The Voyages of Sindbad (44)

The Voyages of Sindbad (44)

  But we had not gone far when we found a roc's egg, as large as the one I had seen before it and very nearly harched, for the beak of young bird had already pierced the shell.

  In spite of all I could say to deter them, the merchants who were with me fell upon it with their ha, and tchets, breaking the shell, and killing the young roc.

  Then lighting a fire upon the ground they hacked morselsfrom the bird, and proceeded to roast them while I stood by aghast.

  Scarcely had the merchants finished their ill-omened feast when the air above us was darkened by two mighty 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 hoisted.

But before we had tarveled far, the rocs reached their despoiled nest and hovered above it, uttering frightful cries.   

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