Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves

"Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves" by Unknown is a folk tale added to One Thousand and One Nights in the 18th century. When a poor woodcutter discovers a thieves' cave that opens with the magical phrase "open sesame," he takes only modest riches. But his greedy brother's fatal attempt to claim the treasure sets off a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. As the forty thieves hunt for their secret's keeper, Ali Baba's clever slave-girl Morgiana becomes his only defense against vengeful killers closing in.

Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves, by Unknown. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #37679.