The Sorcerer's Apprentice (10)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (10)

It was long after midnight when Jim crept up the stairs, repeating the magic words to himself in delight.

He was awake before dawn, ready to begin a spell.

The raven gave him a stern warning.
" Take my advice. Wait until the Sorcerer has gone out ーor you will be sorry. "

After what seemed like hours, the old man left the castle.
He left Jim the usual hard task of filling the big black cauldron.

The raven flew up to the top of the castle and watched until the Sorcerer was out of sight.

Jim wasted no time.
He uttered the magic words, then ordered the broom to fetch water.

Immediately the broom grew two long spindly arms and grabbed the buckets. 

It marched down the Great Hall, leapt down the steps and straight down to the stream.

Jim and the raven followed in amazement.



The broom was so quick that the cauldron was soon full to the brim.

But it went on fetching bucket afer bucket full of water.

Soon water was flooding all over the floor.

" Quick ! screeched the raven.
" Stop it. Stop it at once. "

" I can't, I can't ! " screamed Jim.
" I don't know the magic words to stop spells. "

The broom kept on working.
More and more water was poured into the cauldron.

Now he whole room was flooded, and books and papers floaed on the rising water.

Tables and chair bobbed about as the water swirled round the room.

IN desperation, Jim grabbed an axe and split the broom down the middle.

To his horroe, the two halves picked up eztra bucketsーand both began to fetch more water.   

(10/14)