Page:The Enchanted Knights; or The Chronicle of the Three Sisters.djvu/27

Rh kitchen and cellar should be entirely at your service.” “We are not yet so intimate,” answered the monster—“Knowest thou not it is the right of the stronger to devour the weaker? Thou hast stolen my subjects to swallow them, and I shall do the same to thee!” On this the fish opened its jaws still wider, as if he were about to engulph the boat, man and mouse. “Alas! spare my life,” shrieked the count—“You see I would make but a poor breakfast for your shark-like belly.” The monstrous fish pondered for a moment—“Well,” said he, “I know thou hast a handsome daughter—promise her to me in marriage, and take thy life as a boon.” The count seeing the fish’s thoughts turned into that channel, dismissed all fear. “She is at your service—you are a valiant son-in-law, to whom an honest father cannot refuse his child—but how will you redeem the bride according to custom?” “I have,” said the fish, “neither gold nor silver; but at the bottom of this sea is an immense treasure of pearls of the finest grain—ask and thou shalt have.” “In that case,” said the count, “three bushels of the finest will not be too much for a lovely bride.” “They are thine,” said the fish, concluding, “and the bride is mine—in seven months I carry my lady love home.” He