“Where are the fish?” asked Serkis.
“Fish! what fish?” exclaimed the woman, feigning surprise.
“Why, the fish which I picked from the farm yesterday,” said the farmer.
“Are you crazy, husband?” said she, “you have not brought home any fish that I know of.”
“What!” exclaimed Serkis, taking hold of the whip, “you have eaten my fish, and do you call me crazy?” and he threatened to beat her.
“Help!” exclaimed the woman, and ran to a neighbor’s farm.
Thereupon the ploughmen of the neighborhood came to the rescue of the woman and took hold of Serkis.
“Nay, let me beat her to death,” said Serkis; “she has eaten my fish, and now she calls me crazy.”
The ploughmen asked the woman what fish he meant.
“Nay, I beseech you,” exclaimed the woman, “take hold of him, don’t let him go; he will kill me. Woe upon me! he is certainly crazy, he is a lunatic. Ask him where he found the fish he talks of.”