"The princess was now safe. It would be an easy matter for her to
reach her lover's side.

"As for the giant, he tried to follow Brunhilda across the chasm.
But he was too heavy and his horse failed to reach the mark. The two
sank together to the bottom of the precipice."

Every one thanked the story-teller, and begged him to tell more of
the Hartz Mountains, where he had spent his boyhood days. The
children were delighted when he spoke of the gnomes, in whom he
believed when he was a child.

"Every time I went out in the dark woods," he said, "I was on the
lookout for these funny little fairies of the underground world. I
wanted to see them, but at the same time I was afraid I should meet
them.

"I remember one time that my mother sent me on an errand through the
woods at twilight. I was in the thickest part of the woods, when I
heard a sound that sent a shiver down my back.

"'It is a witch, or some other dreadful being,' I said to myself.
'Nothing else could make a sound like that.' My teeth chattered. My
legs shook so, I could hardly move. Somehow or other, I managed to
keep on. It seemed as though hours passed before I saw the lights of
the village. Yet I suppose it was not more than fifteen minutes.

"When I was once more safe inside my own home, I told my father and
mother about my fright.