whole island, and all its indwellers, even human beings, beautiful, abundant, wearing adorned garments and feasting with golden vessels in their hands. Pleasant was it to hearken unto their drinking songs, and long did the wanderers gaze upon this marvel, from which they might hardly depart, so delightful was it.
Not long after this they saw among the waves a shape like unto that of a white bird. They turned the prow of the boat into it southward, and on drawing nearer they perceived it to be a man clothed solely in his own white hair, kneeling on a broad rock.
And they entreated a blessing from him, and asked him whence he came.
"From Torach," replied he; "there I was reared. I was cook unto a church; but I was an evil cook, for I sold the food of my brethren for treasures and jewels, so that my house became full of costly stuffs and raiment, of brazen pails and small brazen goblets, of brooches of silver and pins of gold. Truly nothing was lacking in my house of all the things which men hoard, and I had golden books and book-covers adorned with brass and gold. Besides this, I would dig under the houses of the church and rob them of their treasures. "Thus I grew proud and haughty, thinking of my riches and spoils, and would no longer be cook unto my brethren. So I put forth to sea in a new boat of tanned hide. But I first emptied my house of its treasures and filled my new vessel therewith. When I set sail the sea
