Page:Tales of old Lusitania.djvu/123



upon a time there lived a hardy fisherman, who had three daughters. One day, when he had cast his nets into the sea and was drawing them in, he found them so heavy to draw that he believed he had a great catch of fish, and was already beginning to rejoice at his good fortune. Great was his surprise when he found he had only one large fish in his nets, and greater still was his astonishment when he heard the huge sea-monster speak and say to him: "My good man, go and seek your eldest daughter, and when you have found her, bring her to me. But let me warn you that unless you obey me in this, you will always be unlucky; you will lead a miserable life, and never improve your position."

The poor fisherman returned home with a heavy heart. He told his daughter what had occurred to him and what the large fish had demanded. But the girl, not wishing to see her dear father miserable on her account, promptly decided to give herself up to