ariner! mariner!" "Oh, poor me!" said the wretched
man, who recognized him by his horrid voice. But he had to answer. And
what could he do? The contract was clear and the time come. The poor
mariner, willingly or unwillingly, was obliged to promise to send the
boy the next day alone to the sea. The next day the mother sent her son,
when he returned from school, to carry something to eat to his father.
The unhappy father had, however, gone far out to sea, so that his son
could not find him. The poor boy sat down on the beach, and to pass the
time, took pieces of wood and made little crosses of them, and stuck
them in the sand around him, so that he was surrounded by them, and held
one also in his hand, singing all the time.

Behold, the Enemy comes to take him, and says to him: "What are you
doing, boy?" "I am waiting for my father," he replied. The Enemy looked
and saw that he could not take him, because he was seated in the midst
of all those little crosses, and moreover had one in his hand. He
regarded the boy with an ugly look, and cried: "Destroy those crosses,
miserable boy!" "No, I will not destroy them." "Destroy them at once,
or--or"--and he threatened him and frightened him with his ugly face.
Then the poor child destroyed the little crosses around him, but still
held one in his hand. "Destroy the other, quick!" cried the Enemy, more
enraged than ever. "No, no!" the poor child replied, all in tears; "I
will not destroy this little cross." The Enemy threatened him again and
terrified him with his rolling eyes, but the child was firm, and then a
bright light appeared in the air. The fairy Colina, queen of the
fairies, came down, took the good boy by the hair, and delivered him
from the Enemy. Then if you had seen what lightnings and thunder! what
darts! The Enemy shot fire from his eyes, mouth, nose, ears, everywhere!
But with all his flames he remained duped, and the fairy carried the
good boy away to her splendid palace. There Lionbruno grew up in the
midst of the fairies. Imagine how well off he was there! He lacked
nothing. Increasing always in beauty, he became a youth whom you should
have seen! Some years passed. One day Lionbruno said to the fairy
Colina: "Listen. I want to go and see my mother and father a little. You
will not refuse me your permission, will you?" "No, I will not refuse
you it," said the fairy. "I will give you twenty days to go and see your
family. But do not stay any longer. Remember tha