s far as he could see, the swan's head was tucked under
its wing, and Houarn, who had never beheld a boat of the sort, went
quickly towards it and stepped in, so as to examine it the better.
But no sooner was he on board than the swan woke suddenly up; his head
emerged from under his wing, his feet began to move in the water, and in
another moment they were in the middle of the lake.

As soon as the young man had recovered from his surprise, he prepared
to jump into the lake and swim to shore. But the bird had guessed his
intentions, and plunged beneath the water, carrying Houarn with him to
the palace of the Groac'h.

Now, unless you have been under the sea and beheld all the wonders that
lie there, you can never have an idea what the Groac'h's palace was
like. It was all made of shells, blue and green and pink and lilac and
white, shading into each other till you could not tell where one colour
ended and the other began. The staircases were of crystal, and every
separate stair sang like a woodland bird as you put your foot on it.
Round the palace were great gardens full of all the plants that grow in
the sea, with diamonds for flowers.

In a large hall the Groac'h was lying on a couch of gold. The pink and
white of her face reminded you of the shells of her palace, while her
long black hair was intertwined with strings of coral, and her dress
of green silk seemed formed out of the sea. At the sight of her Houarn
stopped, dazzled by her beauty.

'Come in,' said the Groac'h, rising to her feet. 'Strangers and handsome
youths are always welcome here. Do not be shy, but tell me how you found
your way, and what you want.'

'My name is Houarn,' he answered, 'Lanillis is my home, and I am trying
to earn enough money to buy a little cow and a pig to fatten.'

'Well, you can easily get that,' replied she; 'it is nothing to worry
about. Come in and enjoy yourself.' And she beckoned him to follow her
into a second hall whose floors and walls were formed of pearls, while
down the sides there were tables laden with fruit and wines of all
kinds; and as he ate and drank, the Groac'h talked to him and told him
how the treasures he saw came from shipwrecked vessels, and were brought
to her palace by a magic current of water.

'I do not wonder,' exclaimed Houarn, who now felt quite at home--'I do
not wonder that the people on the earth have so much to say about you.'

'The rich are always envied.'

'For myself,' he added, wit