n
kirtle, and round her body a broad silver girdle with figures upon it,
such as the Finns use. Her bodice was of tar-brown skin, and beneath her
stay-laces, which seemed to be of green sea-grass, was a foam-white
chemise, like the feathery breast of a sea-bird.

When the boat came drifting on to the island, she came down to him and
said, as if she knew him quite well, "So you're come at last, Eilert;
I've been waiting for you so long!"

It seemed to Eilert as if an icy cold shudder ran through his body when
he took the hand which helped him ashore; but it was only for the
moment, and he forgot it instantly.

In the midst of the island there was an opening with a brazen flight of
steps leading down to a splendid cabin. Whilst he stood there thinking
things over a bit, he saw two heavy dog-fish swimming close by--they
were, at least, twelve to fourteen ells long.

As they descended, the dog-fish sank down too, each on one side of the
brazen steps. Oddly enough, it looked as if the island was transparent.
When the girl perceived that he was frightened, she told him that they
were only two of her father's bodyguard, and shortly afterwards they
disappeared. She then said that she wanted to take him to her father,
who was waiting for them. She added that, if he didn't find the old
gentleman precisely as handsome as he might expect, he had,
nevertheless, no need to be frightened, nor was he to be astonished too
much at what he saw.

He now perceived that he was under water, but, for all that, there was
no sign of moisture. He was on a white sandy bottom, covered with
chalk-white, red, blue, and silvery-bright shells. He saw meadows of
sea-grass, mountains thick with woods of bushy seaweed and sea-wrack,
and the fishes darted about on every side just as the birds swarm about
the rocks that sea-fowl haunt.

As they two were thus walking along together she explained many things
to him. High up he saw something which looked like a black cloud with a
white lining, and beneath it moved backwards and forwards a shape
resembling one of the dog-fish.

"What you see there is a vessel," said she; "there's nasty weather up
there now, and beneath the boat goes he who was sitting along with you
on the bottom of the boat just now. If it is wrecked, it will belong to
us, and then you will not be able to speak to father to-day." As she
said this there was a wild rapacious gleam in her eyes, but it was gone
again immediately.

And,