him it would protect him from evil so long as he did just what he had been bidden. Aladdin was highly "delighted with the gift, and the Magician again told him to go boldly down the steps and bring back the treasure that would make them both rich for the rest of their lives. "Come on," said Gwendoline, as Aladdin disappeared, "we mustn't miss this part of the fun," and before you could count two wc were following Aladdin through the halls.

Aladdin strode quickly through the halls, being careful not to touch the walls with his clothes tor fear he should come to some hurt. On either side were the great vases that the Magici'aii had described, each filled to the top ' with gold and silver. It wa3 almost dark in the halls, but ahead they couid sec the wonderful garden shining with brightness, and filled with trees from which the most beautiful fruit hung in clusters, flashing' and sparkling amidst the leaves. "My!" cried Gweii, "just look!"

When Aladdin came to the garden he walked along the path until he reached five steps at the top of which he saw an old lamp burning in a niche. Taking it down he put out the light and emptied the oil. He then took a good look round the garden. All the trees were laden with the most beautiful fruit he had ever seen, some white, some clear as crystal, and others red, green, blue, purple and yellow. Aladdin almost forgot that he had been sent specially for the lamp, as he wandered amidst such lovely surroundings. Gwendoline and I felt we could have stayed for ever.

Aladdin wandered about the garden, quite lost in the beautiful "things round him, until he heard the Magician calling to him impatiently from the mouth of the cavern. "I simply must take some of this fruit home," thought Aladdin, and began to till his pockets as quickly as he could. Little did he realise that he was tilling his pockets with untold wealth! The pretty fruits were really precious stones —diamonds, rubies, pearl?, emeralds, and sapphires. Aladdin thought they were simply coloured glass. Gwendoline was awfully upset that we could not. gather any, as we had nothing to carry.them in. "My word!" she groaned, as we followed Aladdin "back to'the mouth of the cavern, "I do wish I had some pockets'." ' " '. !■'

They found tho Magician awfully angry at having been kept waiting. He demanded that the lamp should be handed up to hnn at once, but Aladdin-had it at the bottom of a pocket that was filled with the wonderful fruit, and could not get at it conveniently. "I'll give it to you when I get out," he said. "Give it to me at once, 1 say," ciied the Magician. "Wait until I get out,"-said Aladdin who was beginning to fear some trickery. At this the Magician flevVinto a violent rage. "I'll loach you," he cried, and, throwing sonic more incente into the fire, he caused the cave to close up. Foor Aladdin v/ao buried alive! "Now we arc in a pretty fix," cried Owen in the darkness.