"What is thy will, my master?" it said. "I am the Slave of the Ring, and must obey him who wears the ring."
"Whoever or whatever you are," cried Aladdin, "take me out of this dreadful place."
Scarcely had he said these words when the earth opened, and the next moment Aladdin found himself lying at his mother's door. He was so weak for want of food, and his joy at seeing his mother was so great, that he fainted away, but when he came to himself he promised to tell her all that had happened.
"But first give me something to eat," he cried, "for I am dying of hunger."
"Alas!" said his mother, "I have nothing in the house except a little cotton, which I will go out and sell."
"Stop a moment," cried Aladdin, "rather let us sell this old lamp which I have brought back with me."
Now the lamp looked so old and dirty that Aladdin's mother began to rub it, wishing to brighten it a little that it might fetch a higher price.
But no sooner had she given it the first rub than a huge dark figure slowly rose from the floor like a wreath of smoke until it reached the ceiling, towering above them.
"What is thy will?" it asked. "I am the Slave of the Lamp, and must do the bidding of him who holds the Lamp."
The moment the figure began to rise from the ground Aladdin's mother was so terrified that she fainted away, but Aladdin managed to snatch the lamp from her, although he could scarcely hold it in his own shaking hand.