One day the Khoja mounted his donkey to ride to the garden, but on the way there he had business which obliged him to dismount and leave the donkey for a short time.
When he got down he took off his woollen pelisse, and throwing it over the saddle, went about his affairs. But he had hardly turned his back when a thief came by who stole the woollen pelisse, and made off with it.
When the Khoja returned and found that the pelisse was gone, he became greatly enraged, and beat the donkey with his stick. Then, dragging the saddle from the poor beast's back, he put it on his own shoulders, crying, "Find my pelisse, you careless rascal, and then you shall have your saddle again!"
Tale 17.—A Ladder To Sell.
There was a certain garden into which the Khoja was desirous to enter, but the gate was fastened, and he could not.
One day, therefore, he took a ladder upon his shoulder, and repaired to the place, where he put the ladder against the garden-wall, and having climbed to the top, drew the ladder over, and by this means descended into the garden.
As he was prying about in came the gardener.
"Who are you?" said he to the Khoja. "And what do you want?"
"I sell ladders," replied the Khoja, running hastily back to the wall, and throwing the ladder once more upon his shoulders.