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 of the boat 's white sail in the distance . Maie had never uttered a word , but thought the more . She had good ears , and had laid to heart the story about Ahti . ` How delightful , ' thought she to herself , ` to possess a fairy cow ! How delicious every morning and evening to draw milk from it , and yet have no trouble about the feeding , and to keep a shelf near the window for dishes of milk and junkets ! But this will never be my luck . ' ` What are you thinking of ? ' asked Matte . ` Nothing , ' said his wife ; but all the time she was pondering over some magic rhymes she had heard in her childhood from an old lame man , which were supposed to bring luck in fishing . ` What if I were to try ? ' thought she . Now this was Saturday , and on Saturday evenings Matte never set the herring-net , for he did not fish on Sunday . Towards evening , however , his wife said : ` Let us set the herring-net just this once . ' ` No , ' said her husband , ` it is a Saturday night . ' ` Last night was so stormy , and we caught so little , ' urged his wife ; ` to-night the sea is like a mirror , and with the wind in this direction the herring are drawing towards land . ' ` But there are streaks in the north-western sky , and Prince was eating grass this evening , ' said the old man . ` Surely he has not eaten my garlic , ' exclaimed the old woman . ` No ; but there will be rough weather by to-morrow at sunset , ' rejoined Matte . ` Listen to me , ' said his wife , ` we will set only one net close to the shore , and then we shall be able to finish up our half-filled cask , which will spoil if it stands open so long . ' The old man allowed himself to be talked over , and so they rowed out with the net .
When they reached the deepest part of the water , she began to hum the words of the magic rhyme , altering the words XXXXX suit the longing of her heart : Oh , Ahti , with the long , long beard , Who dwellest in the deep blue sea , Finest treasures have I heard , And glittering fish belong to thee .
Towards about as by from if in over so to