“Swanwhite, go and deck yourself as a bride, for we shall soon be there.”

But the maiden could not hear a word for the raging of the sea.  She asked her step-mother if she knew what her brother had said.

“Yes,” said the false hag; “he says we shall never come to God’s land unless you cast yourself into the sea.”

While Swanwhite thought of this, the wicked step-mother sprang to her, and thrust her on a sudden overboard.  The young girl was carried away by the blue waves, and came to the mermaid who rules over all those who are drowned in the sea.

When the young man came down the mast, and asked whether his sister was attired, the step-mother told him many falsehoods about Swanwhite having fallen into the sea.  When the young man heard this he and all the ship-folk were afraid, for they well knew what punishment awaited them for having so ill looked after the king’s bride.  The false hag then thought of another deception.  She said they had better dress her own daughter as the bride, and then no one need know that Swanwhite had perished.  The young man would not agree to this, but the sailors, being in fear of their lives, made him do as the step-mother had suggested.  Maiden Foxtail was dressed out in the finest manner with red rings and a gold girdle, but the young man was ill at ease, and could not forget what had happened to his sister.

In the midst of this the vessel came to shore, where was the king with all his court with much splendour awaiting their arrival.  Carpets were spread upon the ground, and the king’s bride left the ship in great state.  When the king beheld Maiden Foxtail, and was told that that was his bride, he suspected some cheat, and was very angry, and he ordered that the young man should be thrown into the lions’ den.  He would not, however, break his kingly word, so he took the ugly maiden for his wife, and she became queen in the place of her step-sister.

Now Maiden Swanwhite had a little dog of which she was very fond, and she called it Snow-white.  Now that its mistress was lost, there was no one who cared for it, so it came into the king’s palace and took refuge in the kitchen, where it lay down in front of the fire.  When it was night and all had gone to bed, the master-cook saw the kitchen door open of itself and a beautiful little duck, fastened to a chain, came into the kitchen.  Wherever the little bird trod the most beautiful roses sprang up.  The duck went up to the dog upon the hearth, and said—­

“Poor little Snow-white!  Once on a time you lay on blue silk cushions.  Now you must lie on the grey ashes.  Ah! my poor brother, who is in the lions’ den!  Shame on Maiden Foxtail! she sleeps in my lord’s arms.”

“Alas, poor me!” continued the duck, “I shall come here only on two more nights.  After that I shall see you no more.”

Then it caressed the little dog, and the dog returned its caresses.  After a little while the door opened of itself and the little bird went its way.