SINDBAD, THE SAILOR. 157

mous piece of rock in their claws. When they were exactly
over our ship, they stopped, and suspending themselves in the
air, one of them let fall the piece of rock he held. By the
address of the pilot, who suddenly turned the vessel, it did not
tumble on us, but fell close to us into the sea, in which it
made such a chasm that we could almost see the bottom. The
other bird, unfortunately for us, let his piece of rock fall so
immediately on the ship, that it broke and split it into a thou-
sand pieces, The sailors and passengers were all either crushed
to death, or drowned. I was myself under water for some
time, but rising again to the surface, I had the good fortune
to seize a piece of the wreck. Thus, swimming sometimes with
one hand and sometimes with the other, still holding what
I had fixed myself to, and having the wind and current both in
my favour, I at length reached an island, where the shore was very
steep ; I nevertheless overcame this difficulty, and got on land.

I seated myself on the grass to rest from my fatigue, after
which I arose and advanced into the island, to reconnoitre the
ground. It seemed to be in a delicious garden ; wherever I
turned my eyes I saw beautiful trees, some loaded with green,
others with ripe fruits, and transparent streams meandering
between them. I ate of the fruits, which I found to be excellent,
and quenched my thirst at the inviting brooks.

When I had advanced some distance in the island, I per-
ceived an old man, who appeared much broken down. He was
seated on thé bank of a little rivulet: at first I supposed he
might be, like myself, shipwrecked. I approached and saluted
him ; but instead of replying, he made signs to me to take him
on my shoulders and cross the brook, making me understand
that he wanted to gather some fruit.

I supposed he wished me to render him this piece of service ;
so taking him on my back, I stemmed the stream ; when I had
reached the other side, I stopped, and desired him to alight ; in-
stead of which, (I cannot help laughing whenever I think of it,)
this old man, who appeared to me so decrepit, nimbly threw his
legs, which I now saw were covered with a skin like a cow’s,
over my neck, and seated himself fast on my shoulders, at
the same time squeezing my throat so violently, that I ex-
pected to be strangled ; this alarmed me so much, that I fainted
away.