Scarcely had they finished their ill-omened repast, when the air above us was darkened by two mighty13 shadows. The captain of my ship, knowing by experience what this meant, cried out to us that the parent birds were coming, and urged us to get on board with all speed. This we did, and the sails were hoisted14, but before we had made any way the rocs reached their despoiled15 nest and hovered16 about it, uttering frightful17 cries when they discovered the mangled18 remains19 of their young one. For a moment we lost sight of them, and were flattering ourselves that we had escaped, when they reappeared and soared into the air directly over our vessel20, and we saw that each held in its claws an immense rock ready to crush us. There was a moment of breathless suspense21, then one bird loosed its hold and the huge block of stone hurtled through the air, but thanks to the presence of mind of the helmsman, who turned our ship violently in another direction, it fell into the sea close beside us, cleaving22 it asunder23 till we could nearly see the bottom. We had hardly time to draw a breath of relief before the other rock fell with a mighty crash right in the midst of our luckless vessel, smashing it into a thousand fragments, and crushing, or hurling24 into the sea, passengers and crew. I myself went down with the rest, but had the good fortune to rise unhurt, and by holding on to a piece of driftwood with one hand and swimming with the other I kept myself afloat and was presently washed up by the tide on to an island. Its shores were steep and rocky, but I scrambled25 up safely and threw myself down to rest upon the green turf.
When I had somewhat recovered I began to examine the spot in which I found myself, and truly it seemed to me that I had reached a garden of delights. There were trees everywhere, and they were laden26 with flowers and fruit, while a crystal stream wandered in and out under their shadow. When night came I slept sweetly in a cosy27 nook, though the remembrance that I was alone in a strange land made me sometimes start up and look around me in alarm, and then I wished heartily28 that I had stayed at home at ease. However, the morning sunlight restored my courage, and I once more wandered among the trees, but always with some anxiety as to what I might see next. I had penetrated29 some distance into the island when I saw an old man bent30 and feeble sitting upon the river bank, and at first I took him to be some ship-wrecked mariner31 like myself. Going up to him I greeted him in a friendly way, but he only nodded his head at me in reply. I then asked what he did there, and he made signs to me that he wished to get across the river to gather some fruit, and seemed to beg me to carry him on my back. Pitying his age and feebleness, I took him up, and wading32 across the stream I bent down that he might more easily reach the bank, and bade him get down. But instead of allowing himself to be set upon his feet (even now it makes me laugh to think of it!), this creature who had seemed to me so decrepit33 leaped nimbly upon my shoulders, and hooking his legs round my neck gripped me so tightly that I was well-nigh choked, and so overcome with terror that I fell insensible to the ground. When I recovered my enemy was still in his place, though he had released his hold enough to allow me breathing space, and seeing me revive he prodded34 me adroitly35 first with one foot and then with the other, until I was forced to get up and stagger about with him under the trees while he gathered and ate the choicest fruits. This went on all day, and even at night, when I threw myself down half dead with weariness, the terrible old man held on tight to my neck, nor did he fail to greet the first glimmer36 of morning light by drumming upon me with his heels, until I perforce awoke and resumed my dreary37 march with rage and bitterness in my heart.
It happened one day that I passed a tree under which lay several dry gourds39, and catching40 one up I amused myself with scooping41 out its contents and pressing into it the juice of several bunches of grapes which hung from every bush. When it was full I left it propped42 in the fork of a tree, and a few days later, carrying the hateful old man that way, I snatched at my gourd38 as I passed it and had the satisfaction of a draught43 of excellent wine so good and refreshing44 that I even forgot my detestable burden, and began to sing and caper45.
The old monster was not slow to perceive the effect which my draught had produced and that I carried him more lightly than usual, so he stretched out his skinny hand and seizing the gourd first tasted its contents cautiously, then drained them to the very last drop. The wine was strong and the gourd capacious, so he also began to sing after a fashion, and soon I had the delight of feeling the iron grip of his goblin legs unclasp, and with one vigorous effort I threw him to the ground, from which he never moved again. I was so rejoiced to have at last got rid of this uncanny old man that I ran leaping and bounding down to the sea shore, where, by the greatest good luck, I met with some mariners46 who had anchored off the island to enjoy the delicious fruits, and to renew their supply of water.
They heard the story of my escape with amazement47, saying, "You fell into the hands of the Old Man of the Sea, and it is a mercy that he did not strangle you as he has everyone else upon whose shoulders he has managed to perch48 himself. This island is well known as the scene of his evil deeds, and no merchant or sailor who lands upon it cares to stray far away from his comrades." After we had talked for a while they took me back with them on board their ship, where the captain received me kindly49, and we soon set sail, and after several days reached a large and prosperous-looking town where all the houses were built of stone. Here we anchored, and one of the merchants, who had been very friendly to me on the way, took me ashore50 with him and showed me a lodging51 set apart for strange merchants. He then provided me with a large sack, and pointed52 out to me a party of others equipped in like manner.
"Go with them," said he, "and do as they do, but beware of losing sight of them, for if you strayed your life would be in danger."
With that he supplied me with provisions, and bade me farewell, and I set out with my new companions. I soon learnt that the object of our expedition was to fill our sacks with cocoanuts, but when at length I saw the trees and noted53 their immense height and the slippery smoothness of their slender trunks, I did not at all understand how we were to do it. The crowns of the cocoa-palms were all alive with monkeys, big and little, which skipped from one to the other with surprising agility54, seeming to be curious about us and disturbed at our appearance, and I was at first surprised when my companions after collecting stones began to throw them at the lively creatures, which seemed to me quite harmless. But very soon I saw the reason of it and joined them heartily, for the monkeys, annoyed and wishing to pay us back in our own coin, began to tear the nuts from the trees and cast them at us with angry and spiteful gestures, so that after very little labour our sacks were filled with the fruit which we could not otherwise have obtained.
As soon as we had as many as we could carry we went back to the town, where my friend bought my share and advised me to continue the same occupation until I had earned money enough to carry me to my own country. This I did, and before long had amassed55 a considerable sum. Just then I heard that there was a trading ship ready to sail, and taking leave of my friend I went on board, carrying with me a goodly store of cocoanuts; and we sailed first to the islands where pepper grows, then to Comari where the best aloes wood is found, and where men drink no wine by an unalterable law. Here I exchanged my nuts for pepper and good aloes wood, and went a-fishing for pearls with some of the other merchants, and my divers56 were so lucky that very soon I had an immense number, and those very large and perfect. With all these treasures I came joyfully57 back to Bagdad, where I disposed of them for large sums of money, of which I did not fail as before to give the tenth part to the poor, and after that I rested from my labours and comforted myself with all the pleasures that my riches could give me.
Having thus ended his story, Sindbad ordered that one hundred sequins should be given to Hindbad, and the guests then withdrew; but after the next day's feast he began the account of his sixth voyage as follows.
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1
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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8
hatchets
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| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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hacked
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| 生气 | |
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morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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13
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
despoiled
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| v.掠夺，抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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17
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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18
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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19
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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21
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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22
cleaving
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| v.劈开，剁开，割开( cleave的现在分词 ) | |
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asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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24
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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25
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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29
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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30
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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31
mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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32
wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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33
decrepit
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| adj.衰老的，破旧的 | |
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34
prodded
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| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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38
gourd
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| n.葫芦 | |
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gourds
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| n.葫芦( gourd的名词复数 ) | |
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40
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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41
scooping
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| n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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42
propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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44
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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45
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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46
mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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47
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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48
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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49
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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50
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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51
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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52
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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53
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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54
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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55
amassed
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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57
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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