The Violet Fairy Book

times he would meet with a young man bent on the same business as himself, and then they would fight in a friendly manner, merely to prove which was the stron

nse forest, and thinking that this promised well at once took the road that led to it. The difficulties he met with — huge rocks to be climbed, deep rivers to be crossed, and thorny tracts to be avoided — only served to make his heart beat quicker, for he was really brave all through, and not merely when he could not help himself, like a great many people. But in spite of

uriously, making the night horrible with their yells. The full moon lighted up the weird scene, and the young warrior gazed with astonishment, taking great care to keep still, lest he should be discovered. After some time he thought that in the midst of all their shrieks he could make out

red huts, beyond which lay a village. Delighted at this discovery, he was about to hasten to the village when he heard a woman’s voice weeping and lamenting, and calling on the men to take pity on her and help her. The sound of her distress made him forget he was hungry, and he strode into th

come for his dinner, and the cries you have heard were utt

aight from her home, they answered no, but that a large cask

dreadful fate. The mention of the chapel set him thinking of the scene of the previous night, and he went

r prince,’ said they; ‘and he lives not far away.’ And they began

charge to a man of whom he knew nothing, but in the end he consented, and the youth led the dog away, promising faithfully to return him next day to his master. He next hurried to the hut where the maiden lived, and entreat

ey had in their midst a huge black cat who seemed to be their king, and whom the young man guessed to be the Spirit of the Mountain. The monster looked eagerly about h

youth ran up and cut off his head with his sword. The other cats were so astonished at the turn things had taken that the

that time the mountain girls were safe, and every year a feast w

Marchen.]