thought the miller, "but a young puppy or kitten?" and he promised her what she desired. the nix descended into the water again, and he hurried back to his mill, consoled and in good spirits. he had not yet reached it, when the maid-servant came out of the house, and cried to him to rejoice, for his wife had given birth to a little boy. the miller stood as if struck by lightning; he saw very well that the cunning nix had been aware of it, and had cheated him. hanging his head, he went up to his wife’s bedside and when she said, "why dost thou not rejoice over the fine boy?" he told her what had befallen him, and what kind of a promise he had given to the nix. "of what use to me are riches and prosperity?" he added, "if i am to lose my child; but what can i do?" even the relations, who had come thither to wish them joy, did not know what to say. in the meantime prosperity again returned to the miller’s house. all that he undertook succeeded, it was as if presses and coffers filled themselves of their own accord, and as if money multiplied nightly in the cupboards. it was not long before his wealth was greater than it had ever been before. but he could not rejoice over it untroubled, for the bargain which he had made with the nix tormented his soul. whenever he passed the mill-pond, he feared she might ascend and remind him of his debt. he never let the boy himself go near the water. "beware," he said to him, "if thou dost but touch the water, a hand will rise, seize thee, and draw thee down." but as year after year went by and the nix did not show herself again, the miller began to feel at ease. the boy grew up to be a youth and was apprenticed to a huntsman. when he had learnt everything, and had become an excellent huntsman, the lord of the village took him into his service. in the village lived a beautiful and true-hearted maiden, who pleased the huntsman, and when his master perceived that, he gave him a little house, the two were married, lived peacefully and happily, and loved each other with all their hearts.