adow, when
she came to a hut where she found an old witch, who promised to
restore her husband to her.

When she awoke next morning she determined to set out and find the
witch; so she wandered on for many a day, and at last she reached the
flowery meadow and found the hut where the old witch lived. The poor
wife told her all that had happened and how she had been told in a
dream of the witch's power to help her.

The witch counselled her to go to the pond the first time there was a
full moon, and to comb her black hair with a golden comb, and then to
place the comb on the bank. The hunter's wife gave the witch a
handsome present, thanked her heartily, and returned home.

Time dragged heavily till the time of the full moon, but it passed at
last, and as soon as it rose the young wife went to the pond, combed
her black hair with a golden comb, and when she had finished, placed
the comb on the bank; then she watched the water impatiently. Soon she
heard a rushing sound, and a big wave rose suddenly and swept the comb
off the bank, and a minute after the head of her husband rose from the
pond and gazed sadly at her. But immediately another wave came, and
the head sank back into the water without having said a word. The pond
lay still and motionless, glittering in the moonshine, and the
hunter's wife was not a bit better off than she had been before.

In despair she wandered about for days and nights, and at last, worn
out by fatigue, she sank once more into a deep sleep, and dreamt
exactly the same dream about the old witch. So next morning she went
again to the flowery meadow and sought the witch in her hut, and told
her of her grief. The old woman counselled her to go to the mill-pond
the next full moon and play upon a golden flute, and then to lay the
flute on the bank.

As soon as the next moon was full the hunter's wife went to the
mill-pond, played on a golden flute, and when she had finished placed
it on the bank. Then a rushing sound was heard, and a wave swept the
flute off the bank, and soon the head of the hunter appeared and rose
up higher and higher till he was half out of the water. Then he gazed
sadly at his wife and stretched out his arms towards her. But another
rushing wave arose and dragged him under once more. The hunter's wife,
who had stood on the bank full of joy and hope, sank into despair when
she saw her husband snatched away again before her eyes.

But for her comfort she dreamt the same d