"Crusts of cheese."

"Good" said the earth (the ground of the island), "That's what will do it for us!"

It was the Island of Mice, and the inhabitants were all mice. "We will buy the cargo, but we don't have any money. But every time you need our help, all you have to do is call, "Mice, beautiful mice, help me!!" and we will arrive immediately to help you."

The youth and the old mariner set out the gangplank and mice came, unloading speedily the crusts of cheese.

They left there, they arrived by night at another island. In the port they couldn't see anything, worse than the last island. Neither house nor tree arising from the land. "What cargo do you have?" they heard from the darkness.

"Crusts of bread." said the old mariner.

"Great! That's what will do it for us!"

It was the Island of the Ants, and the inhabitants were all ants. They also didn't have money to pay, but they said, "When you need us, it will be enough to say, "Ants, beautiful ants, help me!" wherefor we will come running wherever you are."

And they set to unloading the crusts of bread, at the front and the back of the ship, by the mooring ropes. Then the boat set sail.

They arrived at an island all of tall rocks whose peaks towered over the port. "What cargo do you carry?" came a yell from above.

"Rotten carrion meat!"

"Great! That's what will do for us!!" and large black shadows descended onto the ship.

It was the Island of the Vultures, inhabited entirely by these raptor birds. They unloaded the ship, carrying away the carrion in flight, and in exchange they said to call out, "Vultures, beautiful vultures, help me!!" knowing that the vultures would always rush to their aid....

(to be continued)