of silks; the
roofs and walls are covered with layers of silk; the sun always shines,
and pretty birds with silken plumage chatter in the fern-like trees.

[Illustration: Man falling into the ocean from a ship with a large white
sail.]

Splash! And the Master Mariner fell into the sea.

Now the island of Silk Land was at this time ruled by the prettiest of
princesses. She was about eighteen years old; she was tall for her age,
and her eyes were quite the loveliest shade of brown. When the Master
Mariner's fine ship came into the harbor of Silk Land, cleaving the
turquoise water, and with the bright sun shining on her silvery-white
sails, the Princess happened to be resting under a silken awning on the
roof of her palace. Catching sight of the ship, the Princess cried to
her companions:--

"See what a fine ship is coming into port! She must be laden with many
wonderful things. Send word to the Captain that I intend to visit her
to-morrow morning."

The next morning, sure enough, the Princess paid a visit to the ship,
which lay at a wharf below the palace. In honor of the Princess's
coming, everything had been swept, scrubbed, and brightened, and
gorgeous carpets from the Eastern Islands covered the decks. In shaded
nooks, under costly tapestries, lay the treasures of the
cargo--wonderful cloths and spices from the Eastern Islands, vessels of
gold and silver from the Adamant Mountains, and jewels from the Desert
of the Moon.

Now scarcely had the Master Mariner set eyes on the Princess, than he
began to think her quite the most wonderful person he ever had beheld;
as for the Princess, scarcely had the Master Mariner directed two or
three respectful and somewhat tender glances in her direction, than she
began to believe him quite the most gallant youth she had ever seen. She
gave orders that several of the marvels be brought to her palace, and
was looking about for something else, when her eyes chanced to fall upon
the silver fish the Master Mariner was wearing.

"Pray, what is that little silver fish?" asked the Princess.

"A mere trifle which a friend once gave me," replied the Master Mariner,
reading in the Princess's eyes and demeanor that she desired the
talisman. "If Your Majesty will only deign to accept it, it is yours."

And blinded by the Princess's eyes, he gallantly, but somewhat
incautiously, took the silver fish from its chain and gave it to the
Princess, who laughed prettily, and accepted t