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When Akka came marching with her company, Dunfin's parents went out to meet her and welcome her to the island. Dunfin flew from her place at the end of the line and lit between her parents. "Mother and father, I'm here at last!" she cried joyously. "Don't you know Dunfin?"
"I wish what is for your good, Dunfin," said Goldeye. "I can't imagine anything worse than for you to fly away with a black cormorant! But now I shall tell you something try to persuade him to eat some of the roots I have gathered here. If he is bewitched, it will be apparent at once. If he is not, he will remain as he is."
Dunfin had heard that in his youth he had been a great shot and had always lain in the offing and hunted birds. But now, in his old age since his wife had died and the children had gone from home, so that he was alone in the hut he had begun to care for the birds on his island. He never fired a shot at them, nor would he permit others to do so.
Some thirty geese, in regular order, flew rapidly southward. There was a rustling of feathers and the many wings beat the air so noisily that one could scarcely hear one's own voice. Akka from Kebnekaise flew in the lead; after her came Yksi and Kaksi, Kolme and Neljä, Viisi and Kuusi, Morten Goosey-Gander and Dunfin.
They were furious because Dunfin had a suitor like the white goosey-gander. They themselves had suitors, but theirs were only common gray geese, and, since they had seen Morten Goosey-Gander, they thought them so homely and low-bred that they did not wish even to look at them. "This will grieve me to death!" whimpered Goldeye. "If at least it had been you, Sister Prettywing, who had captured him!"
"If times were easier we'd let him live; but since we're going to move from here, we can't keep geese. Come along now and help me carry them into the kitchen," urged the mother. They went out together and in a few moments the boy saw his father coming along with Morten Goosey-Gander and Dunfin one under each arm. He and his wife went into the cabin.
There was a rejoicing, and a cackling, and a fluttering, and a calling which no one can describe, when they saw that the goosey-gander and Dunfin had succeeded in finding Thumbietot. The woods grew pretty high up on Taberg's sides, but her highest peak was barren; and from there one could look out in all directions.
The boy was sitting amongst the wild geese, listening to Akka and the old goose-master, when Dunfin came flying up to him. "Thumbietot, Thumbietot!" she cried. "Morten Goosey-Gander is dying! I have killed him!" "Let me get up on your back, Dunfin, and take me to him!" Away they flew, and Akka and the other wild geese followed them.
Yes, it was as he expected. In there sat the dainty Dunfin on an egg-filled nest. Beside her stood her white goosey-gander. Although he slept, it was easy to see how proud he was to watch over his wife up here among the Lapland mountains. The boy did not care to waken the goosey-gander, so he walked on. He had to seek a long time before he came across any more wild geese.
"Yes," groaned the goosey-gander. "Then it was well they stuck in your throat," said Akka, "for they are poisonous. Had you swallowed them, you certainly should have died." "Dunfin bade me eat them," said the goosey-gander. "My sister gave them to me," protested Dunfin, and she told everything.
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