o go
for them, in order to excuse himself from bringing them that day, but
said that he would certainly bring them on the morrow.

Accordingly the fisherman went away by night, and coming to the lake,
threw in his nets betimes next morning, took four fish like the former,
and brought them to the vizier at the hour appointed. The minister took
them himself, carried them to the kitchen, and shutting himself up with
the cook, she cleaned them and put them on the fire. When they were
fried on one side, and she had turned them upon the other, the kitchen
wall again opened, and the same lady came in with the rod in her hand,
struck one of the fish, spoke to it as before, and all four gave her the
same answer.

After they had spoken to the young lady, she overturned the frying-pan
with her rod, and retired into the wall. The grand vizier being witness
to what had passed, "This is too wonderful and extraordinary," said he,
"to be concealed from the sultan; I will inform him of this prodigy."

The sultan, being much surprised, sent immediately for the fisherman,
and said to him: "Friend, cannot you bring me four more such fish?" The
fisherman replied: "If your majesty will be pleased to allow me three
days, I will do it." Having obtained his time, he went to the lake
immediately, and at the first throwing in of his net he caught four
fish, and brought them directly to the sultan, who was so much the more
rejoiced, as he did not expect them so soon, and ordered him four
hundred pieces of gold. As soon as the sultan had the fish, he ordered
them to be carried into his closet, with all that was necessary for
frying them; and having shut himself up with the vizier, the minister
cleaned them, put them into the pan, and when they were fried on one
side, turned them upon the other; then the wall of the closet opened,
but instead of the young lady, there came out a black, in the habit of a
slave, and of a gigantic stature, with a great green staff in his hand.
He advanced toward the pan, and touching one of the fish with his staff,
said, with a terrible voice: "Fish, are you in your duty?" At these
words the fish raised up their heads, and answered: "Yes, yes; we are;
if you reckon, we reckon; if you pay your debts, we pay ours; if you
fly, we overcome and are content."

The fish had no sooner finished these words, than the black threw the
pan into the middle of the closet, and reduced them to a coal. Having
done this, he retired fi