Certainlynonecouldhaveguessedthattheywerethesnails,water—
rats,andgrasshoppersfromwhichshehadchosenherretinue。
Atasignfromthefrogthefairiesdancedaballet,withwhicheveryonewassodelightedthattheybeggedtohavetorepeated;butnowitwasnotyouthsandmaidenswhoweredancing,butflowers。Thentheseagainmeltedintofountains,whosewatersinterlacedand,rushingdownthesidesofthehall,pouredoutinacascadedownthesteps,andformedariverfoundthecastle,withthemostbeautifullittleboatsuponit,allpaintedandgilded。
\'Oh,letusgointhemforasail！\'criedtheprincess,whohadlongagolefthergameofballforasightofthesemarvels,and,asshewasbentuponit,theambassadors,whohadbeenchargednevertolosesightofher,wereobligedtogoalso,thoughtheyneverenteredaboatiftheycouldhelpit。
Butthemomenttheyandtheprincesshadseatedthemselvesonthesoftcushions,riverandboatsvanished,andtheprincessandtheambassadorsvanishedtoo。Insteadthesnailsandgrasshoppersandwater—ratsstoodroundthefrogintheirnaturalshapes。
\'Perhaps,\'saidshe,\'yourMajestymaynowbeconvincedthatIamafairyandspeakthetruth。Thereforelosenotimeinsettinginordertheaffairsofyourkingdomandgoinsearchofyourwife。Hereisaringthatwilladmityouintothepresenceofthequeen,andwilllikewiseallowyoutoaddressunharmedtheLionFairy,thoughsheisthemostterriblecreaturethateverexisted。\'
Bythistimethekinghadforgottenallabouttheprincess,whomhehadonlychosentopleasehispeople,andwasaseagertodepartonhisjourneyasthefrogwasforhimtogo。Hemadeoneofhisministersregentofthekingdom,andgavethefrogeverythingherheartcoulddesire;andwithherringonhisfingerherodeawaytotheoutskirtsoftheforest。Herehedismounted,andbiddinghishorsegohome,hepushedforwardonfoot。
Havingnothingtoguidehimastowherehewaslikelytofindtheentranceoftheunder—world,thekingwanderedhitherandthitherforalongwhile,till,oneday,whilehewasrestingunderatree,avoicespoketohim。
\'Whydoyougiveyourselfsomuchtroublefornought,whenyoumightknowwhatyouwanttoknowfortheasking？Aloneyouwillneverdiscoverthepaththatleadstoyourwife。\'
Muchstartled,thekinglookedabouthim。Hecouldseenothing,andsomehow,whenhethoughtaboutit,thevoiceseemedasifitwerepartofhimself。Suddenlyhiseyesfellonthering,andheunderstood。
\'FoolthatIwas！\'criedhe;\'andhowmuchprecioustimehaveIwasted？
Dearring,Ibeseechyou,grantmeavisionofmywifeandmydaughter！\'Andevenashespokethereflashedpasthimahugelioness,followedbyaladyandabeautifulyoungmaidmountedonfairyhorses。
Almostfaintingwithjoyhegazedafterthem,andthensankbacktremblingontheground。
\'Oh,leadmetothem,leadmetothem！\'heexclaimed。Andthering,biddinghimtakecourage,conductedhimsafelytothedismalplacewherehiswifehadlivedfortenyears。
NowtheLionFairyknewbeforehandofhisexpectedpresenceinherdominions,andsheorderedapalaceofcrystaltobebuiltinthemiddleofthelakeofquicksilver;andinordertomakeitmoredifficultofapproachsheletitfloatwhitheritwould。Immediatelyaftertheirreturnfromthechase,wherethekinghadseenthem,sheconveyedthequeenandMuffetteintothepalace,andputthemundertheguardofthemonstersofthelake,whooneandallhadfalleninlovewiththeprincess。Theywerehorriblyjealous,andreadytoeateachotherupforhersake,sotheyreadilyacceptedthecharge。Somestationedthemselvesroundthefloatingpalace,somesatbythedoor,whilethesmallestandlightestperchedthemselvesontheroof。
