“Ah!” said they, “a mischief on this eel, for he hath eaten up our fish.”
“What must we do with him?” said one to the other.
“Kill him!” said one to the other.
“Chop him into pieces,” said another.
“Nay, not so,” said the other, “but let us drown him.”
“Be it accordingly so,” replied they all.
So they immediately went to another pond, and did cast the eel into the water.
“Lie there,” said these wise men, “and shift for thyself, since you can expect no help from us.”
So they left the eel to be drowned.