Page 189 - Child's own book

as the two former, and I continued in prison. At last, being1
angry, or rather mad, to find myself a prisoner so long, I swore,
that if afterwards any one should deliver me, I would kill him
without mercy, and grant him no other favour but to choose
what kind of death he would die; and, therefore, since you
have delivered me to-day, 1 give you that choice.” This dis­
course afflicted the jioot fisherman extremely: “ I am very
unfortunate/’ crics he, “ to come hither to do such a piece of
good service to one that is so ungrateful. 1 beg you to consider
your injustice, and revoke such an unreasonable oath : pardon
me, and Heaven will pardon you; if you grant me my life,
Heaven will protect you from all attempts against yours,”—
t4 No, thy death is resolved on,” says the genie, “ only choose
how you will die,”
Necessity is the mother of invention.,—The fisherman be­
thought himself of a stratagem, “ Since I must die, then," says
he to the genie, 111 submit; but, before I choose the manner
of death, I conjure you to answer me truly the question I am
going to ask you.” The genie, finding himself obliged to give a
positive answer, replied to the fisherman : u Ask what thou wilt,
but make haste.” The genie having promised to speak the
truth, the fisherman says to him : “ I would know if you were
actually in this vessel ?"■—“ Yes,’1 replied the genie, “ 1 was,
and it is a certain truth,”—“ In good faith/’ answered the
fisherman, “ I cannot believe you ; the vessel is not capable of
holding one of your feet, and how is it possible that your whole
body could lie in it?”—“ I declare to thee, notwithstanding/'
replied the genie, “ that I was there just as you see me here :
is it possible that thou dost not believe me ?"— !t Truly, not I,"
said the fisherman; “ nor will I believe you, unless you show
it me.” Upon which, the body of the genie was dissolved, and
changed itself into smoke, extending itself, as formerly, upon