Ofcoursethekingwasquiteignorantofthesearrangements,andboldlyenteredthepalaceoftheLionFairy,whowaswaitingforhim,withhertaillashingfuriously,forshestillkeptherlion\'sshape。Witharoarthatshookthewallssheflungherselfuponhim;buthewasonthewatch,andablowfromhisswordcutoffthepawshehadputforthtostrikehimdead。Shefellback,andwithhishelmetstillonandhisshieldup,hesethisfootonherthroat。
\'Givemebackthewifeandthechildyouhavestolenfromme,\'hesaid,\'oryoushallnotliveanothersecond！\'
Butthefairyanswered:
\'Lookthroughthewindowatthatlakeandseeifitisinmypowertogivethemtoyou。\'Andthekinglooked,andthroughthecrystalwallshebeheldhiswifeanddaughterfloatingonthequicksilver。AtthatsighttheLionFairyandallherwickednesswasforgotten。Flingingoffhishelmet,heshoutedtothemwithallhismight。Thequeenknewhisvoice,andsheandMuffetterantothewindowandheldouttheirhands。Thenthekingsworeasolemnoaththathewouldneverleavethespotwithouttakingthemifitshouldcosthimhislife;andhemeantit,thoughatthemomenthedidnotknowwhathewasundertaking。
Threeyearspassedby,andthekingwasnonearertoobtaininghisheart\'sdesire。Hehadsufferedeveryhardshipthatcouldbeimagined——nettleshadbeenhisbed,wildfruitsmorebitterthangallhisfood,whilehisdayshadbeenspentinfightingthehideousmonsterswhichkepthimfromthepalace。Hehadnotadvancedonesinglestep,norgainedonesolitaryadvantage。Nowhewasalmostindespair,andreadytodefyeverythingandthrowhimselfintothelake。
Itwasatthismomentofhisblackestmiserythat,onenight,adragonwhohadlongwatchedhimfromtheroofcrepttohisside。
\'Youthoughtthatlovewouldconquerallobstacles,\'saidhe;\'well,youhavefoundithasn\'t！ButifyouwillsweartomebyyourcrownandsceptrethatyouwillgivemeadinnerofthefoodthatInevergrowtiredof,wheneverIchoosetoaskforit,Iwillenableyoutoreachyourwifeanddaughter。\'
Ah,howgladthekingwastohearthat！Whatoathwouldhenothavetakensoastoclasphiswifeandchildinisarms？Joyfullyhesworewhateverthedragonaskedofhim;thenhejumpedonhisback,andinanotherinstantwouldhavebeencarriedbythestrongwingsintothecastleifthenearestmonstershadnothappenedtoawakeandhearthenoiseoftalkingandswumtotheshoretogivebattle。Thefightwaslongandhard,andwhenthekingatlastbeatbackhisfoesanotherstruggleawaitedhim。Attheentrancegiganticbats,owls,andcrowssetuponhimfromallsides;butthedragonhadteethandclaws,whilethequeenbrokeoffsharpbitsofglassandstabbedandcutinheranxietytohelpherhusband。Atlengththehorriblecreaturesflewaway;asoundlikethunderwasheard,thepalaceandthemonstersvanished,while,atthesamemoment——nooneknewhow——thekingfoundhimselfstandingwithhiswifeanddaughterinthehallofhisownhome。
Thedragonhaddisappearedwithalltherest,andforsomeyearsnomorewasheardorthoughtofhim。Muffettegreweverydaymorebeautiful,andwhenshewasfourteenthekingsandemperorsoftheneighbouringcountriessenttoaskherinmarriageforthemselvesortheirsons。Foralongtimethegirlturnedadeafeartoalltheirprayers;butatlengthayoungprinceofraregiftstouchedherheart,andthoughthekinghadleftherfreetochoosewhathusbandshewould,hehadsecretlyhopedthatoutofallthewooersthisonemightbehisson—in—law。Sotheywerebetrothedthatsomedaywithgreatpomp,andthenwithmanytears,theprincesetoutforhisfather\'scourt,bearingwithhimaportraitofMuffette。
ThedayspassedslowlytoMuffette,inspiteofherbraveeffortstooccupyherselfandnottosaddenotherpeoplebyhercomplaints。Onemorningshewasplayingonherharpinthequeen\'schamberwhenthekingburstintotheroomandclaspedhisdaughterinhisarmswithanenergythatalmostfrightenedher。
