Page:The Enchanted Knights; or The Chronicle of the Three Sisters.djvu/26

had stranded, and worked with all his force to set it afloat, but in vain. The water flowed around, and the boat far above the water, was as if hanging upon a rock. The inexperiencd fisherman felt not at all at his ease, and though the boat were as though nailed to a bank, the shore appeared to recede, the pond to swell to the size of a sea, waves began to mount, billows to foam and roar, and to his alarm he discovered that a fish of most enormous proportions was carrymg him and his boat away upon its back. He resigned himself to his fate, awaiting what would next occur. All at once the fish dived, and the boat was again afloat, but a moment afterwards this prodigy of the sea was visible above the water, and then opening its horrid jaws, like the gates of hell, the following words sounded distinctly from the dark abyss:—“Audacious fisherman! what art thou doing here? Thou art murdering my subjects.—thou shalt forfeit thy life for this crime.” The count was already so well used to similar adventures that he knew how to conduct himself. Seeing that the fish could be sensibly spoken to, he soon recovered from his first surprise, and boldly said:—“My lord Behemoth,^[5] do not violate hospitality, but grant me a dish from your watery domains—if you came to visit me, my