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。