The  wind took off with the sunset –
    The fog came up with the tide,
When the Witch of the North took an Egg-shell
    With a little Blue Devil inside.
"Sink," she said, "or swim," she said,
    "It's all you will bet from me.
And that is the finish of him!" she said
    And the Egg-shell went to sea.

На закате Ведьма Севера
Увидела сквозь туман,
Как маленький Белый Дьявол
Скорлупку вёл в океан.
«Плыви, блоха, если смеешь,
Но заключим пари:
Остановишься, оробеешь –
Не доживешь до зари».

The wind fell dead with the midnight –
    The fog shut down like a sheet,
When the Witch of the North heard the Egg-shell
    Feeling by hand for a fleet.
"Get!" she said, "or you're gone," she said.,
    But the little Blue Devil said "No!
"The sights are just coming on," he said,
    And he let the Whitehead go.

Туманной, безветренной ночью
Холод сковал простор:
«Вперед, или ты покойник!
Помнишь наш уговор?»
Усталость превозмогая,
На ощупь, скребясь сквозь лёд,
Он выкрикнул: «Прочь, Седая,
Всё нормально идёт!»

The wind got up with the morning –
    The fog blew off with the rain,
When the Witch of the North saw the Egg-shell
    And the little Blue Devil again.
"Did you swim?" she said. "Did you sink:" she said,
    And the little Blue Devil replied:
"For myself I swam, but I think," he said,
    "There's somebody sinking outside."

Когда, поближе к рассвету,
Туманы смыло дождём,
Догнала Ведьма кораблик
И Синеглазого в нём.
«Ты проиграл!» – но Дьявол
Сердито топнул ногой:
«Я буду плавать, как плавал!
Иль утонет кто-то другой!»