Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/376

364 him upon a strong wooden pallet. Wearied with the exertions of the day, he fell asleep.

Now Plebeus had seven sons, all strong men. He sent for them, and spoke thus, "My dear children, I give you to understand, that unless this pilgrim be destroyed to-night, I may reckon myself among the dead to-morrow. I never looked upon a braver man." "My dear father," said one, "we will presently get rid of him." About midnight, therefore, they entered the girl's chamber, where the pilgrim slept; and beneath which the sea flowed. They said to one another, "If we destroy him in bed, we are no better than dead men: let us toss him, bed and all, into the sea. It will be thought that he has fled." This scheme was approved; and accordingly they took up the sleeping warrior, and hurled him into the waves. He slept on, however, without perceiving what had happened. The same night, a fisherman following his occupation, heard the fall of the bed, and by the