When evening was coming on and when they had travelled some distance, they saw a large ship; as she approached, the fish suggested that they should swim alongside, and the little boy was charmed with the idea. They saw that the sails were embroidered with gold and silver, and that, on the prow, there was an immense carved crown glittering with precious stones. Closer and closer she came till they were almost touching her. A man was looking over the bulwark into the water; he was young and very richly dressed, and a sword hung at his side. Over his face was a black mask which hid it completely, leaving only the mouth visible.
“There!” remarked the fish, “look at that man. That is another wonderful sight. He is young and rich and a king’s son, but he chooses to sail about by himself. He is so ugly that he wears a mask day and night and never takes it off, and he roams about on the high seas so that he need see none but his own crew who love him so much that they would go with him anywhere.”
“What a pity,” said the little boy, wondering. “He looks very nice standing up there with those beautiful clothes on. And I can see his mouth; it does not look so very ugly.”
“It’s simply enormous,” replied the fish.
“Oh, I don’t think so—really,” answered the little boy, “it isn’t any bigger than yours, you know.”
“That’s neither here nor there,” said the fish; “and don’t pull my tail so. You hold it so clumsily that I can hardly move.”
“I wish I could see him nearer,” continued the little boy, lost in admiration of the figure above him, “I’ve never seen any one like him.”
“You haven’t seen much,” answered the fish, who had not been best pleased by the allusion to his mouth, “now come along.”
“Oh, wait a minute, do, please! He’s looking at us.”
The Prince was gazing over the bulwark at them.