Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/231

MR. SIN, THE CARP                                               215 should reach the house, so he ceased his efforts for the present.

As soon as they reached the gate the porter congratulated Chang on the fine fish he had caught, and said that Mr. Le had just sent to know whether he had brought in anything.

"Porter," said Sin, "I am your master, and not a fish. This fellow Chang has caused me great pain, and refuses to put me back into the water. I order you to take me to the river at once."

"This is a queer fish that you have got hold of, Chang," said the porter; "I never heard one make a noise like this before. You had better take it at once to Mr. Le."

"What fools these men are," thought Sin. "I see that I must wait until I can explain the matter to Le."

Chang took the fish straight to Mr. Le, and said: "Your Excellency, here is the finest carp I have ever seen."

"Listen to me, Le," said Sin, as loudly as he could. "I am your friend, Sin, and I put on this fish's skin just to see what it is like to be a fish. This scoundrel Chang has tortured me. Please tell him to put me back