ture to yourself a large forest in the place of it, and the
sea six long miles away, for that was how it was in Cormoran's time, until
one day the sea rose quite suddenly, a huge mountain of water, and rushing
over the six miles of land, covered it and the forests too, even above the
tops of the tallest trees. Everything for miles around was swallowed up,
except the Mount, which was saved by reason of its great height.

From that day to this the sea has never receded, and St. Michael's Mount
has remained an island, completely cut off from the mainland, except at
low tide, when you can, if you are quick, just manage to walk across.

Years before this, Cormoran had built up the Mount for a home for himself.
When first he came to the spot it was all forest, with one large white
rock in the midst of it. As he lay on this rock resting, he made up his
mind to build himself a hill here, all of white rocks, like the one on
which he reclined, where he could live in safety, and keep an eye on the
surrounding country.

It was a big task he had set himself, for all the blocks of granite of
which it was to be made, had to be brought from a neighbouring hill, those
close by being of the pink, or green, or grey kinds, and he would have
none of these. Perhaps he would have changed his mind about it had he had
to carry all the stone himself, but he, the great lazy fellow, made his
wife Cornelian fetch all the heaviest blocks, while he lay idly by and
watched her.

Cornelian, who thought the work was very hard indeed, did not see why the
green rocks would not do as well as the white, they would be even
prettier, in her opinion, so one day when her husband was asleep she
knocked off a great green rock, and picking it up in her apron, hurried
back as fast as she could to get it fixed in its place before he should
wake. She could not manage it though, poor soul, for just as she was
reaching her destination the giant opened his eyes, and as soon as he had
opened them he caught sight of the green rock she was carrying.
Then, oh, what a temper he was in at being disobeyed! He did not say
anything, but he got quietly up from his resting-place as soon as she had
passed, and followed her, but so softly that she did not notice anything
until he was close to her, when he gave her such a blow that she fell
staggering under it. Her apron-strings broke, down fell the green stone
to the ground, and there it has stayed from that day to this, for