[ [101] ] A similar adventure happened to the naturalist Macgillivray in the Solomon Islands during the voyage of the Herald. He turned round and shot the savage dead.
[ [102] ] There is a curious variant relating how the Kalevide waded across Lake Peipus with a bridle in his hand to look for a horse, and the water threatened to rise above his boots, when he said, "Don't think to drown this man." Then the devil brought him first his daughter and then his son in the shape of horses; but they both broke down under him. Then the devil brought him his mother, in her usual shape of a white mare, and she galloped away with the hero, and he could not rein her in. Then a voice from heaven cried, "Godson, godson, strike your hand into the oak!" The hero seized a great oak-tree as they were passing, when it came away in his hand, roots and all. Then the mare rushed to Põrgu, and the voice again bade the hero strike his hand into the doorpost. He did so, and his hand was caught fast, and the mare galloped away to hell from between his legs, and left him hanging there.
[ [103] ] The God of Death.
[ [104] ] The guardian hero of every nation is looked for to return in a similar manner; even William Tell.
[ [105] ] Löwe suggests that Kungla is meant, which appears not improbable.
[ [106] ] This has been a common motif in folk-tales from the time of Jephthah downwards; but the manner in which the different stories are worked out is very various.
[ [107] ] The usual Esthonian euphemism for the Devil.
[ [108] ] The moral tone of some of these Esthonian tales is much higher than usual in folk-tales. In the story of the "Northern Frog," we shall see that it is considered a wrong action, involving Karmic punishment, even to steal a talisman from a demon who is trying to entrap your soul. In most folk-tales, the basest cruelty and treachery is looked upon as quite laudable when your own interests require it, even against your best friend or most generous benefactor, and much more so against a Jew or a demon. But there are other Esthonian tales ( ["Slyboots,"] for instance), in which the morality is not much superior to that of average folk-tales.
[ [109] ] Here we find the Devil compared to a Tartar, just as in the [10th canto] of the Kalevipoeg a water-demon is compared to a Lett.
[ [110] ] Boiled peas and salt are provided on such occasions, as mentioned in other stories.