oOC) OLD SAIiXIA. 



"quack, quack." Again when in the boat ♦Jac([nes was jeered 

 at by Benez, wlio said that the duck would soon cease to be 

 frightened of him. From tliis Jacques began to suspect that 

 the old fellow had a hand in the mystery, and he determined 

 to unravel it if possible. On reaching home that night he 

 took a silver coin from his money-bag (•' <1(^ son pid d'cauche ") 

 and cut it into pieces to use as shot. Next moi-ning ns 

 he loaded his gun he said, " Now 1 shall see what the old 

 fellow will have to say." When he came to the pond the 

 duck was disporting itself as before. Jacques, creeping 

 cautiously as close as he could, fired. At that moment the 

 duck gave a human cry, which frightened the sportsman, and 

 swam towards the rushes, where it disa])j)eared. Jacques 

 hunted for his quarry everyAvhere, but had to go home dis- 

 appointed. Later in the day, when the time came to go out 

 with the boat, Jacques called for his i)artner and found him 

 lying in great pain on the green-bed. He asked what was 

 the matter, on which the old man replied, " You will have to 

 go to the crab-pots by yourself to-day. I have had an 

 accident this morning and my arm is broken." This proved 

 to Jacques that Benez was none other than the transfoi'med 

 duck. 



It is said that wizards or witches who have the power to 

 transform themselves into animals or birds cannot foresee the 

 misfortimes which are in store for them. 



On another occasion Benez found himself in a quandary ; 

 he was returning before daybreak, after a heavy thunderstorm, 

 from " Le Sabbat du Caquiauro " in the form of a black cat. 

 He had passed Les Hautgards and was coming down la Rue 

 du Corduval when he saw that part of Les Landes, at the 

 bottom of the road, was under water. Even the stepping- 

 stones known as le Pont sous Bre were covered. As a cat his 

 dread of water prevented his crossing, and he did not know 

 what to do. On looking ai-ound he saAv a flock of geese 

 slumberiufif in the rushes at the edsre of the Avater. He 

 thought to himself " If I can get on the back of one of them 

 it will be sure to swim towards its home." Having selected a 

 large gander he jumped on its back, and this so frightened 

 the gander that it took to the water. The cat, setting his 

 claws firmly into the bird's neck, said " Nageons, navigons " 

 (Paddle away, navigate), to which the gander replied, 

 " Au Gyablle salt luie pareille navigation" (To the Devil 

 with such a navigation), nevertheless it took Benez safely 

 across the water and landed him. Then Benez resumed his 

 natural shape and found his way home. 



