the bride asked, "what is my dear brother saying?" "ah," said the old woman, "he says you must look out of the carriage." they were, however, just on a bridge, which crossed deep water. when the bride stood up and leant forward out of the carriage, they both pushed her out, and she fell into the middle of the water. at the same moment that she sank, a snow-white duck arose out of the mirror-smooth water, and swam down the river. the brother had observed nothing of it, and drove the carriage on until they reached the court. then he took the black maiden to the king as his sister, and thought she really was so, because his eyes were dim, and he saw the golden garments glittering. when the king saw the boundless ugliness of his intended bride, he was very angry, and ordered the coachman to be thrown into a pit which was full of adders and nests of snakes. the old witch, however, knew so well how to flatter the king and deceive his eyes by her arts, that he kept her and her daughter until she appeared quite endurable to him, and he really married her.