into a high tree and went to sleep there, I being on the topmost
bough. As soon as it was dark night, up came the serpent, looking
right and left; and, making for the tree whereon we were, climbed
up to my comrade and swallowed him down to his shoulders. Then it
coiled about the bole[FN#32] with him, whilst I, who could not
take my eyes off the sight, heard his bones crack in its belly,
and it swallowed him whole, after which it slid down from the
tree. When the day broke and the light showed me that the serpent
was gone, I came down, as I were a dead man for stress of fear
and anguish, and thought to cast myself into the sea and be at
rest from the woes of the world; but could not bring myself to
this, for verily life is dear. So I took five pieces of wood,
broad and long, and bound one crosswise to the soles of my feet
and others in like fashion on my right and left sides and over my
breast; and the broadest and largest I bound across my head and
made them fast with ropes. Then I lay down on the ground on my
back, so that I was completely fenced in by the pieces of wood,
which enclosed me like a bier.[FN#33] So as soon as it was dark,
up came the serpent, as usual, and made towards me, but could not
get at me to swallow me for the wood that fenced me in. So it
wriggled round me on every side, whilst I looked on, like one
dead by reason of my terror; and every now and then it would
glide away and come back; but as often as it tried to come at me,
it was hindered by the pieces of wood wherewith I had bound
myself on every side. It ceased not to beset me thus from sundown
till dawn, but when the light of day shone upon the beast it made
off, in the utmost fury and extreme disappointment. Then I put
out my hand and unbound myself, well-nigh down among the dead men
for fear and suffering; and went down to the island-shore, whence
a ship afar off in the midst of the waves suddenly struck my