Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/121

 A full week were they voyaging in hunger and thirst, until at last they chanced upon a great island, rising high out of the waves, on the seashore of which stood a huge house. The house had two doorways, one opening onto the island, the other onto the sea. Now, the latter was partly of stone, and it was pierced by a hole, through which the waves, as they dashed up against the door, flung salmon into the house. Here, thought Maelduin, we shall find food; so he and his men entered the house, but it was empty. A testered bed there was, evidently the chief's, and a bed for every three men of the household, and before each bed were placed food, a glass vessel containing good liquor, and a glass goblet. So they dined off the food and liquor and thanked God, who had helped them to satisfy their hunger. But as the inmates of the house did not make their appearance, they decided to set sail again.

And this they did; but after a while their provisions gave out, and they hungered greatly, until they came to another island with a high cliff round it on every side, in which could be seen a long narrow wood. Now, as Maelduin passed the wood, which came down to the water's edge, he took a branch from a tree and kept it in his hand three days and three nights while the boat was coasting the cliff. On the third day there was a cluster of three apples at the end of the branch, and no apple but satisfied the hunger of the crew for forty nights.