Page:Tales of a Voyager to the Arctic Ocean, vol. 3 (1826).djvu/316

 so that, though there were many roads and passages between these rocks, still they were rendered unsafe for horses by these lesser stones.

“The hunters had scarcely entered this region before they lost sight of their game; but, hoping to regain the scent, they dashed forward amongst the pathways, and, after a short time saw the brute turning round a corner. This tempted them still further, till, after bewildering themselves amidst the intricacies of this desert, they gave over the pursuit, having ceased for some time to see the monster, and, indeed, it was growing so dark, that they would not have been long able to view it had it been before them.

“They now thought of returning home to Fiendenheim, and turned their horses the way contrary to that which they had come, and, as they rode along, wondering what kind of beast they had chased, they found that their exertion had both fatigued them and made them excessively thirsty. Accordingly, they resolved to take a full draught from the stream when they reached it, and agreed to ask permission of the lord of that domain to bring their whole troop on the following day, to give full pursuit to so dangerous a monster. They were talking about the dogs and weapons they would bring