When he came to the wild geese, they were about to fly away to other lands.
Said the raven to two of the geese:
“Seeing that a miserable sparrow has refused me, I will have you.”
“We are just getting ready to fly away,” said the geese.
“I will go too,” said the raven.
“But consider this: that none can go with us who cannot swim or rest upon the surface of the water. For there are no icebergs along the way we go.”
“It is nothing; I will sail through the air,” said the raven.
And the wild geese flew away, and the raven with them. But very soon he felt himself sinking from weariness and lack of sleep.
“Something to rest on!” cried the raven, gasping. “Sit you down side by side.” And his two wives sat down together on the water, while their comrades flew on.
The raven sat down on them and fell asleep. But when his wives saw the other geese flying farther and farther away, they dropped that raven into the sea and flew off after them.