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and not take them in of a Sunday morning. During the evening the old woman said: "Tonight we might, as it is fine, lay out the nets!" No," answered he, "for it never brings any blessing to go fishing on Sundays."

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"Last night was very stormy, we scarcely got anything," said the old woman.

""

To-night the

sea is calm and clear as a mirror, and with the wind which has blown the herring-shoals are sure to make for the coast."

"But there is a storm a-brewing in nor'-nor'west," answered the old man, "and Prince has been eating grass to-night."

"I hope he hasn't touched my leeks!" exclaimed the old dame with an anxious face.

"No fear; he hasn't a taste for that sort of thing," said Salmon. "But, sure as fate, the wind will blow big guns to-morrow at sun-rise."

"Let's only set one single net to leeward of the reef; we shall soon get enough to fill the barrel, and, really now, what is already packed might easily become damaged for lack of weight and pressure, and it ought to be nailed down too."

Somehow, the old man allowed himself to be

persuaded, and they went out in their boat and placed their nets. When they were fairly out at sea, the old woman began muttering the formula for lucky fishing, altering the words to suit the heartfelt desire:

"Ahti with the flowing beard,
Ahti of the deep blue sea,
Ahti lord of flock and herd,

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Dwelling in the ocean free:

Boundless treasures do you hold,
Priceless pearl and glowing gem,
Coronets and chests of gold,

All gathered in your ocean realm.
66 Adown the meadows of the sea

Graze your cows and oxen fine;
All fishes come and pay you fee-
All that's in the sea is thine."

"What's that you are muttering?". queried the old man.

"It is only an old ditty that came into my mind," she said, and raising her voice, continued :

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"Two are even when they 're told-
A cow, oh Ahti, give to me,

And from the sun I'll get thee gold,
And silver fom the moon for thee!"

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"That's a very stupid song," said old Salmon; one shouldn't ask for anything but fish from the sea, and it is quite out of place to sing such things on a Sabbath eve."

The old woman pretended not to hear what he was saying, and kept on chanting in the same monotonous tone the whole time they remained out. At last the old man got tired of listening to her where he sat, rowing the heavy old boat, and began to think of his broken clay pipe

and the strong tobacco given to him by the student, so he turned the boat's head, and in due time reached their rocky home, when they soon retired to rest.

Neither of the old couple got a wink of sleep. He lay thinking of how they had broken the Sabbath, and she of the reputed cows of the deep. About midnight the old man suddenly sat upright in bed, and said to his wife: "Do you hear anything?

"What?" she answered.

"I think I hear the vane on the roof whizzing round," he said. "We shall have a storm."

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Only your fancy," she replied.

Old Salmon lay down to rest again, but soon sprang up afresh, saying: "I am sure the vane is whirling round.”

"You go to sleep, and don't bother," she remonstrated; but the old man tried in vain to sleep.

At the third time when he listened he jumped out of bed. "The vane is screaming aloud as if in agony! the wind is high, and we must go out and try to save the nets."

Both dressed themselves hurriedly, but although it was summer time the night was dark as in October, and the vane wind howled around the cot.

shrieked and the

When they came

out on to the doorstep they found the big sea foaming white as a snow-covered field on a winter night, and the spray dashed high up over their lowly roof. Old Salmon could not recollect ever having experienced such a night during his whole life. To put the boat out to sea to save the nets was out of the question. The old couple stood amazed on the threshold, and clung to the doorway, while the salt spray dashed in their faces.

"Didn't I tell you there is never any blessing fishing on a Sabbath day," said the old man sullenly, and the old dame stood trembling, and so abashed, that she even quite forgot to think of Ahti's cows.

When they saw that nothing could be done they retired into their hut again. Their eyes were heavy with sleep after the broil, and soon they dozed off, and slept as soundly as if no angry sea had roared in rage around their lonely sea-girt home. When Salmon and his wife again

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