第14章

Some weeks after this, in the twilight of evening, Sintram, very disturbed, came down to the castle-garden.Although the presence of Gabrielle never failed to soothe and calm him, yet if she left the apartment for even a few instants, the fearful wildness of his spirit seemed to return with renewed strength.So even now, after having long and kindly read legends of the olden times to his father Biorn, she had retired to her chamber.The tones of her lute could be distinctly heard in the garden below; but the sounds only drove the bewildered youth more impetuously through the shades of the ancient elms.Stooping suddenly to avoid some overhanging branches, he unexpectedly came upon something against which he had almost struck, and which, at first sight, he took for a small bear standing on its hind legs, with a long and strangely crooked horn on its head.He drew back in surprise and fear.It addressed him in a grating man's voice: "Well, my brave young knight, whence come you? whither go you?

wherefore so terrified?" And then first he saw that he had before him a little old man so wrapped up in a rough garment of fur, that scarcely one of his features was visible, and wearing in his cap a strange-looking long feather.

"But whence come YOU and whither go YOU?" returned the angry Sintram.

"For of you such questions should be asked.What have you to do in our domains, you hideous little being?""Well, well," sneered the other one, "I am thinking that I am quite big enough as I am--one cannot always be a giant.And as to the rest, why should you find fault that I go here hunting for snails?

Surely snails do not belong to the game which your high mightinesses consider that you alone have a right to follow! Now, on the other hand, I know how to prepare from them an excellent high-flavoured drink; and I have taken enough for to-day: marvellous fat little beasts, with wise faces like a man's, and long twisted horns on their heads.Would you like to see them? Look here!"And then he began to unfasten and fumble about his fur garment; but Sintram, filled with disgust and horror, said, "Psha! I detest such animals! Be quiet, and tell me at once who and what you yourself are.""Are you so bent upon knowing my name?" replied the little man.

"Let it content you that I am master of all secret knowledge, and well versed in the most intricate depths of ancient history.Ah! my young sir, if you would only hear them! But you are afraid of me.""Afraid of you!" cried Sintram, with a wild laugh.