giver of peace and plenty.

"Whither away, young prince?" they merrily asked.

"To Regin, the coal-burner, in the deep greenwood," he
answered.

"Then may the good Frey have thee in keeping!" they cried.
"It is a long and lonesome journey." And each one blessed
him as they passed.

It was nearly noon when he drove into the forest, and left
the blooming meadows and the warm sunshine behind him. And
now he urged the donkey forwards with speed; for he knew
that he had lost much precious time, and that many miles
still lay between him and Regin's charcoal-pits. And there
was nothing here amid the thick shadows of the wood to make
him wish to linger; for the ground was damp, and the air was
chilly, and every thing was silent as the grave. And not a
living creature did Siegfried see, save now and then a gray
wolf slinking across the road, or a doleful owl sitting low
down in some tree-top, and blinking at him in the dull but
garish light. Evening at last drew on, and the shadows in
the wood grew deeper; and still no sign of charcoal-burner,
nor of other human being, was seen. Night came, and thick
darkness settled around; and all the demons of the forest
came forth, and clamored and chattered, and shrieked and
howled. But Siegfried was not afraid. The bats and vampires
came out of their hiding-places, and flapped their clammy
wings in his face; and he thought that he saw ogres and many