Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/127

 sheep, whereupon it became black at once. So Maelduin would not land lest their color should fare no better than that of the rods.

And they departed in terror.

On the third day afterwards they espied an island, great and wide, upon which were a herd of beautiful swine. Of these they killed a small pig, but, being unable to carry it to be roasted, they cooked it there and bore it to their boat.

On the island was a lofty mountain, from which they thought they would like to view the land. So Diuran the rhymer and German went thither, and, flowing at its base, was a broad shallow river. German dipped the handle of his spear into the water, and straightway it was consumed as if by fire. They went no further in that direction. Moreover, they saw on the other side of the river great hornless oxen, among which sat a huge man. German clashed his spear-shaft against his shield to frighten the animals.

"Why dost thou frighten the silly calves?" asked the huge man.

"If these are calves, where are their dams?" said German.

"On the other side of yonder mountain," he replied.

Then they deemed this was no land for them to stay in, and, having hastened back to the boat, they reported these marvels, and Maelduin bid hoist the sail and lay to with the oars, and they departed speedily.