Told by the Death's Head

ment for it. I have suffered severely. After partaking of the unnatural food, all in the boat w

not so severe as those of my comrades, I ate only the foot. They foamed at the lips; their eyeballs burst from the sockets; they bit each other, and rent

her feel nor move. The fierce sun beating on my face threatened to burn out my eyes, but I could not lift my hands to cover them. T

te dove perched on my shoulder, my beautiful white dove, who was come to me again in my hour of direst need! She tried with her outstretched

at drifted; whether it touched any shore-I cannot re

y a heavenly providence for further trials. The drifting boat was found by an Indian merchantman bound for Antwerp, and the noble Christians

gentlemen know, that valuable substance develops in the stomach of a shark, and I should have been devoured by one of those voracious beasts. Instead of a wretched criminal on trial for his many misdeeds, I should now, had I been allowed to become

my dear wife and child. The child would be running about

be home again!-no captain

the fate which had delivered me from the land of lions, tigers and

dvance to announce my coming. My wife, who had increased in weight fully twenty-five pounds, had a

ports of joy were ove

ere is m

two nurse-maids who were descending the staircase. One of the maids led by the ha

?" I stammered, pointing

ou silly fellow!" replied my

n amazement. "Why, I have been

ered, hiding her blushing face on my breast. "Have

element!" I exclaimed, unable to

own letter, in which I related at length the circumstances of our meeting on Ararat, whither we had been taken by the two genii? Was a better proof required than the lingam I had given her at that

m I admit; but this squalling brat is no dream! On the contrary, he is a very disagreeable reality! I'll go at once to the b

e arch-bishop-summon the consistory, make a tremendous ado, an

told him the French were coming to attack the town. That drove slumber from his eyes; and I proceeded to lay my complain

utes, then said I should come again the next

I hadn't a groschen to my name, and the Nimeguen inns will not

ded. She said I might complain as much, and to whomsoever I wanted, it would benefit me not

felt great need of supper and rest; but I said to my

o the burgomaster; he was a

to me as to a Nimeguen gunner

ndian rajah

obliged the burgomaster to remove his office cap. He continued: "Be kind enough to answer the following questions: How many wives does the law permit an In

sult if I answered these q

I believe I would rather have you speak to me as to

the cap on his head. "As it is contrary to our Christian laws to take a second wife while the first is still alive

it me either, s

ill speak to me as to

burgomaster did not again

ds of possibility that you and your first wife were borne through the air to the meeting-place on

ontrary; I have found someth

child

e

h is, cannot be denied-it is a fact, and tha

ted him, whereupon there ensued a war of words that rag

to decide; I would submit it to the consisto

n't mean that it is never mentioned in private; but there is not a court of law in the land that could summon a witness who would admit that he, or she, knew anything about the matter. In my case, servants, neighbors, cit

ons were ridiculous, and

e palm-paper, describing our meeting in the palace on Mount Ararat, and attested by the bonzes, w

was too severe. There are no elephants in Holland, yet no one would deny their existence elsewhere-not even the man who had never seen one, would deny that they roamed the jungles of India! Mor

d carried a man and his wife to the palace on Mount Ararat?-especially as both man and wife had d

my having been with her on Ararat-also the fragment of dragon-cloth, the

sistory did not hesitate l

been accomplished a respectable and pious lady had really travelled from Nimeguen on

her respectable station, and inflict a stain on her wedded fidelity. Therefore, the woman accused of adultery was guiltless; and the father of the surculi masculi fo

so heartily that he burst

issed it for a riding-horse! Ha, ha-to decide that a vision reall

ly happen as you related

ppened just as I told you. You may apply to the authorities of Nimeguen, who will substantiate my account. Because of its remark

confess it tomorro