Scarcely had the pilgrim gone when seven doves came flying into the
room, and said: "Behold your brothers turned to birds and made
companions of snipes, woodpeckers, jays, owls, rooks, starlings,
blackbirds, tom-tits, larks, kingfishers, wrens, and sparrows. We shall
be persecuted by hawks, and hunters will try to shoot us. Ah! why did
you pluck that accursed rosemary and bring such a calamity on us? Doves
we must remain for the rest of our lives unless you find the Mother of
Time. She can tell you how to get us out of our trouble."
Channa was greatly distressed over what she had done, and said she would
start at once searching for the Mother of Time. She urged them to make
the ogre's house their home until she returned.
Away she went and journeyed on and on until she came to the seashore,
where the waves were banging against the rocks. A huge whale came to the
surface close at hand, looked at her, and asked, "What are you seeking,
my pretty maiden?"