The Nixy

nixy rose up in the water,

and seizing him in her wet arms she dragged him down with her under

the waves.

When the hunter did not come home in the evening his wife grew very

anxious, and when his game bag was found close to the mill-pond she

guessed at once what had befallen him. She was nearly beside herself

with grief, and roamed round and round the pond calling on her husband

without ceasing. At last, worn out with sorrow and fatigue, she fell

asleep and dreamt that she was wandering along a flowery meadow, when

she came to a hut where she found an old witch, who promised to

restore her husband to her.

When she awoke next morning she determined to set out and find the

witch; so she wandered on for many a day, and at last she reached the

flowery meadow and found the hut where the old witch lived. The poor

wife told her all that had happened and how she had been told in a

dream of the witch’s power to help her.

The witch counselled her to go to the pond the first time there was a

full moon, and to comb her black hair with a golden comb, and then to

place the comb on the bank. The hunter’s wife gave the witch a

handsome present, thanked her heartily, and returned home.

Time dragged heavily till the time of the full moon, but it passed at

last, and as soon as it rose the young wife went to the pond, combed

her black hair with a golden comb, and when she had finished, placed

the comb on the bank; then she watched the water impatiently. Soon she

heard a rushing sound, and a big wave rose suddenly and swept the comb

off the bank, and a minute after the head of her husband rose from the

pond and gazed sadly at her. But immediately another wave came, and

the head sank back into the water without having said a word. The pond

lay still and motionless, glittering in the moonshine, and the

hunter’s wife was not a bit better off than she had been before.

In despair she wandered about for days and nights, and at last, worn

out by fatigue, she sank once more into a deep sleep, and dreamt

exactly the same dream about the old witch. So next morning she went

again to the flowery meadow and sought the witch in her hut, and told

her of her grief. The old woman counselled her to go to the mill-pond

the next full moon and play upon a golden flute, and then to lay the

flute on the bank.

As soon as the next moon was full the hunter’s wife went to the

mill-pond, played on a golden flute, and when she had finished placed

it on the bank. Then a rushing sound was heard, and a wave swept the

flute off the bank, and soon the head of the hunter appeared and rose

up higher and higher till he was half out of the water. Then he gazed

sadly at his wife and stretched out his arms towards her. But another

rushing wave arose and dragged him under once more. The hunter’s wife,

who had stood on the bank full of joy and hope, sank into despair when

she saw her husband snatched away again before her eyes.

But for her comfort she dreamt the same dream a third time, and betook

herself once more to the old witch’s hut in the flowery meadow. This

time the old woman told her to go the next full moon to the mill-pond,

and to spin there with a golden spinning-wheel, and then to leave the

spinning-wheel on the bank.

The hunter’s wife did as she was advised, and the first night the moon

was full she sat and spun with a golden spinning-wheel, and then left

the wheel on the bank. In a few minutes a rushing sound was heard in

the waters, and a wave swept the spinning-wheel from the bank.

Immediately the head of the hunter rose up from the pond, getting

higher and higher each moment, till at length he stepped on to the

bank and fell on his wife’s neck.

But the waters of the pond rose up suddenly, overflowed the bank where

the couple stood, and dragged them under the flood. In her despair the

young wife called on the old witch to help her, and in a moment the

hunter was turned into a frog and his wife into a toad. But they were

not able to remain together, for the water tore them apart, and when

the flood was over they both resumed their own shapes again, but the

hunter and the hunter’s wife found themselves each in a strange

country, and neither knew what had become of the other.

[Illustration: ‘A wave swept the spinning-wheel from the bank’]

The hunter determined to become a shepherd, and his wife too became a

shepherdess. So they herded their sheep for many years in solitude and

sadness.

Now it happened once that the shepherd came to the country where the

shepherdess lived. The neighbourhood pleased him, and he saw that the

pasture was rich and suitable for his flocks. So he brought his sheep

there, and herded them as before. The shepherd and shepherdess became

great friends, but they did not recognise each other in the least.

But one evening when the moon was full they sat together watching

their flocks, and the shepherd played upon his flute. Then the

shepherdess thought of that evening when she had sat at the full moon

by the mill-pond and had played on the golden flute; the recollection

was too much for her, and she burst into tears. The shepherd asked her

why she was crying, and left her no peace till she told him all her

story. Then the scales fell from the shepherd’s eyes, and he

recognised his wife, and she him. So they returned joyfully to their

own home, and lived in peace and happiness ever after.

THE GLASS MOUNTAIN[16]

Once upon a time there was a Glass Mountain at the top of which stood

a castle made of pure gold, and in front of the castle there grew an

apple-tree on which there were golden apples.

Anyone who picked an apple gained admittance into the golden castle,

and there in a silver room sat an enchanted Princess of surpassing

fairness and beauty. She was as rich too as she was beautiful, for the

cellars of the castle were full of precious stones, and great chests

of the finest gold stood round the walls of all the rooms.

