` What 's the name of this little stone in the middle of the ocean ? ' asked one of them . ` Ahtola , ' answered the old man . ` Well , you should want for nothing when you live in the Sea King 's dominion . ' Matte did not understand . He had never read Kalevala and knew nothing of the sea gods of old , but the students proceeded to explain to him . -LSB- FN # 2 : Kalevala is a collection of old Finnish songs about gods and heroes . -RSB- ` Ahti , ' said they , ` is a mighty king who lives in his dominion of Ahtola , and has a rock at the bottom of the sea , and possesses besides a treasury of good things . He rules over all fish and animals of the deep ; he has the finest cows and the swiftest horses that ever chewed grass at the bottom of the ocean . He who stands well with Ahti is soon a rich man , but one must beware in dealing with him , for he is very changeful and touchy . Even a little stone thrown into the water might offend him , and then as he takes back his gift , he stirs up the sea into a storm and drags the sailors down into the depths . Ahti owns also the fairest maidens , who bear the train of his queen Wellamos , and at the sound of music they comb their long , flowing locks , which glisten in the water . ' ` Oh ! ' cried Matte , ` have your worships really seen all that ? ' ` We have as good as seen it , ' said the students . ` It is all printed in a book , and everything printed is true . ' ` I 'm not so sure of that , ' said Matte , as he shook his head . But the herring were now ready , and the students ate enough for six , and gave Prince some cold meat which they happened to have in the boat . Prince sat on his hind legs with delight and mewed like a pussy cat . When all was finished , the students handed Matte a shining silver coin , and allowed him to fill his pipe with a special kind of tobacco .
They then thanked him for his kind hospitality and went on their journey , much regretted by Prince , who sat with a woeful expression and whined on the shore as long as he could see a flip XXXXX the boat 's white sail in the distance .
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