At once the cake rolled off like a little wheel and Kerttu and Musti followed it. They walked until they were tired. Then Kerttu picked up the little cake and they rested by the wayside. When they were ready again to start the cake a-rolling, all Kerttu had to do was throw it down in front of her and say the magic rime.
Their first day was without adventure. When night came they ate their supper and went to sleep in a field under a tree.
The second day they overtook an ugly old woman whom Kerttu disliked on sight. But she said to herself:
“Shame on you, Kerttu, not liking this woman just because she’s old and ugly!” and she made herself answer the old woman’s greetings politely and she made Musti stop snarling and growling.
The old hag asked Kerttu who she was and where she was going and Kerttu told her.
“Ah!” said the old woman, “how fortunate that we have met each other for our ways lie together!”
She smiled and petted Kerttu’s arm and Kerttu felt like shuddering. But she restrained herself and told herself severely:
“You’re a wicked girl not to feel more friendly to the poor old thing!”
Musti felt much as Kerttu did. He no longer growled for Kerttu had told him not to, but he drooped his tail between his legs and, pressing up close to Kerttu, he trembled with fright. And well he might, too, for the old hag was none other than Suyettar who had been waiting all these years just for this very chance to do further injury to Kerttu and her brothers.
Kerttu, poor child, was, alas! too good and innocent to suspect evil in others. She said to Suyettar: