Page:Tales of a Voyager to the Arctic Ocean, vol. 3 (1826).djvu/313

 that Hendrick might strike it, and Hendrick has done the same, when fortune was on his side. Another reason why there was no quarrel between them, perhaps, was, that they were both equally handsome. Not that they were alike in feature, though they were of the same height; for Wolfgang’s beauty had a boldness in it, which Hendrick’s wanted, but then Hendrick’s countenance was calm and interesting, and as their tempers agreed with their persons, each thought his own exterior the best, so that envy did not threaten to render their friendship of short duration. There is, however, always some stumbling block in the way of perfect happiness, and this the friends met with.

“It chanced, one evening, whilst returning by themselves from the chace, bearing on the points of their spears the heads of two wolves, which they had just slaughtered, that they passed through a deep narrow glen, leading between high rocky banks, from the clefts of which grew out birch and mountain ash trees, in such numbers, as to overshadow their path, and give a wild gloom to the space beneath. They had not reached half way, when they heard a loud growl, and looking carefully round, espied a hideous monster, partly concealed amongst tall stones and low bushes.