The Story of the King of the Ebony Isles - Page 5

Author: Laurence Housman

Then said the Sultan, " Go instantly and release thy husband from spell and torment: and when it is done, return hither with all speed."

Great was the astonishment of the tizcbb.

Thus compelled, in great fear and bewilderment and sorely against her will, the Queen sped to the chamber in the palace where her husband lay spell-bound. Taking a vessel of water she pronounced over it certain words which caused it instantly to boil as though it had been set on a fire: then throwing the water over him, she

cried:

"Spell be loosed, and stone grow warm, Yield back flesh to the human form."

And immediately on the word his nature came to him again, and he leaped and stood upon his feet. But the Queen's hatred towards him was by no means abated. " Go hence quickly," she cried, " since a better will than mine releases thee! But if thou tarry or if thou return

thou shalt surely die! " Thankful for his deliverance the youth stayed not to question, but departing went and hid himself without, while the Queen returned in haste to the mausoleum where her supposed lover awaited her. There, eager for restoration to favour, she informed him of what she had done, supposing that to be all.

" Nay," said the other, still speaking with the thick voice of a negro; " though thou hast lopped the branch of the evil thou hast not destroyed the root. For every night I hear a jumping of fishes in the lake that is between the four hills, and the sound of their curses on thee and me comes to disturb my rest. Go instantly and restore all things to their former state, then come back and give me thy hand and I shall rise up a sound man once more."