\'Oh,mychild！mydearchild！whywereyoueverborn？\'criedhe,assoonashecouldspeak。
\'Istheprincedead？\'falteredMuffette,growingwhiteandcold。
\'No,no;but——oh,howcanItellyou！\'Andhesankdownonapileofcushionswhilehiswifeanddaughterkneltbesidehim。
Atlengthhewasabletotellhistale,andaterribleoneitwas！
Therehadjustarrivedatcourtahugegiant,asambassadorfromthedragonbywhosehelpthekinghadrescuedthequeenandMuffettefromthecrystalpalace。Thedragonhadbeenverybusyformanyyearspast,andhadquiteforgottentheprincesstillthenewsofherbetrothalreachedhisears。Thenherememberedthebargainhehadmadewithherfather;andthemoreheheardofMuffettethemorehefeltsureshewouldmakeadeliciousdish。Sohehadorderedthegiantwhowashisservanttofetchheratonce。
Nowordswouldpaintthehorrorofboththequeenandtheprincessastheylistenedtothisdreadfuldoom。Theyrushedinstantlytothehall,wherethegiantwasawaitingthem,andflingingthemselvesathisfeetimploredhimtotakethekingdomifhewould,buttohavepityontheprincess。Thegiantlookedatthemkindly,forhewasnotatallhard—hearted,butsaidthathehadnopowertodoanything,andthatiftheprincessdidnotgowithhimquietlythedragonwouldcomehimself。
Severaldayswentby,andthekingandqueenhardlyceasedfromentreatingtheaidofthegiant,whobythistimewasgettingwearyofwaiting。
\'Thereisonlyonewayofhelpingyou,\'hesaidatlast,\'andthatistomarrytheprincesstomynephew,who,besidesbeingyoungandhandsome,hasbeentrainedinmagic,andwillknowhowtokeephersafefromthedragon。\'
\'Oh,thankyou,thankyou！\'criedtheparents,claspinghisgreathandstotheirbreasts。\'Youhaveindeedliftedaloadfromus。Sheshallhavehalfthekingdomforherdowry。\'ButMuffettestoodupandthrustthemaside。
\'Iwillnotbuymylifewithfaithlessness,\'shesaidproudly;\'andI
willgowithyouthismomenttothedragon\'sabode。\'Andallherfather\'sandmother\'stearsandprayersavailednothingtomoveher。
ThenextmorningMuffettewasputintoalitter,and,guardedbythegiantandfollowedbythekingandqueenandtheweepingmaidsofhonour,theystartedforthefootofthemountainwherethedragonhadhiscastle。Theway,thoughroughandstony,seemedalltooshort,andwhentheyreachedthespotappointedbythedragonthegiantorderedthemenwhoborethelittertostandstill。
\'Itistimeforyoutobidfarewelltoyourdaughter,\'saidhe;\'forI
seethedragoncomingtous。\'
Itwastrue;acloudappearedtopassoverthesun,forbetweenthemandittheycouldalldiscerndimlyahugebodyhalfamilelongapproachingnearerandnearer。Atfirstthekingcouldnotbelievethatthiswasthesmallbeastwhohadseemedsofriendlyontheshoreofthelakeofquicksilverbutthenheknewverylittleofnecromancy,andhadneverstudiedtheartofexpandingandcontractinghisbody。
Butitwasthedragonandnothingelse,whosesixwingswerecarryinghimforwardasfastasmightbe,consideringhisgreatweightandthelengthofhistail,whichhadfiftytwistsandahalf。
Hecamequickly,yes;butthefrog,mountedonagreyhound,andwearinghercaponherhead,wentquickerstill。Enteringaroomwheretheprincewassittinggazingattheportraitofhisbetrothed,shecriedtohim:
\'Whatareyoudoinglingeringhere,whenthelifeoftheprincessisnearingitslastmoment？Inthecourtyardyouwillfindagreenhorsewiththreeheadsandtwelvefeet,andbyitssideaswordeighteenyardslong。Hasten,lestyoushouldbetoolate！\'
