_In which a fisherman seeing his mistake corrects it as quickly as
possible._
A poor fisherman was toiling on the shore of a great lake to catch
fish. He had had poor luck all day. Towards night he threw his net
into the sea. It was so heavy when he drew it out that he thought
he had caught a great many fish. To his disappointment he found the
net filled with stones and mud. He threw it again but each time it
came up filled as before.
“I will throw it just one more time,” said he. Then he cast the net
for the last time into the sea. This time he was sure it had caught
a large quantity of fish, for he drew it in with great difficulty.
On examining it he found he had caught no fish, but inside the net
was an old copper jar. The mouth of the jar was closed with lead on
which there was the impression of a seal. The fisherman examined
the jar on all sides. The seal on the cover made him think there
must be something of value inside. He shook it but could hear
nothing. With his knife he opened it, and turned it upside down,
but to his surprise nothing came out.
The fisherman set it down before him and stood off a little
distance. While he was looking and wondering a thick smoke came
out of the jar. The smoke ascended almost to the clouds and
settled over the water and the shore. When it had all come out, it
collected, became solid, and took the shape of a genie of gigantic
size.
The fisherman trembled with fear to see the great giant before
him. Then the genie began to scold and grew angry. He said he was
going to kill the poor fisherman. When he threatened to kill the
fisherman, the fisherman reminded him that he had let him out
of the jar. This did not seem to appease the genie’s wrath. He
told the fisherman to get ready to die. The fisherman was greatly
alarmed, but he said to the genie:
“Before you kill me I want to know one thing truly. Did you really
come out of that jar or not? I would like to be sure about it, and
then you can kill me.”
The genie told the fisherman he did, but the fisherman would not
believe it. The genie said he would show him. So he changed back
into smoke, went up to the clouds and then down to the stream and
slowly entered the jar. The fisherman then quickly clapped on the
top and the genie could not get out.
The giant begged the fisherman to let him out. He promised to make
him rich if he would open the jar again. But the fisherman would
not listen. He threw the jar back into the sea, and warned all
fishermen not to open the jar if by any chance they caught it in
their nets, and it may be there to this very day.