Quickly Wainamoinen prepared for his journey, and mounted his magic steed,
that galloped over the plains of Kalevala and crossed the waste of blue
sea-water as though it were land.

But the envious Youkahainen was informed of the journey, and had prepared
a cruel cross-bow and three poisoned arrows. In spite of the protests of
his mother, he waited for the hero and shot at him three times. The third
arrow struck Wainamoinen's horse, which sank to the bottom of the ocean,
leaving the hapless rider struggling in the water. "Seven summers must he
tread the waves," chuckled Youkahainen; "eight years ride the billows."

For six days Wainamoinen floated on the waters; then he was rescued by a
huge eagle that carried him on its back to Pohyola, the dismal Sariola,
and left him on a barren promontory, where he bemoaned his unhappy fate.
Here he was found by Louhi, the toothless dame of Pohyola, who took him
home and fed him. Then she promised to provide him with a sledge that he
might journey safely home if he would forge for her the Sampo, a magical
jewel that gave success to its possessor. If he could make her this, she
would also give him her daughter in marriage. "I cannot forge the Sampo,
but if thou wilt help me to my distant country I will send thee my brother
Ilmarinen, the blacksmith, who can forge for thee the magic Sampo, and win
thy beautiful daughter."

Louhi provided a sledge and horse, and as Wainamoinen seated himself she
warned him, as he journeyed, not to look upward before nightfall, or some
great misfortune would befall him.

The maiden of the Rainbow, beautiful daughter of Pohyola, was sitting on
the rainbow weaving, and Wainamoinen, hearing the whizzing of the loom,