Thefightlastedallday,andtheprince\'sstrengthwaswell—nighspent,whenthedragon,thinkingthatthevictorywaswon,openedhisjawstogivearoaroftriumph。Theprincesawhischance,andbeforehisfoecouldshuthismouthagainhadplungedhisswordfardownhisadversary\'sthroat。Therewasadesperateclutchingoftheclawstotheearth,aslowflaggingofthegreatwings,thenthemonsterrolledoveronhissideandmovednomore。Muffettewasdelivered。
Afterthistheyallwentbacktothepalace。Themarriagetookplacethefollowingday,andMuffetteandherhusbandlivedhappyforeverafter。
[FromLesContesdesFees,parMadamed\'Aulnoy。]
TheAdventuresofCovantheBrown—HairedOntheshoresofthewest,wherethegreathillsstandwiththeirfeetinthesea,dweltagoatherdandhiswife,togetherwiththeirthreesonsandonedaughter。Alldaylongtheyoungmenfishedandhunted,whiletheirsistertookoutthekidstopastureonthemountain,orstayedathomehelpinghermotherandmendingthenets。
Forseveralyearstheyalllivedhappilytogether,whenoneday,asthegirlwasoutonthehillwiththekids,thesungrewdarkandanaircoldasathickwhitemistcamecreeping,creepingupfromthesea。
Sherosewithashiver,andtriedtocalltoherkids,butthevoicediedawayinherthroat,andstrongarmsseemedtoholdher。
Loudwerethewailsinthehutbytheseawhenthehourspassedonandthemaidencamenot。Manytimesthefatherandbrothersjumpedup,thinkingtheyheardhersteps,butinthethickdarknesstheycouldscarcelyseetheirownhands,norcouldtheytellwheretheriverlay,norwherethemountain。Onebyonethekidscamehome,andateverybleatsomeonehurriedtoopenthedoor,butnosoundbrokethestillness。Throughthenightnooneslept,andwhenmorningbrokeandthemistrolledback,theysoughtthemaidenbyseaandbyland,butneveratraceofhercouldbefoundanywhere。
Thusayearandadayslippedby,andattheendofitGorlaoftheFlocksandhiswifeseemedsuddenlytohavegrownold。Theirsonstooweresadderthanbefore,fortheylovedtheirsisterwell,andhadneverceasedtomournforher。AtlengthArdantheeldestspokeandsaid:
\'Itisnowayearandadaysinceoursisterwastakenfromus,andwehavewaitedingriefandpatienceforhertoreturn。Surelysomeevilhasbefallenher,orshewouldhavesentusatokentoputourheartsatrest;andIhavevowedtomyselfthatmyeyesshallnotknowsleeptill,livingordead,Ihavefoundher。\'
\'Ifyouhavevowed,thenmustyoukeepyourvow,\'answeredGorla。\'Butbetterhaditbeenifyouhadfirstaskedyourfather\'sleavebeforeyoumadeit。Yet,sinceitisso,yourmotherwillbakeyouacakeforyoutocarrywithyouonyourjourney。Whocantellhowlongitmaybe？\'
Sothemotheraroseandbakednotonecakebuttwo,abigoneandalittleone。
\'Choose,myson,\'saidshe。\'Willyouhavethelittlecakewithyourmother\'sblessing,orthebigonewithoutit,inthatyouhavesetasideyourfatherandtakenonyourselftomakeavow？\'
\'Iwillhavethelargecake,\'answeredtheyouth;\'forwhatgoodwouldmymother\'sblessingdoformeifIwasdyingofhunger？\'Andtakingthebigcakehewenthisway。
Straightonhestrode,lettingneitherhillnorriverhinderhim。
Swiftlyhewalked——swiftlyasthewindthatblewdownthemountain。
Theeaglesandthegullslookedonfromtheirnestsashepassed,leavingthedeerbehindhim;butatlengthhestopped,forhungerhadseizedonhim,andhecouldwalknomore。Tremblingwithfatiguehesathimselfonarockandbrokeapieceoffhiscake。
\'Sparemeamorsel,ArdansonofGorla,\'askedaraven,flutteringdowntowardshim。
