Page:Voyages and travels of Sindbad the sailor (2).pdf/20

 diverted himself with gathering the fruit, I being obliged to content myself with what he threw away. He never quitted me a moment. When I laid down at night he lay down with me, his legs always fast about my neck; and every morning he compelled me to get up as soon as the day dawned, from which time till sunset I was forced to bear this odious load. One day I found in my way several dry calabashes; I picked out a large one, and pressed into it some juice of grapes. I set it aside for several days, and on coming to it again, I found it to be most excellent wine.

The old man perceiving the effect which this drink had upon me, made a sign for mo to give him some of it. I gave him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing his palate, he drank the whole of it, and became completely drunk, and by degrees loosened his legs from my neck, so that I was able to throw him upon the ground, where he soon fell into convulsions, and I had the satisfaction to witness his death.

I was extremely rejoiced to be freed from this detestable old fellow. I hastened to the sea-side, where I found the crew of a ship who had just cast anchor therein order to get fresh water. They were greatly surprised to see me, and to hear of my adventures. “You fell,” said they, “into the hands of the old man of the sea, and you are the first person who ever escaped being strangled by him.

They took me on board their vessel, and when we came to the harbour of a great city, one of the merchants carried me to some persons in the town, whose employment was to gather cocoa nuts, and recommended me to their care. He gave me also a great bag and provisions for the journey, and said, “Go, follow them, and do as you see them do. Be careful not to separate from them, or you will endanger your life.”

I followed them, and we came to a great forest of tall strait cocoa trees, whose bark was so perfectly smooth, that it was impossible for any man to climb up to the branches. When we entered the forest, we saw a surprising number of apes, who ran up to the top of the trees with the utmost swiftness.

The merchants with whom I was, picked up stones and pelted the apes, who, to revenge themselves, gathered cocoa nuts and threw at us. We secured the cocoa nuts, and continued throwing stones to provoke the apes, till we possessed ourselves of as many nuts as we could carry. We then returned to the city, where the merchants gave me the value of my nuts, and advised me to do the same every day till I had got money enough to carry me home. I soon amassed a considerable sum: and taking leave of all the kind merchants, I embarked joyfully on board a vessel, and returned safe home again.