Page:The Japanese Fairy Book.djvu/185

168 presence of the Mikoto, and then we can return it to him safely!"

"O please make haste and pull it out!" cried the tai, pitifully, for he felt the pains in his throat coming on again; "I do so want to return the hook to the Mikoto."



"All right, Tai San," said his friend the cuttlefish, and then opening the tai's mouth as wide as he could and putting one of his feelers down the tai's throat, he quickly and easily drew the hook out of the sufferer's large mouth. He then washed it and brought it to the King.