The Fishing

: Good Little Henry
: Old French Fairy Tales

At last, after so many labors and perils, Henry saw the lattice of the

garden in which the plant of life was growing and his heart bounded for

joy. He looked always upward as he walked, and went on as rapidly as his

strength would permit, when suddenly he fell into a hole. He sprang

backwards, looked anxiously around him and saw a ditch full of water,

large and long, so long indeed that he could not see either end.


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"Without doubt this is that last obstacle of which the Crow spoke to

me," said Henry to himself. "Since I have overcome all my other

difficulties with the help of the good fairy Bienfaisante, she will

assist me to surmount this also. It was surely she who sent me the Cock,

the Crow and the Old Man, the Giant and the Wolf. I will wait patiently

till it shall please her to assist me this time."



On saying these words, Henry began to walk along the ditch, hoping to

find the end. He walked on steadily two days and found himself at the

end of that time just where he had started. Henry would not give way to

distress, he would not be discouraged; he seated himself on the borders

of the ditch and said:



"I will not move from this spot till the genius of the mountain allows

me to pass this ditch."



Henry had just uttered these words when an enormous Cat appeared before

him and began to mew so horribly that he was almost deafened by the

sound. The Cat said to him:



"What are you doing here? Do you not know that I could tear you to

pieces with one stroke of my claws?"



"I do not doubt your power, Mr. Cat, but you will not do so when you

know that I am seeking the plant of life to save my poor mother who is

dying. If you will permit me to pass your ditch, I will do anything in

my power to please you."



"Will you?" said the Cat. "Well, then, listen; your countenance pleases

me. If, therefore, you will catch all the fish in this ditch and salt

and cook them, I will pass you over to the other side, on the faith of a

Cat!"



Henry advanced some steps and saw lines, fish-hooks, bait, and nets on

the ground. He took a net, and hoped that by one vigorous haul he would

take many fish and that he would succeed much better than with a line

and hook. He threw the net and drew it in with great caution. But alas!

he had caught nothing!



Disappointed, Henry thought he had not been adroit. He threw the net

again and drew it very softly: still nothing!



Henry was patient. For ten days he tried faithfully without having

caught a single fish. Then he gave up the net and tried the hook and

line. He waited an hour, two hours;--not a single fish bit at the bait!

He moved from place to place, till he had gone entirely around the

ditch. He tried diligently fifteen days and caught not a single fish. He

knew not now what to do. He thought of the good fairy Bienfaisante, who

had abandoned him at the end of his undertaking. He seated himself sadly

and gazed intently at the ditch when suddenly the water began to boil

and he saw the head of a Frog appear.



"Henry," said the Frog, "you saved my life--I wish now to save yours in

return. If you do not execute the orders of the Cat of the mountain he

will eat you for his breakfast. You cannot catch the fish because the

water is so deep and they take refuge at the bottom. But allow me to act

for you. Light your fire for cooking and prepare your vessels for

salting. I will bring you the fish."



Saying these words, the Frog plunged back into the water. Henry saw that

the waves were agitated and boiling up, as if a grand contest was going

on at the bottom of the ditch. In a moment, however, the Frog

reappeared, sprang ashore and deposited a superb salmon which he had

caught. Henry had scarcely time to seize the salmon when the Frog leaped

ashore with a carp. During sixty days the Frog continued his labors.

Henry cooked the large fish and threw the little ones into the casks to

be salted. Finally, at the end of two months, the Frog leaped towards

Henry and said:



"There is not now a single fish in the ditch. You can call the Cat of

the mountain."



Henry thanked the Frog heartily, who extended his wet foot towards him,

in sign of friendship. Henry pressed it affectionately and gratefully

and the Frog disappeared.



It took Henry fifteen days to arrange properly all the large fish he had

cooked and all the casks of small fish he had salted. He then called the

Cat, who appeared immediately.



"Mr. Cat," said Henry, "here are all your fish cooked and salted. Will

you now keep your promise and pass me over to the other side?"



The Cat examined the fish and the casks; tasted a salted and a cooked

fish, licked his lips, smiled and said to Henry:



"You are a brave boy! I will recompense your fortitude and patience. It

shall never be said that the Cat of the mountain does not pay his

servants."



Saying these words, the Cat tore off one of his own claws and said,

handing it to Henry:



"When you are sick or feel yourself growing old, touch your forehead

with this claw. Sickness, suffering and old age will disappear. This

miraculous claw will have the same virtue for all that you love and all

who love you."



Henry thanked the Cat most warmly, took the precious claw and wished to

try its powers immediately, as he felt painfully weary. The claw had

scarcely touched his brow when he felt as fresh and vigorous as if he

had just left his bed.



The Cat looked on smiling, and said: "Now get on my tail."



Henry obeyed. He was no sooner seated on the Cat's tail than he saw the

tail lengthen itself till it reached across the ditch.



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