Page:History of Sindbad the sailor.pdf/5

5 island, even almost with the surface of the water which resembled a green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be furled, and suffered such persons as had a mind to land upon the Island, among whom I was one.

But, while we were diverting ourselves with eating and drinking, and refreshing ourselves from the fatigues of the sea, the island trembled and shook all of a sudden.

They perceived the trembling of the island on board the ship and called to us to reimbark speedily, or we should all be lost; for what we took for an island was only the back of a whale. The nimblest got into the sloop, others betook themselves to swim; but, for my part. I was still on the back of the whale when he dived into the sea, and had time only to catch hold of a piece of wood, that we had brought out of the ship to make a fire. Meanwhile, the captain having received those on board who were in the sloop and taken up some of those that swam, resolved to improve the favourable gale that had just risen, and hoisting his sails, pursued his voyage, so that it was impossible to recover the skip.

Thus I was exposed to the mercy of the waves, and struggled for my life all the rest of the day and the following night. Next morning I found my strength gone and despaired of saving my life when a wave threw me happily against an island. I advanced into the island, and came at last into a fine plain, where I perceived a horse feeding.

Whilst I looked upon him, I heard the voice of a man from under ground who immediately appeared to me, and asked who I was. I gave him an account of my adventure, after which, taking me by the hand, he led me into a cave, where there were several other people, no less amazed to see me, than I was to see them.