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"He is a tame goose, of course." "He brings with him one who is bewitched," said Goldeye, "and, under the circumstances, he too must be bewitched. Are you not afraid that he may be a black cormorant?" She was a good talker and succeeded in frightening Dunfin thoroughly. "You don't mean what you are saying," pleaded the little gray goose. "You only wish to frighten me!"
"You must beware of those sisters of yours, Dunfin!" warned Akka, "for they wish you no good, depend upon it!" But Dunfin was so constituted that she could not think evil of any one and, a moment later, when Prettywing asked her to come and meet her intended, she went with her immediately. "Oh, he isn't as handsome as yours," said the sister, "but he's much more courageous and daring!"
"Is there some one who wishes to come in?" asked his father, opening the door. "Mother, you sha'n't touch the goosey-gander!" cried the boy. Instantly both the goosey-gander and Dunfin, who lay on a bench with their feet tied, gave a cry of joy, so that he was sure they were alive. Some one else gave a cry of joy his mother! "My, but you have grown tall and handsome!" she exclaimed.
And when he thought of Fumle-Drumle who had saved his life, and had met his own death so soon after he had been elected chieftain, he was so distressed that tears filled his eyes. He had had a pretty rough time of it these last few days. But, anyway, it was a rare stroke of luck that the goosey-gander and Dunfin had found him.
"They dare not show themselves among the wild geese, but they asked me to remind you not to leave the island without calling on the old fisherman." "That's so!" exclaimed Dunfin, but she was so frightened now that she would not go alone, and asked the goosey-gander and Thumbietot to accompany her to the hut. The door was open, so Dunfin entered, but the others remained outside.
"Look in here a moment," he said, "then you will see how I lived in former days. It was very different from camping in swamps and morasses, as we do now." The goosey-gander stood in the doorway and looked into the cow shed. "There's not a soul in here," he said. "Come along, Dunfin, and you shall see the goose pen. Don't be afraid; there's no danger."
At first the old goose-parents could not quite make out what they saw, but when they recognized Dunfin they were absurdly happy, of course. While the wild geese and Morten Goosey-Gander and Dunfin were chattering excitedly, trying to tell how she had been rescued, Prettywing and Goldeye came running.
They flew still farther out, where they found no more large inhabited islands only numberless little rock islands were scattered on the water. Now the fiords were not crowded by the land. The sea lay before them, vast and limitless. Here the wild geese alighted on a cliff island, and as soon as their feet touched the ground the boy turned to Dunfin. "What city did we fly over just now?" he asked.
Morten Goosey-Gander is being torn to pieces by an eagle." "Let me get up on your back, Dunfin, and take me to him!" said the boy. When they arrived on the scene Morten Goosey-Gander was badly torn, and bleeding, but he was still fighting. The boy could not battle with the eagle; all that he could do was to seek more efficient help. "Hurry, Dunfin, and call Akka and the wild geese!" he cried.
"Do you wish me to ask Morten Goosey-Gander to meet the strange bird?" asked Dunfin. "Indeed, I do!" exclaimed Prettywing excitedly. "You couldn't render me a greater service." The next morning the goosey-gander was up before the sun. He stationed himself on the highest point of the island and peered in all directions. Presently he saw a big, dark bird coming from the west.
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