Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/380

274 and presented it to the Sea-Deity, who came out and recognized Prince Fire-Subside.

The Sea-Deity invited him to the castle, where he remained and married the king’s daughter. Three years he lived without regret, but one morning his wife told her father that, on the night before, he had heaved a deep sigh. Her father inquired into it, and the prince told his trouble.

The royal father-in-law gathered all the fishes of the sea together, and asked if any had swallowed the hook. They declared that the tai had complained of an unpleasant feeling in his throat. He was summoned, and on being examined the desired object was found.

Then the Sea-Deity gave the prince two jewels, which commanded the ebb and flow of the tide, and set him on the head of a crocodile, instructing that animal to take him safely home.

Fire-Subside returned the hook to his brother, but the ungrateful Fire-Shine still had haired in his heart, and attempted to kill Fire-Subside. The prince immediately threw out the flow-tide jewel. The waters closed in and would have drowned the malignant prince had not his supplications been heard and the ebb-tide jewel been replaced in the waters. Fire-Shine fell at the feet of Fire-Subside and pledged his allegiance and protection,by night and day, forever.