ever failed to catch seal when
he went out hunting, became silent as time went on, and then very
silent. And this no doubt was because he could get no children.

The old one was a wizard, and one day the strong one came to him
and said:

"To-morrow, when my wife comes down to the shore close by where you
are fishing, go to her. For this I will give you something of my
catch each day."

And this no doubt was because he wanted his wife to have a child,
for he wished greatly to have a child, and could not bring it about.

The old man did not forget those words which were said to him.

And to his wife also, the strong one said:

"To-morrow, when the old one is out fishing, go you down finely
dressed, to the shore close by."

And she did it as he had said. When they had slept and again awakened,
she watched to see when the old one went out. And when he rowed
away, she put on her finest clothes and followed after him along the
shore. When she came in sight of him, he lay out there fishing. Then
eagerly she stood up on the shore, and looked out towards him. And
now he looked at her, and then again out over the sea, and this went
on for a long time. She stood there a long time in vain, looking out
towards him, but he would not come in to where she was, and therefore
she went home. As soon as she had come home, her husband rowed up to
the old one, and asked:

"Did you not go to my wife to-day?"

The old one said:

"No."

And again the strong one said a second time:

"Then do not fail to go to her to-morrow."

But when the old one came home, he could not forget the strong man's
words. In the evening, the strong one said that same thing again to
his wife, and a second time told her to go to the old one.

They slept, and awakened, and the strong man went out hunting as was
his wont. Then his wife waited only until the old one had gone out,
and as soon as he was gone, she put on her finest clothes and followed
after. When she came in sight of the water, the old one was sitting
there in his boat as on the other days, and fishing. Now the old
one turned his head and saw her, and he could see that she was even
more finely dressed than on the day before. And now a great desire
of her came over him, and he made up his mind to row in to where she
was. He came in to the land, and stepped out of his kayak and went
up to her. And now he went to her this time.

Then he rowed out again, but he caught scarcely any fish that