The Boy Apprenticed to an Enchanter

e that he is still living here. His name was Anluan, and he was very poor. My own name is

et that very day and sell them there. I looked out and saw a speck upon the water, a speck that came nearer. I kept watching it while my father dragged the pool with his net. The speck became a boat, and the boat[Pg 20]

t of brass, until its rim touched the water. It remained still as if anchored. The m

blue material covered all over with curious figures, and in his hand he held a long polished staff that had the shape of two serpents twisting together. He looked at me and I was f

g

said to my father, "There is no need that he should do aught about these fishes. I hav

on does not sell these fishes in the market to-day he

o your house and I shall put down gold for ever

ollow us. We walked from the seashore and up the path of the cliffs, and we went through the heather of the headlands, following the goat tracks till we came to the wattled house where we lived. The

y mother, stirring the last handful of meal amongst the green herbs. And there were my brot

e and my brothers were greatly afraid, for they were poor, and those who were high were harsh to them. But the stranger spoke softly, saying, "Good fortune has come to you from the sea t

m the strange boat said, "I would not take him to instruct him in arts and crafts and mysteries if he were a day olde

hought that she could never bear to part with me. But then she looked on her other sons, and she saw that they were men grown, and she thought t

ould teach him," the stranger said. "Will he ever come back to me?" cried my mother. "H

r[Pg 24] arms from around my neck, and my brothers kissed me farewell. Then the man from

of brass. We went to another place where there was a harb

anded. My master said he would do this, and we went on board the ship. It was evening now, and a breeze came up, and the ship sailed away, bringing me from the place where I was born and reared and toward the strange countries that were be