When it was full she went into a large kitchen and threw them all into a golden pot ; but above the bubbling of the water Houarn seemed to hear the whispering of little voices . ` Who is it whispering in the golden pot , Groac ` h ? ' he inquired at last . ` It is nothing but the noise of the wood sparkling , ' she answered ; but it did not sound the least like that to Houarn . ` There it is again , ' he said , after a short pause . ` The water is getting hot , and it makes the fish jump , ' she replied ; but soon the noise grew louder and like cries . ` What is it ? ' asked Houarn , beginning to feel uncomfortable . ` Just the crickets on the hearth , ' said she , and broke into a song which drowned the cries from the pot . But though Houarn held his peace , he was not as happy as before . Something seemed to have gone wrong , and then he suddenly remembered Bellah . ` Is it possible I can have forgotten her so soon ? What a wretch I am ! ' he thought to himself ; and he remained apart and watched the Groac ' h while she emptied the fish into a plate , and bade him eat his dinner while she fetched wine from her cellar in a cave . Houarn sat down and took out the knife which Bellah had given him , but as soon as the blade touched the fish the enchantment ceased , and four men stood before him . ` Houarn , save us , we entreat you , and save yourself too ! ' murmured they , not daring to raise their voices . ` Why , it must have been you who were crying out in the pot just now ! ' exclaimed Houarn . ` Yes , it was us , ' they answered .
` Like you , we came to the isle of Lok to seek our fortunes , and like you we consented to marry the XXXXX ` h , and no sooner was the ceremony over than she turned us into fishes , as she had done to all our forerunners , who are in the fish-pond still , where you will shortly join them . '
Bellah Groac Houarn cellar drowned fish pause peace voices whispering