Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/107

Rh and brought him to the bank of the Jordan. Samuel thanked the kind-hearted monarch of the deep and rejoiced to tread the face of mother earth once again. He stood still for a few moments to gaze around. He could not but enjoy the beauty of the scene, the silver waters of the Jordan, the green grass on the banks, the play of light in the heavens, the song of the birds, the scent of the roses, the sound of nature awake and alert. He recalled the wonderful vision of the deep and the marvelous sights he had seen. He was glad, supremely glad, to breathe the sweet air, and his heart was full of gratitude to God. He suddenly felt very giddy. He had been fasting all the while he had been in the water, and this together with the lack of fresh air affected him for the moment. He put himself to rest awhile under a large tree. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and then opened them again, for the giddiness had passed. He sat still thinking of his strange experiences. He was suddenly startled to hear a little crow say to a large one at its side,—

"Look, father! I am going to enjoy myself now by eating the eyes of that man on the ground."

Samuel looked up and saw two crows sitting on a bough just over his head. He listened and heard the larger bird say,—

"Do no such thing, the man is probably alive."

"No, father, he is dead, for his eyes were shut."

"Well, they are open now, and he is looking at us.