thought that if he bought her, he might in time gain her affection.  Accordingly he purchased her of the master for a large sum of money, and then told her that he had done so with a view of making her his wife.  The lady replied that, although the shipman had no right thus to dispose of her, yet she would consent to marry him at the end of two years, if she did not during that period meet with her husband and their two sons, and to this condition the merchant agreed.  In the meanwhile the king, having sorrowfully watched the vessel till it was out of sight, turned back with his two boys, who wept and lamented as they ran beside him.  After walking a great distance, he came to a shallow but rapid river, which he wished to cross, and, as there was no boat or bridge, he was obliged to wade through the water.  Taking up one of his sons he contrived to reach the other side in safety, and was returning for the other when the force of the current overcame him and he was drowned.

When the two boys noticed that their father had perished, they wept bitterly.  Their separation, too, was a further cause for grief.  There they stood, one on either side of the river, with no means of reaching each other.  They shouted, and ran about hither and thither in their grief, till they had almost wearied themselves into sleep, when a fisherman came past, who, seeing the great distress of the boys, took them into his boat, and asked them who they were, and who were their parents; and they told him all that had happened.  When he had heard their story, he said, “You have not a father or mother, and I have not a child.  Evidently God has sent you to me.  Will you be my own children and learn to fish, and live in my house?” Of course, the poor boys were only too glad to find a friend and shelter.  “Come,” said the fisherman kindly, leading them out of the boat to a house close by, “I will look after you.”  The boys followed most happily, and went into the fisherman’s house, and when they saw his wife they were still better pleased, for she was very kind to them, and treated them as if they had been her own children.  The two boys went to school, and when they had learned all that the master could teach them, they began to help their adoptive father, and in a little while became most expert and diligent young fishermen.

Thus time was passing with them, when it happened that a great fish threw itself on to the bank of the river and could not get back again into the water.  Everybody in the village went to see the monstrous fish, and cut a slice of its flesh and took it home.  A few people also went from the neighbouring villages, and amongst them was a maker of earthernware.  His wife had heard of the great fish and urged him to go and get some of the flesh.  So he went, although the hour was late.  On his arrival he found that all the people had returned to their homes.  The potter had taken an axe with him, thinking that the bones would be so great and strong as to require