AN ISLAND THAT DYED BLACK AND WHITE.
On the morning of the third day, they came to another island, which was
divided into two parts by a wall of brass running across the middle.
They saw two great flocks of sheep, one on each side of the wall; and
all those at one side were black, while those at the other side were
white.
A very large man was employed in dividing and arranging the sheep; and
he often took up a sheep and threw it with much ease over the wall from
one side to the other. When he threw over a white sheep among the black
ones, it became black immediately; and in like manner, when he threw a
black sheep over, it was instantly changed to white.
The travellers were very much alarmed on witnessing these doings and
Maildun said--
"It is very well that we know so far. Let us now throw something on
shore, to see whether it also will change colour; if it does, we shall
avoid the island."
So they took a branch with black-coloured bark and threw it towards the
white sheep, and no sooner did it touch the ground than it became white.
They then threw a white-coloured branch on the side of the black sheep,
and in a moment it turned black.
"It is very lucky for us," said Maildun, "that we did not land on the
island, for doubtless our colour would have changed like the colour of
the branches."
So they put about with much fear, and sailed away.