understand. And the ground straightway clave asunder after thick
gloom and quake of earth and bellowings of thunder. Hereat
Alaeddin was startled and so affrighted that he tried to fly;
but, when the African Magician saw his design, he waxed wroth
with exceeding wrath, for that without the lad his work would
profit him naught, the hidden hoard which he sought to open being
not to be opened save by means of Alaeddin. So noting this
attempt to run away, the Magician arose and raising his hand
smote Alaeddin on the head a buffet so sore that well nigh his
back-teeth were knocked out, and he fell swooning to the ground.
But after a time he revived by the magic of the Magician, and
cried, weeping the while, "O my uncle, what have I done that
deserveth from thee such a blow as this?" Hereat the Maghrabi
fell to soothing him, and said, "O my son, 'tis my intent to make
thee a man; therefore, do thou not gainsay me, for that I am
thine uncle and like unto thy father. Obey me, therefore, in all
I bid thee, and shortly thou shalt forget all this travail and
toil whenas thou shalt look upon the marvel-matters I am about to
show thee." And soon after the ground had cloven asunder before
the Maroccan it displayed a marble slab wherein was fixed a
copper ring. The Maghrabi, striking a geomantic table[FN#87]
turned to Alaeddin, and said to him, "An thou do all I shall bid
thee, indeed thou shalt become wealthier than any of the kings,
and for this reason, O my son, I struck thee, because here lieth
a hoard which is stored in thy name; and yet thou designedst to
leave it and to levant. But now collect thy thoughts, and behold
how I opened earth by my spells and adjurations."--And Shahrazad
was surprised by the dawn of day, and ceased to say her permitted
say.