They then translated the sleeping merman to the forest and laid him
before the hut, when the witch got a copper vessel, saying:

"We must bury him in this."

Then she got the magic pot, and told the dwarf to take a ladleful of
the fluid in the pot, and pour it over the merman, which he did, and
immediately the merman turned into smoke, that settled in the copper
vessel. Then they sealed the copper vessel tightly.

"Now take this vessel, and heave it into the sea fifty miles from
the land," said the witch, and the dwarf did as he was bid.

"Now we'll starve those old fishermen out this winter," said the
witch; and it happened as she had said--they could catch nothing.

In the spring the queen fairy came to one of the young fishermen who
was courting one of the chief's daughters, and said:

"You must venture for the sake of your love, and for the lives of
the fishermen, or you will all starve--but I will be with you. Will
you run the risk?"

"I will," said the brave fisherman.

"Well, the dwarf has got my belt, he stole it from the merman, and
so I have lost power over the world for twelve months and a day; but
if you get back the belt I can settle the witch; if not, you will
all starve and catch no fish."