The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

wake until the old man called him and
said:
well. for man who Is going after the
Magic Cup. you sleep very soundly. But
now eat your breakfast, for there is much
work to do
After breakfast the sage told oscar
what a terrible foe he had to deal with.
But he added, I can give you a magic
drink by means of which You can live
under water as long Loka himself. And
there is another thing that nobody but
myself knows, and that is that the mon
ster has only one eye. which he must take
out of his head every day TO brush of.
You have only to wait. then, until Loka
takes out his eye. You must snatch it from
his claw and swim away with it. Of
course he will be blind and I have no
doubt that in order TO get it back he will
give you the cup. Are you willing to
make the trial?'
Now, the thought of the danger might
well have frightened any one" Uncle
Frank went on, "but Oscar was a brave
youth. and he knew that he would certainly
be killed If he came home without the cup.
And so, after a moment, he said that he
was willing.
Very we'll replied the old fellow. here
is the magic drink. After you have drunk
it I'll go with you in the boat to where
Loka lives. Hurry up, for it's getting late
in the morning.
oscar took the flask which the old man
handed him, drank the liquor and then
went with his friend TO the boat In a few
moments they were sailing over the blue
water toward another little island a few
miles away. Somehow, such was the power
Of the drink. Oscar felt a strong desire to
leap overheard and swim. But the sage
advised him to save his strength for the
hard work to come. In a little while they
reached the island and then the old man
said
Down here somewhere lives Loka. Now
Is the time for you to show your courage.
l will wait for you in the boat
oscar leaped out Of the craft without a
word and sank down. down into the cool
depths. Everything was strange at first;
but he soon grew used to the queer shapes
around him and began to search for Loka
and the Magic Cup. For a long while he
saw nothing Then all at once he noticed
that all the little fish scampered hurriedly
away; and looking around he saw hideous
He swan leisurely back and forth, waiting
to see what Loka would do. The monster
must have thought him a huge fish: for
after a minute two it slowly raised one
huge claw and calmly took its eyes from
the socket Then. like flash, the brave
youth darted towards it and tore it from
the surprised Loka's grasp swimming rap
idly away The monster beloved and
t. II
grew quiet and Oscar demanded the cup
What cup? roared Loka. L haven't
any cup. Give me my eye
VERY WELL replied the youth, If you
haven't the cup 1 suppose the eye will do
as well. 1t certainly is a remarkable eye
Then the monster roared again, but
when he saw that Oscar would not return
the cup he plunged sullenly down into his
den and came back with the Magic Cup
Here's what you want. he growled
| now give me my eye
oh. no. retorted Oscar. You'll have to
throw me the cup and III throw you your
eye I'm not going to put myself in your
clutches
Wei, you a cool one roared Loka,
and l guess I'll have to do as you say.
But L shall put curse on the cup. If any
man but yourself looks upon it he shall
that minute become a dog Here's your
| cupr
Then he threw it toward Oscar, who
| caught it and after swimming a little dis
lance threw back the eye in return. In a
moment. before the monster could get his
eye in place, the youth reached the surface
and swan to the shore. Then he wrapped
the cup in his coat and set out in search of
the old man and the boat. He soon found
/ him and told him what had happened. Then
the two set sail for Oscars home. That
night they came into the harbor and the
next day Oscar went before the King.
Bowling humbly before him, the young man
said
Your Majesty. 1 have conquered Loka
and obtained the cup. but L dare not show
it to you
Then the king grew angry.
"tHe lies the monarch shouted, 'he
hasn't got it,
"Of course all the courtiers said what the
king did. and demanded to see the treasure
Well answered Oscar, since nothing
else will satisfy you look at itr
LAS he unfoIded his coat, suddenly the
palace rang with the barking of dogs; fol
| ~ say TIC Mis- anu al MS COuTlleIs
became sneaking ours Then the youth
threw the cup into the fire. where il
| melted.
"A few days after the people of the island
| chose the brave youth for their king anG
he made the old man his prime minister
| For many years he ruled wisely and lived
happily with his mother. But always wher
the June sunshine sparkled on the wave.
he felt the old desire to swim in the COO