They saw him. ‘Now my father is coming; we shall not escape. Fling the comb.’
He flung the comb, and it became a forest from earth to sky. Whilst he was gnawing away the forest, they got a long way ahead. He was catching them up; she cried, ‘Fling the whetstone.’
He flung the whetstone, and it became a rock of stone from earth even to heaven. Whilst he, the Devil, was making a hole in the rock, they got a long way ahead. Again he is catching them up. ‘Father is catching us up.’ She flung the towel, and it became a great water and a mill. They halted on the bank.
And he cried, ‘Harlot, how did you cross the water?’
‘Fasten the millstone to your neck, and jump into the water.’
He fastened the millstone to his neck, and jumped into the water, and was choked.
She said, ‘Fear not, for my father is choked.’
He went to his father with the maiden. His father rejoiced; but the maiden said to the lad, ‘I will go to expiate my father’s sins, for I choked him. I go for three years.’
She took her ring, and broke it in half, and gave one half to him. ‘Keep that, and do not lose it.’ She departed for three years.
He forgot her, and made preparations to marry. He was holding his wedding. She came, and he knew her not.