immediately took off
the covering of the vessel. At that instant the smoke ascended, and the
genie, having resumed his form, the first thing he did was to kick the
vessel into the sea. This action alarmed the fisherman. "Genie," said
he, "will not you keep the oath you just now made?"

The genie laughed at his fear, and answered: "Fisherman, be not afraid,
I only did it to divert myself, and to see if you would be alarmed at
it; but to convince you that I am in earnest, take your nets and follow
me." As he spoke these words, he walked before the fisherman, who having
taken up his nets, followed him, but with some distrust. They passed by
the town, and came to the top of a mountain, from whence they descended
into a vast plain, which brought them to a lake that lay betwixt four
hills.

When they reached the side of the lake, the genie said to the fisherman:
"Cast in your nets and catch fish." The fisherman did not doubt of
taking some, because he saw a great number in the water; but he was
extremely surprised when he found they were of four colours; white, red,
blue, and yellow. He threw in his nets and brought out one of each
colour. Having never seen the like before, he could not but admire them,
and, judging that he might get a considerable sum for them, he was very
joyful. "Carry those fish," said the genie to him, "and present them to
your sultan; he will give you more money for them. You may come daily to
fish in this lake; but I give you warning not to throw in your nets
above once a day, otherwise you will repent." Having spoken thus, he
struck his foot upon the ground, which opened, and after it had
swallowed him up, closed again.

The fisherman, being resolved to follow the genie's advice, forbore
casting in his nets a second time, and returned to the town very well
satisfied, and making a thousand reflections upon his adventure. He went
immediately to the sultan's palace to offer his fish, and his majesty
was much surprised when he saw the wonders which the fisherman
presented. He took them up one after another, and viewed them with
attention; and after having admired them a long time, "Take those fish,"
said he to his vizier, "and carry them to the cook whom the emperor of
the Greeks has sent me. I cannot imagine but that they must be as good
as they are beautiful."

The vizier carried them as he was directed, and delivering them to the
cook, said: "Here are four fish just brought to the sultan; he order