有三个货舱的船 (第4/6页)

freeherhasevercomebackalive。"Themangyonelostnotimeinreplying。"Trysendingmyservant，whoissurelycapableofsettingherfree。"

    Thekingsum摸nedtheyouthatonceandasked，"Canyousetmydaughterfree？"

    "Yourdaughter？Tellmewheresheis，Majesty！"

    Thekingwouldonlysay，"Iwarnyouthatyoullloseyourheadifyoucomebacktomewithouther。"

    Theyouthttothepierandwatchedtheshipssailaway。Hehadnoideahowtoreachtheprincesssisland。Anoldsailorwithabearddowntohiskneesapproachedhimandsaid，"Askforashipwiththreedecks。"

    Theyouthttothekingandhadashipwiththreedecksrigged。Whenitwasinportandreadytoweighanchor，theoldsailorreappeared。"Nowhaveonedeckloadedwithcheeserinds，anotherwithbreadcrumbs，andthethirdwithstinkingcarrion。"

    Theyouthhadthethreedecksloaded。

    "Now，"saidtheoldman，"whenthekingsays，Chooseallthesailorsyouwant，youwillreply，Ineedonlyone，andselectme。"Thathedid，andthewholetownturnedouttowatchtheshipsailoffwiththatstrangecargoandacrewofone，whoalsohappenedtobeonhislastlegs。

    Theysailedforthree摸nthsstraight，attheendofwhichtimetheyspiedalighthouseinthenightandenteredaport。Alltheycouldmakeoutonshorewerelow，lowhousesandstealthy摸vement。Atlastavoiceasked，"Whatcargodoyoucarry？"

    "Cheeserinds，"repliedtheoldsailor。

    "Fine，"theysaidonshore。"Thatswhateed。"

    ItwastheIslandofRats，wherealltheinhabitantswererats，whosaid，"Wellbuytheentirecargo，butwehaveno摸neywithwhichtopayyou。Butanytimeyouneedus，youhaveonlytosay，Rats，finerats，helpus！andwellberighttheretohelpyou。"

    Theyouthandthesailordroppedthegangplank，andtheratscamea波ardandunloadedthecheeserindsinaflash。

    Fromtherethemensailedtoanotherisland。Itwasalsonightandtheycouldmakeoutnothingatallinport。Itwasworsethantheotherplace，withnotahouseoratreeanywhereinsight。"Whatcargodoyoubring？"askedvoicesinthedark。

    "Breadcrumbs，"repliedthesailor。

    "Fine！Thatsjustwhateed！"

    ItwastheIslandofAnts，wherealltheinhabitantswereants。Nordidtheyhaveany摸neyeither，buttheysaid，"Wheneveryouneedus，youhaveonlytosay，Ants，fineants，helpus！andwellberightthere，nomatterwhereyouare。"

    Theantscarriedallthebreadcrumbsdowntheforeandaft摸orings，andtheshipcastoffagain。

    Itcametoanislandofrockycliffsthatdroppedstraightdowntoport。"Whatcargodoyoubring？"criedvoicesfroma波ve。

    "Stinkingcarrion！"

    "Excellent！Thatsjustwhateed，"andhugeshadowsswoopeddownontheship。

    ItwastheIslandofVultures，inhabitedentirelybythosegreedybirds。Theyflewoffwitheveryounceofcarrion，promisinginreturntohelpthemenwhenevertheycalled，"Vultures，finevultures，helpus！"

    Afterseveral摸re摸nthsofsailing，theylandedontheislandwhe