\'Seekfoodelsewhere,Obearerofill—news,\'answeredArdansonofGorla;\'itisbutlittleIhaveformyself。\'Andhestretchedhimselfoutforafewmoments,thenrosetohisfeetagain。Onandonwenthetillthelittlebirdsflewtotheirnests,andthebrightnessdiedoutofthesky,andadarknessfellovertheearth。Onandon,andon,tillatlasthesawabeamoflightstreamingfromahouseandhastenedtowardsit。
Thedoorwasopenedandheentered,butpausedwhenhebeheldanoldmanlyingonabenchbythefire,whileseatedoppositehimwasamaidencombingoutthelocksofhergoldenhairwithacombofsilver。
\'Welcome,fairyouth,\'saidtheoldman,turninghishead。\'Sitdownandwarmyourself,andtellmehowfarestheouterworld。ItislongsinceIhaveseenit。\'
\'AllmynewsisthatIamseekingservice,\'answeredArdansonofGorla;\'Ihavecomefromfarsincesunrise,andgladwasItoseetheraysofyourlampstreamintothedarkness。\'
\'Ineedsomeonetoherdmythreeduncows,whicharehornless,\'saidtheoldman。\'If,forthespaceofayear,youcanbringthembacktomeeacheveningbeforethesunsets,Iwillmakeyoupaymentthatwillsatisfyyoursoul。\'
Butherethegirllookedupandansweredquickly:
\'Illwillcomeofitifhelistenstoyouroffer。\'
\'Counselunsoughtisworthnothing,\'replied,rudely,ArdansonofGorla。\'ItwouldbelittleindeedthatIamfitforifIcannotdrivethreecowsouttopastureandkeepthemsafefromthewolvesthatmaycomedownfromthemountains。Therefore,goodfather,Iwilltakeservicewithyouatdaybreak,andasknopaymenttillthenewyeardawns。\'
Nextmorningthebellofthedeerwasnotheardamongstthefernbeforethemaidenwiththehairofgoldhadmilkedthecows,andledtheminfrontofthecottagewheretheoldmanandArdansonofGorlaawaitedthem。
\'Letthemwanderwheretheywill,\'hesaidtohisservant,\'andneverseektoturnthemfromtheirway,forwelltheyknowthefieldsofgoodpasture。Buttakeheedtofollowalwaysbehindthem,andsuffernothingthatyousee,andnoughtthatyouhear,todrawyouintoleavingthem。Nowgo,andmaywisdomgowithyou。\'
Asheceasedspeakinghetouchedoneofthecowsonherforehead,andshesteppedalongthepath,withthetwoothersoneoneachside。Ashehadbeenbidden,behindthemcameArdansonofGorla,rejoicinginhisheartthatworksoeasyhadfallentohislot。Attheyear\'send,thoughthe,enoughmoneywouldlieinhispockettocarryhimintofarcountrieswherehissistermightbe,and,inthemeanwhile,someonemightcomepastwhocouldgivehimtidingsofher。
Thushespoketohimself,whenhiseyesfellonagoldencockandasilverhenrunningswiftlyalongthegrassinfrontofhim。Inamomentthewordsthattheoldmanhadutteredvanishedfromhismindandhegavechase。Theyweresonearthathecouldalmostseizetheirtails,yeteachtimehefeltsurehecouldcatchthemhisfingersclosedontheemptyair。Atlengthhecouldrunnomore,andstoppedtobreathe,whilethecockandhenwentonasbefore。Thenherememberedthecows,and,somewhatfrightened,turnedbacktoseekthem。Luckilytheyhadnotstrayedfar,andwerequietlyfeedingonthethickgreengrass。
ArdansonofGorlawassittingunderatree,whenhebeheldastaffofgoldandastaffofsilverdoublingthemselvesinstrangewaysonthemeadowinfrontofhim,andstartinguphehastenedtowardsthem。Hefollowedthemtillhewastired,buthecouldnotcatchthem,thoughtheyseemedeverwithinhisreach。Whenatlasthegaveupthequesthiskneestrembledbeneathhimforveryweariness,andgladwashetoseeatreegrowingclosebyladewithfruitsofdifferentsorts,ofwhichheategreedily。
Thesunwasbynowlowintheheavens,andthecowsleftofffeeding,andturnedtheirfaceshomeagain,followedbyArdansonofGorla。Atthedooroftheirstablethemaidenstoodawaitingthem,andsayingnoughttotheirherd,shesatdownandbegantomilk。Butitwasnotmilkthatflowedintoherpail;insteaditwasfilledwithathinstreamofwater,andassheroseupfromthelastcowtheoldmanappearedoutside。
