few days' time to procure it, and finally to present it to Ismael, magnifying the dangers he had encountered in purloining it from the Brahmin. With these intentions Alnusur quickly proceeded to the residence of the Brahmin. All persons being at the Jatra, no one impeded his progress, and he quietly opened the house-door. Entering the centre apartment, with joy did he perceive the iron box in its usual place; he fitted the key to the padlock, it turned, and the box was quickly concealed beneath his coat. Leaving the house expeditiously, he sallied onwards to the residence of old Ismael, who fortunately was within.

He

The Israelite saw by the sparkling of Alnusur's eyes he was the bearer of good news, and anxiously did he question him; but when the youth tapped significantly on the lid of the very box beneath his coat, the ecstasy of the Jew was unbounded. embraced his trusty agent, and demanded the box. Alnusur reminded him of the reward. Ismael opened a strong box, took out the dollars, presented them, and received the iron box, which he in his joy pressed to his heart. As he turned to the window to examine it, Alnusur, gathering up his dollars, quickly left the house; he had scarcely gone twenty paces from the outer door, however, when he heard the voice of the Jew hallooing after him most lustily. Alnusur turned round, nodded, waved his hand, and signed to the anxious Jew his intention of speedily returning. Having deposited his dollars in a place of safety, Alnusur once more repaired to Ismael's mansion, and innocently enquired his commands.

'The key, boy, the key! where is the key of the iron box? Fool that I was to give you the money without demanding the key.'

'The key!' exclaimed Alnusur.

'Oh, you never told me

about the key; my agreement was to deliver to you the box only.'

6

'Idiot!' replied the Jew. Of what use is the box without the key? Besides, we agreed that, unless the book was within the box, you should not be entitled to your reward; how am I to ascertain whether such be the case or not?'

'Break open the box, to be sure,' replied Alnusur, quite unconcerned.

'You know not what you say, young man; but tell me, attached to the key of the padlock of the steel chain, did not you perceive a smaller key?'

'No, indeed; by Mahomet there was only the key of the house, by which I obtained an entrance.'

'How did you contrive to get these keys?'

'That is no matter, worthy Master Ismael. I have had trouble enough, I can tell you, in getting the keys of the box, and your discontent, because the key of the iron box is not delivered to you, I am greatly surprised at. By Allah! I think it is lucky I secured my reward, or you would have withheld it, I am thinking.'

i 'Doubtless,' replied the Jew, 'your work is only half done. However, I promise you five hundred dollars in addition, if you will procure the key for me.'

6

'I fear 'tis impossible,' replied Alnusur; such an opportunity as I have had this day will never occur again. However, I will try, rely on it; but as it is the book you want, why not break open the box? What signifies the key?'

'It must not be done, boy. Go, leave me, and to your task

once more. Remember, the shop I promised is still in my possession.'

'Ay, ay, Master Ismael,' said Alnusur; 'and were you an honest man, it ought now to be mine, according to your promise.'

To this the Jew replied only by repeating, 'The key, the key, boy; go, go to your task once more.'

Alnusur, congratulating himself on his own cunning left the delighted Jew, and returned to his lodging.

Ismael, it will be remembered, was in possession of one of the keys; but anxious for both, suffered Alnusur to depart, under the idea he had no means of opening the box save by violence. When he first agreed with the young man he was so fully certain the key would naturally be delivered with the box, in the event of his being able to purloin it, that the necessity of making a separate stipulation for its production never entered his head; and so overjoyed was he at seeing Alnusur enter with the box, that he unhesitatingly paid the promised reward. That Alnusur actually had the key in his possession, and wilfully withheld it, never entered Ismael's brain; for, having surrendered the box, he could not possibly suppose, had the boy got the key, he could have any motive in refusing to surrender it. When Alnusur had refused to obey the Jew's call to return, Ismael contented himself with just peeping into the box; and seeing the wonderful book safe within it, closed it, expecting the return of his agent. Thus, after great patience and the aid of craft, did Ismael at length become the possessor of the Book of Knowledge.

113

CHAPTER VII.

THE COPPERSMITH'S STORY (continued).

THE unhappy Donga Sette having with considerable difficulty been extricated from the rocky crevice, instantly placed his hand on his waist, to ascertain if all was safe. The kirdoorah, alas ! was gone. For the loss of this, however, he grieved but little ; but the keys, the sacred keys, being missing also, caused him much agony of mind. To his wife did he pour out the sorrow of his soul, and to the crowd did he loudly assert the cruel robbery practised on him, and lamented the loss of his silver chain in so moving a manner that many offered their assistance to recover it if possible. Some, indeed, consoled him with expressing their hopes that by a strict search below it would be found, as it most probably had fallen off the Brahmin's person. Donga Sette's wife accompanied a party of searchers to the seashore, and there, sure enough, she found the chain, but alas! the keys were gone. The Brahmin, to the surprise of the bystanders, exhibited no signs of delight on receiving his chain, for the loss of which he had so loudly complained; they little knew the real source of his grief. The fact was, he had rather indulged in a hope that the chain had attracted the eye of some thief who, having obtained

it, would perhaps bestow no attention on the keys suspended thereon. The result of the search proving the direct contrary to be the case, cast a gloom of despair over the unhappy man's countenance unaccountable to the wondering multitude.

Both the Brahmin and his wife, long after the conclusion of the Jatra and dispersion of the multitude, continued groping about below the fissure; but alas! darkness coming on, with woful visages they abandoned the search and returned home. Arrived at his house, the Brahmin's worst fears were realised the instant he perceived his outer door open and the key within the lock. To the idol he at once approached; his iron box, so carefully guarded, was gone, and he threw himself on the floor in utter despair.

The first page of the book had informed him of the existence of two keys, on perusing which he instantly returned to the Gharipoori cavern in search after the second key, but owing to the Jew's visit to the same spot, was unsuccessful. Not in possession, therefore, of the second key, Donga Sette conceived it necessary to guard the box with more than ordinary vigilance, and would, but for the unfortunate Jatra, probably have retained possession of it for many years longer. Who could be the person now so fortunate as to have the Book of Knowledge? What enemy had robbed him of his invaluable treasure? And how, without money, was he to exist? These perplexities kept the worthy Brahmin wide awake the whole of this miserable night, and by the morning he was suffering from fever, which all the skill of his wife could not subdue.

Let it not be imagined that the Brahmin, knowing of the