They placed themselves at the table at nightfall, and she served them with
food.
"O my sister," cried Ali, "my friend does not like stew."
Ali ate alone. When he was satisfied, the two friends started, without
forgetting the treasure. On the way Ali said to Ou Ali: "Give it to me
to-day and I will deposit it in my house." He took it and gave it to his
wife. "Bury me," he said to her. "And if Ou Ali comes tell him that his old
friend is dead, and receive him with tears." Ou Ali arrived, and asked the
woman in tears to see the tomb of his dead friend. He took an ox-horn and
began to dig in the earth that covered the body.
"Behind! behind!" cried the pretended dead man.
"Get up, there, you liar," answered Ali.
They went away together. "Give me the treasure," asked Ou Ali; "to-day I
will take it to my house." He took it to his house, and said to his wife:
"Take this treasure. I am going to stretch myself out as if I were dead.
When Ali comes receive him weeping, and say to him: 'Your friend is dead.
He is stretched out in the bedroom.'"
Ali went and said to the woman: "Get me some boiling water, for your
husband told me to wash him when he should die." When the water was ready
the woman brought it. Ali seized the kettle and poured it on the stomach of
Ou Ali, who sprang up with a bound. Thus he got even for the trick of his
friend. The two friends divided the treasure then, and Ali went home.
* * * * *