Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/232

216                                    THE JADE STORY BOOK into the river, as I wish to take my former shape again."

"This is a very peculiar fish," said Le; "why, he grunts like a pig. Still, he will make a good dish, so take him to the cook."

"Oh!" groaned Sin, "would you eat your old friend, Le?"

But Le didn't understand either, so Chang started for the kitchen. "My only chance now is that the cook will know me," thought Sin.

And now his last hope fled, for as Chang handed the carp to the cook, Sin said as distinctly as he could, "Cook, I am no fish, but Mr. Sin. I have always treated you well, so please take me back to the river."

"This is a noisy carp you have caught, Chang," said the cook, "but he won't grunt much longer. Hand me the chopper."

And now Sin made all the noise he could. He screamed, "Spare me! Spare me, cook." But the cook took no notice of him. Placing him on the kitchen block, he lifted the chopper, and gave him a violent blow on the head.

"Oh!" exclaimed Sin, "what an awful