\'Faithlessone,youhavebetrayedyourtrust！\'hesaidtoArdansonofGorla。\'Notevenforonedaycouldyoukeeptrue！Well,youshallhaveyourrewardatonce,thatothersmaytakewarningfromyou。\'Andwavinghiswandhetouchedwithitthechestoftheyouth,whobecameapillarofstone。
NowGorlaoftheFlocksandhiswifewerefullofgriefthattheyhadlostasonaswellasadaughter,fornotidingshadcometothemofArdantheireldestborn。Atlength,whentwoyearsandtwodayshadpassedsincethemaidenhadledherkidstofeedonthemountainandhadbeenseennomore,Ruais,secondsonofGorla,roseuponemorning,andsaid:
\'TimeislongwithoutmysisterandArdanmybrother。SoIhavevowedtoseekthemwherevertheymaybe。\'
Andhisfatheranswered:
\'Betterithadbeenifyouhadfirstaskedmyconsentandthatofyourmother;butasyouhavevowedsomustyoudo。\'Thenhebadehiswifemakeacake,butinsteadshemadetwo,andofferedRuaishischoice,asshehaddonetoArdan。LikeArdan,Ruaischosethelarge,unblessedcake,andsetforthonhisway,doingalways,thoughheknewitnot,thatwhichArdanhaddone;so,needlessisittotellwhatbefellhimtillhetoostood,apillarofstone,onthehillbehindthecottage,sothatallmenmightseethefatethatawaitedthosewhobroketheirfaith。
Anotheryearandadaypassedby,whenCovantheBrown—haired,youngestsonofGorlaoftheFlocks,onemorningspaketohisparents,saying:
\'Itismorethanthreeyearssincemysisterleftus。Mybrothershavealsogone,nooneknowwhither,andofusfournoneremainsbutI。No,therefore,Ilongtoseekthem,andIprayyouandmymothertoplacenohindranceinmyway。\'
Andhisfatheranswered:
\'Go,then,andtakeourblessingwithyou。\'
SothewifeofGorlaoftheFlocksbakedtwocakes,onelargeandonesmall;andCovantookthesmallone,andstartedonhisquest。Inthewoodhefelthungry,forhehadwalkedfar,andhesatdowntoeat。
Suddenlyavoicebehindhimcried:
\'Abitforme！abitforme！\'Andlookingroundhebeheldtheblackravenofthewilderness。
\'Yes,youshallhaveabit,\'saidCovantheBrown—haired;andbreakingoffapiecehestretcheditupwardstotheraven,whoateitgreedily。
ThenCovanaroseandwentforward,tillhesawthelightfromthecottagestreamingbeforehim,andgladwashe,fornightwasathand。
\'MaybeIshallfindsomeworkthere,\'hethought,\'andatleastIshallgainmoneytohelpmeinmysearch;forwhoknowshowfarmysisterandmybrothersmayhavewandered？\'
Thedoorstoodopenandheentered,andtheoldmangavehimwelcome,andthegolden—hairedmaidenlikewise。Ashappenedbefore,hewasofferedbytheoldmantoherdhiscows;and,asshehaddonetohisbrothers,themaidencounselledhimtoleavesuchworkalone。But,insteadofansweringrudely,likebothArdanandRuais,hethankedher,withcourtesy,thoughhehadnomindtoheedher;andhelistenedtothewarningsandwordsofhisnewmaster。
Nextdayhesetforthatdawnwiththeduncowsinfrontofhim,andfollowedpatientlywherevertheymightleadhim。Onthewayhesawthegoldcockandsilverhen,whichranevenclosertohimthantheyhaddonetohisbrothers。Sorelytempted,helongedtogivethemchase;
but,rememberingintimethathehadbeenbiddentolookneithertotherightnortotheleft,withamightyeffortheturnedhiseyesaway。
Thenthegoldandsilverstaffsseemedtospringfromtheearthbeforehim,butthistimealsoheovercame;andthoughthefruitfromthemagictreealmosttouchedhismouth,hebrusheditasideandwentsteadilyon。
