Once there was a hard working woodsman who had a very loving young wife. One day while he was out hunting near a lovely river, the woodsman shot a deer. As he lean down to the water to wash his hands after cleaning the deer, the water of the river parted, and the river spirit who lived in the water seized the woodsman and dragged him back with her into the river. When the woodman never returned home, his wife became worried and went to search for him. Coming across the slain deer next to the river, the young woman knew immediately that her husband had been claimed by the river sprite. In desperation, she journey to the lonely cabin in the mountains where an old witch lived. When the old woman heard the young wifes sad story, she gave her a beautiful golden comb, and told her to sit by the river at the next full moon and comb her hair, and when she was done, to put the comb on the bank and to see what happened. So the hopeful wife returned to the river at the next full moon, and began to comb her long black as she wept for her lost love. When she was done, she placed the comb on the bank. No sooner had she put the comb down, than the waters parted and surged forward to sweep the comb away. And as they parted, the young woman saw her husbands head and shoulders appear above the water. Just as the water began to cover him, the young woman reached forward, seizing her lovers hand, and pulled her husband from the river. Quickly, the couple fled from the river, to return home.