Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/81

 at the very spot where three months before he had boldly jumped into the water; his shield and armour were lying in the same place, with his spear stuck upright beside them, just as he had left them. But, nothing daunted, nay, encouraged, he vowed to take no rest until he held the key of the enchantments in his hand. 

HO will tell me the nearest way, who will direct my feet to the right path that leads to the most wonderful of all the marvels of this boundless forest? O, ye translunar powers! look down upon me favourably, and if a son of earth is destined to break this mighty spell, then let me be the favoured mortal!”

So spoke Reinald as, quite absorbed in his reflections, he followed his difficult way deeper and deeper into the forest. For seven days did he wander through the interminable wilderness, without a thought of fear; for seven nights did he sleep under the canopy of heaven, so that his weapons had grown rusty with the dew. On the eighth day he climbed a steep rock, from whose summit he looked down upon a