huge black mountains that stretched themselves across his
way, and came to a pleasant country all dotted with white
farmhouses, and yellow with waving, corn. But he tarried not
here, though many kind words were spoken to him, and all
besought him to stay. Right onwards he went, until he
reached the waste land which borders the sounding sea. And
there high mountains stood, with snow-crowned crags beetling
over the waves; and a great river, all foaming with the
summer floods, went rolling through the valley. And in the
deep dales between the mountains were rich meadows, green
with grass, and speckled with thousands of flowers of every
hue, where herds of cattle and deer, and noble elks, and
untamed horses, fed in undisturbed peace. And Siegfried,
when he saw, knew that these were the pastures of Gripir the
ancient.

High up among the gray mountain-peaks stood Gripir's
dwelling,--a mighty house, made of huge bowlders brought by
giant hands from the far north-land. And the wild eagle,
built their nests around it, and the mountain vultures
screamed about its doors. But Siegfried was not afraid. He
climbed the steep pathway which the feet of men had never
touched before, and, without pausing, walked straightway
into the high-built hall. The room was so dark that at first
he could see nothing save the white walls, and the
glass-green pillars which upheld the roof. But the light
grew stronger soon; and Siegfried saw, beneath a heavy
canopy of stone, the ancient Gripir, seated in a chair made
from the sea-horse's teeth.[EN#9] And the son of the giants
held in his hand an ivory staff; and a purple mantle was