,
he vowed revenge. But she laughed at his threats, telling him she had
three young eagles with sharp claws growing up in the house, who would
protect their mother.

Linda was no longer tormented by suitors, but the magician whom she had
discarded recommended all his friends not to seek a wife in Kalev's
house, for notwithstanding Linda's wealth her beauty was faded, her
teeth were iron, and her words were red-hot pincers. They would do
better to sail to Finland, where they would find rows of maidens, rich
in money, pearls, jewels, and golden bracelets, waiting for them on the
rocky coast.

[Footnote 23: According to various traditions, Kalev and Linda are said
to have had seven or twelve sons.]

[Footnote 24: This is what Jacobs calls "junior right;" the patriarchal
custom of the elder children going forth into the world to seek their
fortunes, and the youngest remaining at home to look after his parents
and inherit their possessions. Hence the rivalry between Esau and
Jacob.]

[Footnote 25: Has this anything to do with boys spinning cockchafers on
a thread? The beetle alluded to in the text is said to be the ladybird,
but the ladybird has no particular connection with the alder. When a
brooch is thus spun on a thread, a question is asked, and if the motion
stops, the answer is unfavourable, but favourable if it continues. The
flight of the beetle is fortunate towards the south, but unfortunate
towards the north.]

[Footnote 26: It is curious that the Esthonians always regarded the
Finns, and the Finns the Lapps, as great sorcerers; each nation
attributing special skill in magic to those living north of
themselves.--But there is a Finnish ballad (_Kanteletar_, iii. 2) in
which we read of the sun and moon being stolen by German and Esthonian
sorcerers.]

[Footnote 27: This reminds us of Ariel's well-known song--

"Full fathom five thy father lies,
Of his bones are coral made," &c.
]

[Footnote 28: The origin of stone blocks is usually ascribed to
non-human beings in many countries, but most frequently to the devil,
especially in Northern Europe. Compare also the church-stories, &c., in
a later part of this work.]

[Footnote 29: The usual place employed on such occasions in Finland and
Esthonia.]

[Footnote 30: Ukko or Taara commonly appears as the principal god of the
Finns and Esthonians; Rougutaja usually as an accoucheur, but
occasionally also as a malicious demon. Rougutaja is also called the