Sindbad, the sailor, said she, continued the relation of his fifth
voyage as follows: The merchants whom I had taken on board my ship,
and who landed with me, broke the egg with hatchets, and made a hole
in it, from whence they pulled out the young roc, piece after piece,
and roasted it. I had earnestly persuaded them not to meddle with
the egg, but they would not listen to me.
Scarcely had they made an end of their treat, when there appeared in
the air, at a considerable distance from us, two great clouds. The
captain whom I hired to manage my ship, knowing, by experience, what
it meant, cried that it was the male and female roc that belonged to
the young one, and pressed us to re-embark with all speed, to
prevent the misfortune which he saw would otherwise befall us. We
made haste to do so, and set sail with all possible diligence.
In the mean time, the two rocs approached with a frightful noise,
which they redoubled when they saw the egg broken, and their young
one gone. But having a mind to avenge themselves, they flew back
towards the place from whence they came, and disappeared for some
time, while we made all the sail we could, to prevent that which
unhappily befell us.
They returned, and we observed that each of them carried between
their talons, stones, or rather rocks, of a monstrous size. When
they came directly over my ship, they hovered, and one of them [34]
let fall a stone; but by the dexterity of the steersman, who turned
the ship with the rudder, it missed us, and, falling by the side of
the ship into the sea, divided the waters so, that we almost could
see to the bottom. The other roc, to our misfortune, threw the stone
so exactly upon the middle of the ship, that it split in a thousand
pieces. The mariners and passengers were all killed by the stone, or
sunk. I myself had the last fate; but as I came up again, I
fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and sometimes
swimming with one hand, and sometimes with the other, but always
holding fast my board, the wind and the tide favouring me, I came to
an island, whose shore was very steep. I overcame that difficulty,
however, and got ashore.
I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself a little from the
fatigue; after which I got up, and went into the island to view it.
It seemed to be a delicious garden. I found trees every where, some
of them bearing green, and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh
pure water, with pleasant windings and turnings. I ate of the
fruits, which I found excellent, and drank of the water, which was
very pleasant.
Night being come, I lay down upon the grass in a convenient place
enough, but I could not sleep an hour at a time, my mind was so
disturbed with the fear of being alone in so desert a place. Thus I
spent the best part of the night in fretting, and reproached myself
for my imprudence in not staying at home, rather that undertaking
this last voyage. These reflections carried me so far, that I began
to form a design against my own life; but daylight dispersed those
melancholy thoughts, and I got up, and walked among the trees, but
not without apprehensions of danger.
When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man, [35]
who appeared very weak and feeble. He sat upon the bank of a stream,
and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like
myself. I went towards him and saluted him, but he only bowed his
head a little. I asked him what he did there; but, instead of
answering me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my back, and
carry him over the brook, signifying that it was to gather fruit.
I believed him really to stand in need of my help, so took him upon
my back, and, having carried him over, bid him get down, and for
that end stooped, that he might get off with ease; but instead of
that, (which I laugh at every time I think of it,) the old man, who
to me appeared very decrepit, clasped his legs nimbly about my neck,
and then I perceived his skin to resemble that of a cow. He sat
astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight, that I
thought he would have strangled me, the fright of which made me
faint away, and fall down.
[Illustration: THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA.]
Day appearing, Scheherazade was obliged to stop here, but pursued
her story thus next night: