The King set it at liberty; the Eagle began trying its wings. But no, it could not fly yet! So it said:—
“Well, my lord King! you have fed me two years; now, whether you like it or no, feed me for one year more. Even if you have to borrow, at all events feed me; you won’t lose by it!”
Well, this is what the King did. He borrowed cattle from everywhere round about, and he fed the Eagle for the space of a whole year, and afterwards he set it at liberty. The Eagle rose ever so high, flew and flew, then dropt down again to the earth and said:—
“Now then, my lord King! Take a seat on my back! we’ll have a fly together?”
The King got on the Eagle’s back. Away they went flying. Before very long they reached the blue sea. Then the Eagle shook off the King, who fell into the sea, and sank up to his knees. But the Eagle didn’t let him drown! it jerked him on to its wing, and asked:—
“How now, my lord King! were you frightened, perchance?”
“I was,” said the King; “I thought I was going to be drowned outright!”
Again they flew and flew till they reached another sea. The Eagle shook off the King right in the middle of the sea; the King sank up to his girdle. The Eagle jerked him on to its wing again, and asked:—
“Well, my lord King, were you frightened, perchance?”
“I was,” he replied, “but all the time I thought, ‘Perhaps, please God, the creature will pull me out.’”