But another rushing wave arose and dragged him under once more . The hunter 's wife , who had stood on the bank full of joy and hope , sank into despair when she saw her husband snatched away again before her eyes . But for her comfort she dreamt the same dream a third time , and betook herself once more to the old witch 's hut in the flowery meadow . This time the old woman told her to go the next full moon to the mill-pond , and to spin there with a golden spinning-wheel , and then to leave the spinning-wheel on the bank . The hunter 's wife did as she was advised , and the first night the moon was full she sat and spun with a golden spinning-wheel , and then left the wheel on the bank . In a few minutes a rushing sound was heard in the waters , and a wave swept the spinning-wheel from the bank . Immediately the head of the hunter rose up from the pond , getting higher and higher each moment , till at length he stepped on to the bank and fell on his wife 's neck . But the waters of the pond rose up suddenly , overflowed the bank where the couple stood , and dragged them under the flood . In her despair the young wife called on the old witch to help her , and in a moment the hunter was turned into a frog and his wife into a toad . But they were not able to remain together , for the water tore them apart , and when the flood was over they both resumed their own shapes again , but the hunter and the hunter 's wife found themselves each in a strange country , and neither knew what had become of the other . The hunter determined to become a shepherd , and his wife too became a shepherdess . So they herded their sheep for many years in solitude and sadness . Now it happened once that the shepherd came to the country where the shepherdess lived . The neighbourhood pleased him , and he saw that the pasture was rich and suitable for his flocks . So he brought his sheep there , and herded them as before . The shepherd and shepherdess became great friends , but they did not recognise each other in the least . But one evening when the moon was full they sat together watching their flocks , and the shepherd played upon his flute . Then the shepherdess thought of that evening when she had sat at the full moon by the mill-pond and had played on the golden flute ; the recollection was too much for her , and she burst into tears . The shepherd asked her why she was crying , and left her no peace till she told him all her story . Then the scales fell from the shepherd 's eyes , and he recognised his wife , and she him .
So they returned joyfully to their own home , and lived XXXXX peace and happiness ever after .
So as at from in of till under upon with