` 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 Groac ` 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 . ' On hearing this Houarn leaped into the air , as if he already felt himself frizzling in the golden pot . He rushed to the door , hoping to escape that way ; but the Groac ` h , who had heard everything , met him on the threshold . Instantly she threw the steel net over his head , and the eyes of a little green frog peeped through the meshes . ` You shall go and play with the rest , ' she said , carrying him off to the fish-pond . It was at this very moment that Bellah , who was skimming the milk in the farm dairy , heard the fairy bell tinkle violently .
At the sound she grew pale , for she knew it meant that Houarn was in danger ; and , hastily , changing the rough dress she wore for her work , she left the farm with the magic stick XXXXX her hand .
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