When they were gone the Khoja took the clothes and put them on to the fire where the lamb had been roasted, and burnt them all.
After a while the friends returned and found their robes burnt to ashes.
"O Khoja!" they cried, "who has burnt our clothes? Alas, alas! what shall we do?"
"Never mind," said the Khoja, "to-morrow the world comes to an end, you know. You would not have wanted them for long."
Tale 36.—The Dog on the Tomb.
One day the Khoja was wandering among the tombs. As he strolled along he perceived a dog lying upon a grave-stone.
Indignant at this profanation of a tomb, the Khoja took a stout stick and made up his mind to chastise the intruder. But the dog, who saw what was coming, got up and prepared to fly at him.
The Khoja never ran any unnecessary risk. When he perceived that the dog was about to attack him, and that he would have the worst of it, he lowered his stick.
"Pray don't disturb yourself," said he; "I give in."