Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/359

Rh that not so much as a mouse could get through the wall. As for the master-mason, he was well paid, and gave his word to fly the land; but he didn't, for he stayed where he was. Then the princess was thrown into that dungeon with her maid, and when they were inside the queen walled up the door, and left only a little hole open at the top to let down food to them. So there she sat and sorrowed, and the time seemed long, and longer than long; but at last she remembered she had her book with her, and took it out and unclasped it. First of all she heard the same sweet strain she had heard before, and then arose a grievous sound of wailing, and just then the Green Knight came.

"I am at death's door," he said; and then he told her that her stepmother had laid poison in the mortar, and he did not know if he should ever come out alive. So when she clasped the book up as fast as she could, she heard the same wailing sound.

But you must know the maid who was shut up with her had a sweetheart, and she sent word to him to go to the master-mason, and beg him to make the hole at top big enough for them to creep out at it. If he would do that, the princess would pay him so well he could live in plenty all his days. Yes, he did so, and they set out and travelled far, far away in strange lands, she and her maid, and wherever they came they asked after the Green Knight.

So after a long, long time they came to a castle which was all hung with black; and just as they were passing by it a shower of rain fell, and so the princess stepped into the church porch to wait till the rain was over.