would go to pieces.

"I stood ready to help the Captain and some of his men to lower his
gig, and we waited to see the others off. There were six boats, and
five of them were launched successfully. The other swamped in the
heavy sea. I do not know whether any of them reached the shore or not,
as I never saw them again.

"We launched our boat successfully, and pulled in the direction in
which the Captain indicated the Island lay. When we had got within
fifty feet of the land our boat seemed to strike a whirlpool. It went
around very rapidly five or six times, and finally dived bow first,
throwing all the occupants but myself into the water. I had taken a
long breath, expecting the dive, and was crouched on my seat holding
tightly with both hands, so that when the boat shot to the surface
again I had just strength enough to clamber over the side as it turned
bottom up. I lay there half drowned while the boat floated in to
shore. I do not know how long it was before I heard voices close at
hand. One was a man's and one an old woman's. The woman's voice said:

"'Are you sure he had it on his finger when he left port?'

"'Of course,' answered the man gruffly. 'Don't I tell you I flew over
the ship yesterday and saw it on his hand?'

"'Well, he must be here somewhere,' said the old woman, 'and we'll soon
have it.'

"Although I was half dazed I knew it must be my ring with the precious
seed that they were talking about. I tried to rise, but had not
sufficient strength, so with an effort I pulled it from my finger and
dropped it into the water beside the boat, rather than let them take it.

"The voices came nearer.

"'Ah,' said the man, 'here he is; now let us see if I am not right.'

"I must have fainted then, as I do not remember anything until I awoke
to find myself imprisoned in the laurel tree.

"Late in the morning when the sun was high the Evil Magician, for of
course it was he, and an old crone came past me on their way to the
shore, but they did not find the ring, for the Evil Magician came back
after a long time in a terrible rage and threatened me with instant
death if I did not tell him where I had hidden it.

"I declared I had not hidden it. After promising me my freedom if I
would tell him where it was, and trying every argument in his power to
either coax or threaten me into letting him have it, he became furious,
declared I should remain enchanted forever until I slowly drowned, and
we