the
hearts of whom were stronger than lions. They said that the wind would not
be contrary, or that there would be none. Each of them exceeded his
companion in the prudence of his heart and the strength of his arm, and I
was not beneath any of them. A storm came upon us while we were on the
sea. Hardly could we reach to the shore when the wind waxed yet greater,
and the waves rose even eight cubits. As for me, I seized a piece of wood,
while those who were in the boat perished without one being left with me
for three days. Behold me now before thee, for I was brought to this isle
by a wave of the sea.'

"Then said he to me: 'Fear not, fear not, little one, and make not thy
face sad. If thou hast come to me, it is God who has let thee live. For it
is he who has brought thee to this isle of the blest, where nothing is
lacking, and which is filled with all good things. See now, thou shalt
pass one month after another, until thou shalt be four months in this
isle. Then a ship shall come from thy land with sailors, and thou shalt
leave with them and go to thy country, and thou shalt die in thy town.'

" 'Converse is pleasing, and he who tastes of it passes over his misery. I
will therefore tell thee of that which is in this isle. I am here with my
brethren and my children around me; we are seventy-five serpents, children
and kindred; without naming a young girl who was brought unto me by
chance, and on whom the fire of heaven fell, and burnt her to ashes.

" 'As for thee if thou art strong, and if thy heart waits patiently, thou
shalt press thy infants to thy bosom and embrace thy wife. Thou shalt
return to thy house, which is full of all good things; thou shalt see thy
land, where thou shalt dwell in the midst of thy kindred.'

"Then I bowed, in my obeisance, and I touched the ground before him.
'Behold now that which I have told thee before. I shall tell of thy
presence unto Pharaoh, I shall make him to know of thy greatness, and I
will bring to thee of the sacred oils and perfumes, and of incense of the
temples with which all gods are honored. I shall tell, moreover, of that
which I do now see (thanks to him), and there shall be rendered to thee
praises before the fulness of all the land. I shall slay asses for thee in
sacrifice, I shall pluck for thee the birds, and I shall bring for thee
ships full of all kinds of the treasures of Egypt, as is comely to do unto
a god, a friend of men in a far country, of which men kno