Thatdaythecowswanderedfatherthanevertheyhaddonebefore,andneverstoppedtilltheyhadreachedamoorwheretheheatherwasburning。Thefirewasfierce,butthecowstooknoheed,andwalkedsteadilythroughit,CovantheBrown—hairedfollowingthem。Nexttheyplungedintoafoamingriver,andCovanplungedinafterthem,thoughthewatercamehighabovehiswaist。Ontheothersideoftheriverlayawideplain,andherethecowslaydown,whileCovanlookedabouthim。Nearhimwasahousebuiltofyellowstone,andfromitcamesweetsongs,andCovanlistened,andhisheartgrewlightwithinhim。
Whilehewasthuswaitingthereranuptohimayouth,scarcelyabletospeaksoswiftlyhadhesped;andhecriedaloud:
\'Hasten,hasten,CovantheBrown—haired,foryourcowsareinthecorn,andyoumustdrivethemout！\'
\'Nay,\'saidCovansmiling,\'ithadbeeneasierforyoutohavedriventhemoutthantocomeheretotellme。\'Andhewentonlisteningtothemusic。
Verysoonthesameyouthreturnedandcriedwithpantingbreath:
\'Outuponyou,CovansonofGorla,thatyoustandthereagape。Forourdogsarechasingyourcows,andyoumustdrivethemoff！\'
\'Nay,then,\'answeredCovanasbefore,\'ithadbeeneasierforyoutocalloffyourdogsthantocomeheretotellme。\'Andhestayedwherehewastillthemusicceased。
Thenheturnedtolookforthecows,andfoundthemalllyingintheplacewherehehadleftthem;butwhentheysawCovantheyroseupandwalkedhomewards,takingadifferentpathtothattheyhadtrodinthemorning。Thistimetheypassedoveraplainsobarethatapincouldnothavelainthereunnoticed,yetCovanbeheldwithsurpriseafoalanditsmotherfeedingthere,bothasfatasiftheyhadpasturedontherichestgrass。Furtherontheycrossedanotherplain,wherethegrasswasthickandgreen,butonitwerefeedingafoalanditsmother,soleanthatyoucouldhavecountedtheirribs。Andfurtheragainthepathledthembytheshoresofalakewhereonwerefloatingtwoboats;onefullofgayandhappyyouths,journeyingtothelandoftheSun,andanotherwithgrimshapesclothedinblack,travellingtothelandofNight。
\'Whatcanthesethingsmean？\'saidCovantohimself,ashefollowedhiscows。
Darknessnowfell,thewindhowled,andtorrentsofrainpoureduponthem。Covanknewnothowfartheymightyethavetogo,orindeediftheywereontherightroad。Hecouldnotevenseehiscows,andhisheartsanklest,afterall,heshouldhavefailedtobringthemsafelyback。Whatwashetodo？
Hewaitedthus,forhecouldgoneitherforwardsnorbackwards,tillhefeltagreatfriendlypawlaidonhisshoulder。
\'Mycaveisjusthere,\'saidtheDogofMaol—mor,ofwhomCovansonofGorlahadheardmuch。\'Spendthenighthere,andyoushallbefedonthefleshoflamb,andshalllayasidethree—thirdsofthyweariness。\'
AndCovanentered,andsupped,andslept,andinthemorningroseupanewman。
\'Farewell,Covan,\'saidtheDogofMaol—mor。\'Maysuccessgowithyou,foryoutookwhatIhadtogiveanddidnotmockme。So,whendangerisyourcompanion,wishforme,andIwillnotfailyou。\'
AtthesewordstheDogofMaol—mordisappearedintotheforest,andCovanwenttoseekhiscows,whichwerestandinginthehollowwherethedarknesshadcomeuponthem。
AtthesightofCovantheBrown—hairedtheywalkedonwards,Covanfollowingeverbehindthem,andlookingneithertotherightnortotheleft。Allthatdaytheywalked,andwhennightfelltheywereinabarrenplain,withonlyrocksforshelter。
\'Wemustresthereasbestwecan,\'spokeCovantothecows。Andtheybowedtheirheadsandlaydownintheplacewheretheystood。ThencametheblackravenofCorri—nan—creag,whoseeyesneverclosed,andwhosewingsnevertired;andheflutteredbeforethefaceofCovanandtoldhimthatheknewofacrannyintherockwheretherewasfoodinplenty,andsoftmossforabed。
