Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/54

 before him, the mouth of a cavern hollowed out in the rock, in front of which stood what appeared to be a human figure, that seemed to move. The daring Reinald hastened on, and making his way among the trees close up to the spot, surveyed the scene from behind the lofty oaks, and saw a lady sitting on the grass, caressing alittle ugly bear that she held in her lap, while a larger one was gambolling about her, playing all sorts of antics, and toppling in a ludicrous manner, evidently to the lady’s great amusement. From what his mother had told him, Reinald knew that he saw before him his sister Wulfild, and at once sprung forth from his hiding place to make himself known to her. She no sooner perceived the young man than she screamed aloud, let the little bear fall on the grass, and hastily rising, approached the stranger and said to him, with a sorrowful voice and an anxious countenance: “Oh! unhappy youth, what evil star has led thee to this forest? Here lives a fierce bear who eats up every human being that comes near his dwelling. Fly, and save thyself.”

He bowed modestly to the beautiful lady, and answered: “Fear not, sweet mistress; I know this forest and its strange stories, and I am come to break the spell that keeps you here a prisoner.”

“Madman!” cried she, “who art thou that dar’st seek to break this powerful spell, and how think’st thou to perform it?”