"nurses and maidens, we are leisurely looking around, but i fancy my father the king finds the time sadly long." she hastily walked to the deck of the ship, and behold! only the wide sea was around her like a mirror! where was her native island, where the royal vessel? there was nothing visible but the blue sea. the princess screamed, struck her white bosom with both hands, transformed herself into a white swan and flew high into the sky. but the fifth simeon, watching closely, lost no time, snapped his lucky gun and the white swan was shot. his brother, the sixth simeon, caught the white swan, but lo! instead of the white swan there was a silvery fish, which slipped away from him.