Little Thumb was as good as his word , and returned that very same night with the news ; and , this first expedition causing him to be known , he got whatever he pleased , for the King paid him very well for carrying his orders to the army . After having for some time carried on the business of a messenger , and gained thereby great wealth , he went home to his father , where it was impossible to express the joy they were all in at his return . He made the whole family very easy , bought places for his father and brothers , and , by that means , settled them very handsomely in the world , and , in the meantime , made his court to perfection . -LRB- 1 -RRB- -LRB- 1 -RRB- Charles Perrault . THE FORTY THIEVES In a town in Persia there dwelt two brothers , one named Cassim , the other Ali Baba . Cassim was married to a rich wife and lived in plenty , while Ali Baba had to maintain his wife and children by cutting wood in a neighboring forest and selling it in the town . One day , when Ali Baba was in the forest , he saw a troop of men on horseback , coming toward him in a cloud of dust . He was afraid they were robbers , and climbed into a tree for safety . When they came up to him and dismounted , he counted forty of them . They unbridled their horses and tied them to trees . The finest man among them , whom Ali Baba took to be their captain , went a little way among some bushes , and said : `` Open , Sesame ! '' -LRB- 1 -RRB- so plainly that Ali Baba heard him . A door opened in the rocks , and having made the troop go in , he followed them , and the door shut again of itself . They stayed some time inside , and Ali Baba , fearing they might come out and catch him , was forced to sit patiently in the tree . At last the door opened again , and the Forty Thieves came out . As the Captain went in last he came out first , and made them all pass by him ; he then closed the door , saying : `` Shut , Sesame ! '' Every man bridled his horse and mounted , the Captain put himself at their head , and they returned as they came . -LRB- 1 -RRB- Sesame is a kind of grain . Then Ali Baba climbed down and went to the door concealed among the bushes , and said : `` Open , Sesame ! '' and it flew open .
Ali Baba , who expected a dull , dismal place , was greatly surprised to find it large and well lighted , hollowed XXXXX the hand of man in the form of a vault , which received the light from an opening in the ceiling .
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