` What ! have n't you got a cow ? ' Maie was silent . This question so struck her to the heart that she could not reply . ` We have no cow , ' Matte answered ; ` but we have good smoked herring , and can cook them in a couple of hours . ' ` All right , then , that will do , ' said the students , as they flung themselves down on the rock , while fifty silvery-white herring were turning on the spit in front of the fire . ` What 's the name of this little stone in the middle of the ocean ? ' asked one of them . ` Ahtola , ' answered the old man . ` Well , you should want for nothing when you live in the Sea King 's dominion . ' Matte did not understand . He had never read Kalevala and knew nothing of the sea gods of old , but the students proceeded to explain to him . -LSB- FN # 2 : Kalevala is a collection of old Finnish songs about gods and heroes . -RSB- ` Ahti , ' said they , ` is a mighty king who lives in his dominion of Ahtola , and has a rock at the bottom of the sea , and possesses besides a treasury of good things . He rules over all fish and animals of the deep ; he has the finest cows and the swiftest horses that ever chewed grass at the bottom of the ocean . He who stands well with Ahti is soon a rich man , but one must beware in dealing with him , for he is very changeful and touchy . Even a little stone thrown into the water might offend him , and then as he takes back his gift , he stirs up the sea into a storm and drags the sailors down into the depths . Ahti owns also the fairest maidens , who bear the train of his queen Wellamos , and at the sound of music they comb their long , flowing locks , which glisten in the water . ' ` Oh ! ' cried Matte , ` have your worships really seen all that ? '
` We have as good as XXXXX it , ' said the students .
cook cried flowing got possesses said seen struck turning understand