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far as the eye could reach you could see nothing but water； which
seemed at last to touch heaven itself。 Only under their feet was
a tiny dry spot。 Then the girl placed the mussel shell on the
water and took the fish scales in her hand。 The mussel shell
grew bigger and bigger； and turned into a pretty little boat；
which would have held a dozen children。 The girls stepped in；
Elsa very cautiously； for which she was much laughed at by her
friend； who used the fish scales for a rudder。 The waves rocked
the girls softly； as if they were lying in a cradle； and they
floated on till they met other boats filled with men； singing and
making merry。
'We must sing you a song in return；' said the girl； but as Elsa
did not know any songs； she had to sing by herself。 Elsa could
not understand any of the men's songs； but one word； she noticed；
came over and over again； and that was 'Kisika。' Elsa asked what
it meant； and the girl replied that it was her name。
It was all so pleasant that they might have stayed there for ever
had not a voice cried out to them； 'Children； it is time for you
to come home！'
So Kisika took the little box out of her pocket； with the piece
of cloth lying in it； and dipped the cloth in the water； and lo！
they were standing close to a splendid house in the middle of the
garden。 Everything round them was dry and firm； and there was no
water anywhere。 The mussel shell and the fish scales were put
back in the box； and the girls went in。
They entered a large hall； where four and twenty richly dressed
women were sitting round a table； looking as if they were about
to attend a wedding。 At the head of the table sat the lady of
the house in a golden chair。
Elsa did not know which way to look； for everything that met her
eyes was more beautiful than she could have dreamed possible。
But she sat down with the rest； and ate some delicious fruit； and
thought she must be in heaven。 The guests talked softly； but
their speech was strange to Elsa； and she understood nothing of
what was said。 Then the hostess turned round and whispered
something to a maid behind her chair； and the maid left the hall；
and when she came back she brought a little old man with her； who
had a beard longer than himself。 He bowed low to the lady and
then stood quietly near the door。
'Do you see this girl？' said the lady of the house； pointing to
Elsa。 'I wish to adopt her for my daughter。 Make me a copy of
her； which we can send to her native village instead of herself。'
The old man looked Elsa all up and down； as if he was taking her
measure； bowed again to the lady； and left the hall。 After
dinner the lady said kindly to Elsa； 'Kisika has begged me to let
you stay with her； and you have told her you would like to live
here。 Is that so？'
At these words Elsa fell on her knees； and kissed the lady's
hands and feet in gratitude for her escape from her cruel
stepmother； but her hostess raised her from the ground and patted
her head； saying； 'All will go well as long as you are a good；
obedient child； and I will take care of you and see that you want
for nothing till you are grown up and can look after yourself。
My waiting…maid； who teaches Kisika all sorts of fine handiwork；
shall teach you too。'
Not long after the old man came back with a mould full of clay on
his shoulders； and a little covered basket in his left hand。 He
put down his mould and his basket on the ground； took up a
handful of clay； and made a doll as large as life。 When it was
finished he bored a hole in the doll's breast and put a bit of
bread inside； then； drawing a snake out of the basket； forced it
to enter the hollow body。
'Now；' he said to the lady； 'all we want is a drop of the
maiden's blood。'
When she heard this Elsa grew white with horror； for she thought
she was selling her soul to the evil one。
'Do not be afraid！' the lady hastened to say； 'we do not want
your blood for any bad purpose； but rather to give you freedom
and happiness。'
Then she took a tiny golden needle； pricked Elsa in the arm； and
gave the needle to the old man； who stuck it into the heart of
the doll。 When this was done he placed the figure in the basket；
promising that the next day they should all see what a beautiful
piece of work he had finished。
When Elsa awoke the next morning in her silken bed； with its soft
white pillows； she saw a beautiful dress lying over the back of a
chair； ready for her to put on。 A maid came in to comb out her
long hair； and brought the finest linen for her use； but nothing
gave Elsa so much joy as the little pair of embroidered shoes
that she held in her hand； for the girl had hitherto been forced
to run about barefoot by her cruel stepmother。 In her excitement
she never gave a thought to the rough clothes she had worn the
day before； which had disappeared as if by magic during the
night。 Who could have taken them？ Well； she was to know that
by…and…by。 But WE can guess that the doll had been dressed in
them； which was to go back to the village in her stead。 By the
time the sun rose the doll had attained her full size； and no one
could have told one girl from the other。 Elsa started back when
she met herself as she looked only yesterday。
'You must not be frightened；' said the lady； when she noticed her
terror； 'this clay figure can do you no harm。 It is for your
stepmother； that she may beat it instead of you。 Let her flog it
as hard as she will； it can never feel any pain。 And if the
wicked woman does not come one day to a better mind your double
will be able at last to give her the punishment she deserves。'
From this moment Elsa's life was that of the ordinary happy
child； who has been rocked to sleep in her babyhood in a lovely
golden cradle。 She had no cares or troubles of any sort； and
every day her tasks became easier； and the years that had gone
before seemed more and more like a bad dream。 But the happier
she grew the deeper was her wonder at everything around her； and
the more firmly she was persuaded that some great unknown power
must be at the bottom of it all。
In the courtyard stood a huge granite block about twenty steps
from the house； and when meal times came round the old man with
the long beard went to the block； drew out a small silver staff；
and struck the stone with it three times； so that the sound could
be heard a long way off。 At the third blow； out sprang a large
golden cock； and stood upon the stone。 Whenever he crowed and
flapped his wings the rock opened and something came out of it。
First a long table covered with dishes ready laid for the number
of persons who would be seated round it； and this flew into the
house all by itself。
When the cock crowed for the second time； a number of chairs
appeared； and flew after the table； then wine； apples； and other
fruit； all without trouble to anybody。 After everybody had had
enough； the old man struck the rock again。 the golden cock
crowed afresh； and back went dishes； table； chairs； and plates
into the middle of the block。
When； however； it came to the turn of the thirteenth dish； which
nobody ever wanted to eat； a huge black ca