\'Gowithmethither,\'hesaidtoCovan,\'andyoushalllayasidethree—thirdsofyourweariness,anddepartinthemorningrefreshed,\'
andCovanlistenedthankfullytohiswords,andatdawnheroseuptoseekhiscows。
\'Farewell！\'criedtheblackraven。\'Youtrustedme,andtookallIhadtoofferinreturnforthefoodyouoncegaveme。Soifintimetocomeyouneedafriend,wishforme,andIwillnotfailyou。\'
Asbefore,thecowswerestandinginthespotwherehehadleftthem,readytosetout。Allthatdaytheywalked,onandon,andon,CovansonofGorlawalkingbehindthem,tillnightfellwhiletheywereonthebanksofariver。
\'Wecangonofurther,\'spakeCovantothecows。Andtheybegantoeatthegrassbythesideofthestream,whileCovanlistenedtothemandlongedforsomesupperalso,fortheyhadtravelledfar,andhislimbswereweakunderhim。Thentherewasaswishofwaterathisfeet,andoutpeepedtheheadofthefamousotterDoran—donnofthestream。
\'TrusttomeandIwillfindyouwarmthandshelter,\'saidDoran—donn;
\'andforfoodfishinplenty。\'AndCovanwentwithhimthankfully,andateandrested,andlaidasidethree—thirdsofhisweariness。Atsunrisehelefthisbedofdriedsea—weed,whichhadfloatedupwiththetide,andwithagratefulheartbadefarewelltoDoran—donn。
\'BecauseyoutrustedmeandtookwhatIhadtooffer,youhavemademeyourfriend,Covan,\'saidDoran—donn。\'Andifyoushouldbeindanger,andneedhelpfromonewhocanswimariverordivebeneathawave,calltomeandIwillcometoyou。\'Thenheplungedintothestream,andwasseennomore。
ThecowswerestandingreadyintheplacewhereCovanhadleftthem,andtheyjourneyedonallthatday,till,whennightfell,theyreachedthecottage。Joyfulindeedwastheoldmanasthecowswentintotheirstables,andhebeheldtherichmilkthatflowedintothepailofthegolden—hairedmaidenwiththesilvercomb。
\'Youhavedonewellindeed,\'hesaidtoCovansonofGorla。\'Andnow,whatwouldyouhaveasareward？\'
\'Iwantnothingformyself,\'answeredCovantheBrown—haired;\'butI
askyoutogivemebackmybrothersandmysisterwhohavebeenlosttousforthreeyearspast。Youarewiseandknowtheloreoffairiesandofwitches;tellmewhereIcanfindthem,andwhatImustdotobringthemtolifeagain。\'
TheoldmanlookedgraveatthewordsofCovan。
\'Yes,trulyIknowwheretheyare,\'answeredhe,\'andIsaynotthattheymaynotbebroughttolifeagain。Buttheperilsaregreat——toogreatforyoutoovercome。\'
\'Tellmewhattheyare,\'saidCovanagain,\'andIshallknowbetterifImayovercomethem。\'
\'Listen,then,andjudge。Inthemountainyondertheredwellsaroe,whiteoffoot,withhornsthatbranchliketheantlersofadeer。OnthelakethatleadstothelandoftheSunfloatsaduckwhosebodyisgreenandwhoseneckisofgold。InthepoolofCorri—Buiswimsasalmonwithaskinthatshineslikesilver,andwhosegillsarered——bringthemalltome,andthenyoushallknowwheredwellyourbrothersandyoursister！\'
\'To—morrowatcock—crowIwillbegone！\'answeredCovan。
Thewaytothemountainlaystraightbeforehim,andwhenhehadclimbedhighhecaughtsightoftheroewiththewhitefeetandthespottedsides,onthepeakinfront。
Fullofhopehesetoutinpursuitofher,butbythetimehehadreachedthatpeakshehadleftitandwastobeseenonanother。Andsoitalwayshappened,andCovan\'scouragehadwell—nighfailedhim,whenthethoughtoftheDogofMaol—mordartedintohismind。
\'Oh,thathewashere！\'hecried。Andlookinguphesawhim。
\'Whydidyousummonme？\'askedtheDogofMaol—mor。AndwhenCovanhadtoldhimofhistrouble,andhowtheroealwaysledhimfurtherandfurther,theDogonlyanswered:
\'Fearnothing;Iwillsooncatchherforyou。\'AndinashortwhilehelaidtheroeunhurtatCovan\'sfeet。