’It was a good while after that he fell in love with a young girl; and her father said that before he could marry her he must go out and see who was it was stealing his cows; for there were some of them stolen every night.

’So he watched, and he saw a witch coming and driving them away.  And he attacked her, and fought with her, and beat her by his strength, and she made off.  And he went to the place she had driven the cows, that was underground, and he found the cows belonging to the whole neighbourhood.  And he drove them all out, and gave them to the owners.

’And after a little time the father said to him, that there was a fox in the country, that no hound could catch, and that it was to be hunted again on the next day.  So the young man went out, and when he saw the fox, he took the shape of a hound and followed it.  And he was gaining on it, and it took to a lake, and he went in after it, and it turned to its own shape of a witch, and dragged him down.

’The girl used to go and be looking at the lake every day, but she never got a sight of him.  And at last, someone told her those water-witches were very fond of music, and to get a musical instrument.  So she brought a musical instrument to the side of the lake, and she was playing it; and the witch put up her hand out of the water.  “What will you take for that?” she said.  “I will give it to you,” the girl said, “if you will let me see my husband’s head above the water.”  “I will do that much for you,” said the witch.

’Then the young man put up his head above the water, and she could see his face; but she could not touch him, and she went away.

’The next day she came again with a musical instrument that was better again than the first, and she began to play it.  The witch put up her hand, and asked what would she take for it.  “Let me see my husband to his waist this time,” she said.  So the young man was let up out of the water as far as his waist, and then he disappeared again.

’The next day she came again, and the musical instrument she brought with her was seven times better than the other two.  “What will you take for that?” said the witch.  “Let my husband stand up on your shoulders, clear and clean out of the water,” she said.  So the witch put him up on her shoulder; and when she did, he took the shape of a hawk on the moment, and away with him through the air, back to his own home again.

’The witch followed him then; and when he was in a field, she came to fight him, and they fought the whole day, and they were both tired, and they stopped to rest.  “Oh, if I had three drops of sea-water and a crumb of wheaten bread!” said the witch.  “Oh, if I had three drops of fresh water and a crumb of barley bread!” said the young man.

’And a fairy brought the witch the three drops of sea-water and the crumb of bread.  And a little serving-girl from the farm brought the young man the three drops of fresh water and the crumb of bread.  And then they fought together again; and he having the strength of a lion, he killed her in the end.’