Page:The Enchanted Knights; or The Chronicle of the Three Sisters.djvu/48

36 the train flew through forests and deserts, over steppes, over plains, over mountains and rocks, through vallies and rivers, without cease, without rest, galloping full speed. Having thus proceeded for an hour, dark night began to lift her sombre veil, the heavenly lights, already pale, then slowly disappeared; all on a sudden now, as if through magic power, the child of wonder found himself thrown on Nature’s verdant carpet, and horse and man and equipage were gone—he knew not how—not where, but, by the glimmer of the morning sun, he saw six coal-black ants drawing an empty nut-shell to a neigbouring ant-hill.

The manly knight knew very well how to explain this venture, and took good care to crush none of the ants. He quietly awaited sun-rise, and, being still close to the forest decided upon seeing his younger sisters, and should he fail in breaking the spell that bound them, he would at least enjoy the pleasure of the meeting.

He was erring for three days in the forest without encountering adventure, and had just consumed the last morsel of the food from Albert’s banquet, when he heard a sound high in the air, resembling that of a ship with spread sails ploughing the foaming main. He looked up, and lo! a powerful eagle was descend-