always wore round his body. The merman used to turn the water red,
green, and white, at noon each day, so that the fishermen knew that
if they cast their nets into the coloured waters they would make
good hauls.

Amongst these fishermen were two brave brothers, who courted the
chief's daughters, but the old man would not let them get married
until they became rich men.

Whenever the fishermen went off in the boats the merman was used to
sit on a rock, and watch them fishing.

Close by the hamlet was a great wood, in which lived a wicked old
witch and a dwarf.

Now this witch wished to get possession of the merman's belt, and so
gain the fairy's power. Telling her scheme to the dwarf, she said to
him:

"Now you must trap the merman when he is sitting on the rocks
watching the fishing fleet. But I must change you into a bee, when
you must suck of the juice in this magic basin, then fly off and
alight on the merman's head, when he will fall asleep."

So the dwarf agreed, and it happened as she had said; and the merman
fell asleep, and the dwarf stole the belt and brought it to the
witch.

"Now you must wear the belt," said the witch to the dwarf, "and you
will have the power and the fairy will lose her power."