they shun the company of men. We feared to slay them or strike
them or drive them away, because of their inconceivable
multitude; lest, if we hurt one, the rest fall on us and slay us,
for numbers prevail over courage; so we let them do their will,
albeit we feared they would plunder our goods and gear. They
swarmed up the cables and gnawed them asunder, and on like wise
they did with all the ropes of the ship, so that it fell off from
the wind and stranded upon their mountainous coast. Then they
laid hands on all the merchants and crew, and landing us on the
island, made off with the ship and its cargo and went their ways,
we wot not whither. We were thus left on the island, eating of
its fruits and pot-herbs and drinking of its streams till, one
day, we espied in its midst what seemed an inhabited house. So we
made for it as fast as our feet could carry us and behold, it was
a castle strong and tall, compassed about with a lofty wall, and
having a two-leaved gate of ebony-wood both of which leaves open
stood. We entered and found within a space wide and bare like a
great square, round which stood many high doors open thrown, and
at the farther end a long bench of stone and brasiers, with
cooking gear hanging thereon and about it great plenty of bones;
but we saw no one and marvelled thereat with exceeding wonder.
Then we sat down in the courtyard a little while and presently
falling asleep, slept from the forenoon till sundown, when lo!
the earth trembled under our feet and the air rumbled with a
terrible tone. Then there came down upon us, from the top of the
castle, a huge creature in the likeness of a man, black of
colour, tall and big of bulk, as he were a great date-tree, with
eyes like coals of fire and eye-teeth like boar's tusks and a
vast big gape like the mouth of a well. Moreover, he had long
loose lips like camel's, hanging down upon his breast and ears