In another year the second sister received permission to rise to the surface
of the water, and to swim about where she pleased. She rose just as the sun
was setting, and this, she said, was the most beautiful sight of all. The
whole sky looked like gold, while violet and rose-colored clouds, which she
could not describe, floated over her; and, still more rapidly than the clouds,
flew a large flock of wild swans towards the setting sun, looking like a long
white veil across the sea. She also swam towards the sun; but it sunk into
the waves, and the rosy tints faded from the clouds and from the sea.
The third sister’s turn followed; she was the boldest of them all, and she
swam up a broad river that emptied itself into the sea. On the banks she saw
green hills covered with beautiful vines; palaces and castles peeped out
from amid the proud trees of the forest; she heard the birds singing, and the
rays of the sun were so powerful that she was obliged often to dive down
under the water to cool her burning face. In a narrow creek she found a
whole troop of little human children, quite naked, and sporting about in the
water; she wanted to play with them, but they fled in a great fright; and then
a little black animal came to the water; it was a dog, but she did not know
that, for she had never before seen one. This animal barked at her so terribly
that she became frightened, and rushed back to the open sea. But she said
she should never forget the beautiful forest, the green hills, and the pretty
little children who could swim in the water, although they had not fish’s
tails.
