at, before three or four years had passed, Nennillo
became so expert in his art that he could carve a joint to a hair.

Now about this time it was discovered that the captain of the ship who
had taken Nennella to his house was a sea-robber, and the people wished
to take him prisoner; but getting timely notice from the clerks in the
law-courts, who were his friends, and whom he kept in his pay, he fled
with all his family. It was decreed, however, perhaps by the judgment
of Heaven, that he who had committed his crimes upon the sea, upon the
sea should suffer the punishment of them; for having embarked in a
small boat, no sooner was he upon the open sea than there came such a
storm of wind and tumult of the waves, that the boat was upset and all
were drowned--all except Nennella, who having had no share in the
corsair's robberies, like his wife and children, escaped the danger;
for just then a large enchanted fish, which was swimming about the
boat, opened its huge throat and swallowed her down.

The little girl now thought to herself that her days were surely at an
end, when suddenly she found a thing to amaze her inside the
fish,--beautiful fields and fine gardens, and a splendid mansion, with
all that heart could desire, in which she lived like a Princess. Then
she was carried quickly by the fish to a rock, where it chanced that
the Prince had come to escape the burning heat of a summer, and to
enjoy the cool sea-breezes. And whilst a great banquet was preparing,
Nennillo had stepped out upon a balcony of the palace on the rock to
sharpen some knives, priding himself greatly on acquiring honour from
his office. When Nennella saw him through the fish's throat, she cried
aloud,

"Brother, brother, your task is done,
The tables are laid out every one;
But here in the fish I must sit and sigh,
O brother, without you I soon shall die."

Nennillo at first paid no attention to the voice, but the Prince, who
was standing on another balcony and had also heard it, turned in the
direction whence the sound came, and saw the fish. And when he again
heard the same words, he was beside himself with amazement, and ordered
a number of servants to try whether by any means they could ensnare the
fish and draw it to land. At last, hearing the words "Brother,
brother!" continually repeated, he asked all his servants, one by one,
whether any of them had lost a sister. And Nennillo replied, that he
recollected, as a