so that the sailors expected the vessel and all on her to go to the
bottom. The young man was, however, in good spirits, and went up the
mast in order to see if he could discover land anywhere. When he had
looked out from the mast, he called to Swanwhite, who stood on the
deck--

"Dear sister, I see land now."

It was, however, blowing so hard that the maiden could not hear a word.
She asked her step-mother if she knew what her brother said.

"Yes," said the false hag; "he says we shall never come to God's land
unless you throw your gold casket into the sea."

When Swanwhite heard that, she did what the hag told her, and cast the
gold casket into the deep sea.

A while after her brother once more called to his sister, who stood on
the deck--

"Swanwhite, go and deck yourself as a bride, for we shall soon be
there."

But the maiden could not hear a word for the raging of the sea. She
asked her step-mother if she knew what her brother had said.

"Yes," said the false hag; "he says we shall never come to God's land
unless you cast yourself into the sea."

While Swanwhite thought of this, the wicked step-mother sprang to her,