The whole road was covered with them , and the banks on each side were beginning to disappear . Father Grumbler felt quite frightened at the torrent , but at last he remembered what the Holy Man had told him , and cried at the top of his voice : ` Enough ! enough ! That will do for to-day ! ' And the lid of the basket closed with a snap . Father Grumbler sighed with relief and happiness as he looked around him , and sitting down on a heap of stones , he ate till he could eat no more . Trout , salmon , turbot , soles , and a hundred other fishes whose names he did not know , lay boiled , fried , and grilled within reach of his hands . As the Holy Man had said , he had never eaten such a dinner ; still , when he had done , he shook his head , and grumbled ; ` Yes , there is plenty to eat , of course , but it only makes me thirsty , and there is not a drop to drink anywhere . ' Yet , somehow , he could never tell why , he looked up and saw the tavern in front of him , which he thought was miles , and miles , and miles away . ` Bring the best wine you have got , and two glasses , good mother , ' he said as he entered , ` and if you are fond of fish there is enough here to feed the house . Only there is no need to chatter about it all over the place . You understand ? Eh ? ' And without waiting for an answer he whispered to the basket : ` Little basket , little basket , do your duty . ' The innkeeper and his wife thought that their customer had gone suddenly mad , and watched him closely , ready to spring on him if he became violent ; but both instinctively jumped backwards , nearly into the fire , as rolls and fishes of every kind came tumbling out of the basket , covering the tables and chairs and the floor , and even overflowing into the street . ` Be quick , be quick , and pick them up , ' cried the man . ` And if these are not enough , there are plenty more to be had for the asking . ' The innkeeper and his wife did not need telling twice . Down they went on their knees and gathered up everything they could lay hands on . But busy though they seemed , they found time to whisper to each other : ` If we can only get hold of that basket it will make our fortune ! '
So they began by inviting Father XXXXX to sit down to the table , and brought out the best wine in the cellar , hoping it might loosen his tongue .
Enough Grumbler Man course fire house innkeeper rolls street turbot