And Ivashko said:
Canoe, canoe, float to the waterside;
That is my mother calling me.
The boat floated to the shore: the woman took the fish, gave her boy food and drink, changed his shirt for him and his girdle, and sent him back to his fishing. Again he sat in his boat and said:
Canoe, canoe, float a little farther,
Canoe, canoe, float a little farther.
Then the canoe floated on farther and farther, and Ivashko began to fish. After a little time had passed by, the old man also hobbled down to the bank and called to his son:
Ivashechko, Ivashechko, my boy,
Float up, float up, unto the waterside;
I bring thee food and drink.
And Ivashko replied:
Canoe, canoe, float to the waterside;
That is my father calling me.
The canoe floated to the shore. The old man took the fish, gave his boy food and drink, changed his shirt for him and his girdle, and sent him back to his fishing.
Now a certain witch[208] had heard what Ivashko’s parents had cried aloud to him, and she longed to get hold of the boy. So she went down to the bank and cried with a hoarse voice: