nation, should be so easily deceived and cheated by a
set of old women.

It was now the turn of another to spin his yarn. He began by entreating
his shipmates not to disbelieve what he was going to say, for it was about
mermen and mermaids. He did not see it himself, but it had been told him
two years before by his uncle, who was mate of a ship that traded to the
North Sea. "The ship," said he, "was the _John and Thomas_, named after
the owner's two brothers, and bound to Stockholm for flax and iron. One
day they were becalmed near the Island of Oland, and let go the anchor in
twelve-fathoms water, when soon afterwards they saw, as they supposed, two
men swimming towards the ship. They soon after came alongside, and made
signs for a rope to be thrown to them. On their getting on deck the crew
found they were mermen. One of them, who appeared to be about twenty-six
years old, told the captain he had let go his anchor through his kitchen
chimney, and begged him to weigh it again, as it had knocked down the
kitchen-grate and spoilt his dinner. 'It has happened very unfortunately,'
said he, 'for we have some friends from the coast of Jutland, who have
come to attend the christening of our infant.' Whilst he was speaking four
young mermaidens appeared close to the ship's side, making signs for the
mermen on board to join them. The sailors wished them to come on board,
and threw them ropes for that purpose; but they were too shy. The mermen
requested the captain to give them some matches to light their fire, and a
few candles. This being complied with, they shook hands with him and the
mate, and jumping overboard, rejoined the females, swam round the ship
three times, singing some kind of song, and disappeared. The wind becoming
favourable, the crew got the anchor up, on which, when catheaded, they
found part of the chimney and the fire-tongs astride on one of the
flukes!"

When this improbable tale was told, I asked them if they believed it to be
true. "Yes," said two of them, "we do, because we have had shipmates who
lived with some of the mermaidens for several years and had children; but
as for their having combs and glasses, that's all nonsense. One of the
children was sent to London to be educated, but not liking so many
double-tailed monsters, as he called the men, nor their manner of living,
he crept down to the Thames, and in a few hours rejoined his parents."

During the time we were at anchor at this place I was o