Many knights had come from afar to try their luck, but it was in vain

they attempted to climb the mountain. In spite of having their horses

shod with sharp nails, no one managed to get more than half-way up,

and then they all fell back right down to the bottom of the steep

slippery hill. Sometimes they broke an arm, sometimes a leg, and many

a brave man had broken his neck even.

The beautiful Princess sat at her window and watched the bold knights

trying to reach her on their splendid horses. The sight of her always

gave men fresh courage, and they flocked from the four quarters of the

globe to attempt the work of rescuing her. But all in vain, and for

seven years the Princess had sat now and waited for some one to scale

the Glass Mountain.

A heap of corpses both of riders and horses lay round the mountain,

and many dying men lay groaning there unable to go any farther with

their wounded limbs. The whole neighbourhood had the appearance of a

vast churchyard. In three more days the seven years would be at an

end, when a knight in golden armour and mounted on a spirited steed

was seen making his way towards the fatal hill.

[Footnote 16: From the Polish. Kletke.]

Sticking his spurs into his horse he made a rush at the mountain, and

got up half-way, then he calmly turned his horse’s head and came down

again without a slip or stumble. The following day he started in the

same way; the horse trod on the glass as if it had been level earth,

and sparks of fire flew from its hoofs. All the other knights gazed in

astonishment, for he had almost gained the summit, and in another

moment he would have reached the apple-tree; but of a sudden a huge

eagle rose up and spread its mighty wings, hitting as it did so the

knight’s horse in the eye. The beast shied, opened its wide nostrils

and tossed its mane, then rearing high up in the air, its hind feet

slipped and it fell with its rider down the steep mountain side.

Nothing was left of either of them except their bones, which rattled

in the battered golden armour like dry peas in a pod.

And now there was only one more day before the close of the seven

years. Then there arrived on the scene a mere schoolboy—a merry,

happy-hearted youth, but at the same time strong and well-grown. He

saw how many knights had broken their necks in vain, but undaunted he

approached the steep mountain on foot and began the ascent.

For long he had heard his parents speak of the beautiful Princess who

sat in the golden castle at the top of the Glass Mountain. He listened

to all he heard, and determined that he too would try his luck. But

first he went to the forest and caught a lynx, and cutting off the

creature’s sharp claws, he fastened them on to his own hands and feet.

Armed with these weapons he boldly started up the Glass Mountain. The

sun was nearly going down, and the youth had not got more than

half-way up. He could hardly draw breath he was so worn out, and his

mouth was parched by thirst. A huge black cloud passed over his head,

but in vain did he beg and beseech her to let a drop of water fall on

him. He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as

much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips.

His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with

his hands. Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he

could behold the top of the mountain. Then he gazed beneath him, and

what a sight met his eyes! A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible

death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and

riders! And this had been the end of all the other brave men who like

himself had attempted the ascent.

[Illustration: The boy attacked by the eagle on the Glass Mountain]

It was almost pitch dark now, and only the stars lit up the Glass

Mountain. The poor boy still clung on as if glued to the glass by his

blood-stained hands. He made no struggle to get higher, for all his

strength had left him, and seeing no hope he calmly awaited death.

Then all of a sudden he fell into a deep sleep, and forgetful of his

dangerous position, he slumbered sweetly. But all the same, although

he slept, he had stuck his sharp claws so firmly into the glass that

he was quite safe not to fall.

Now the golden apple-tree was guarded by the eagle which had

overthrown the golden knight and his horse. Every night it flew round

the Glass Mountain keeping a careful look-out, and no sooner had the

moon emerged from the clouds than the bird rose up from the

apple-tree, and circling round in the air, caught sight of the

sleeping youth.

Greedy for carrion, and sure that this must be a fresh corpse, the

bird swooped down upon the boy. But he was awake now, and perceiving

the eagle, he determined by its help to save himself.

The eagle dug its sharp claws into the tender flesh of the youth, but

he bore the pain without a sound, and seized the bird’s two feet with

his hands. The creature in terror lifted him high up into the air and

began to circle round the tower of the castle. The youth held on

bravely. He saw the glittering palace, which by the pale rays of the

moon looked like a dim lamp; and he saw the high windows, and round

one of them a balcony in which the beautiful Princess sat lost in sad

thoughts. Then the boy saw that he was close to the apple-tree, and

drawing a small knife from his belt, he cut off both the eagle’s feet.

The bird rose up in the air in its agony and vanished into the clouds,

and the youth fell on to the broad branches of the apple-tree.

Then he drew out the claws of the eagle’s feet that had remained in

his flesh, and put the peel of one of the golden apples on the wound,

and in one moment it was healed and well again. He pulled several of

the beautiful apples and put them in his pocket; then he entered the

castle. The door was guarded by a great dragon, but as soon as he

threw an apple at it, the beast vanished.

At the same moment a gate opened, and the youth perceived a courtyard

full of flowers and beautiful trees, and on a balcony sat the lovely

enchanted Princess with her retinue.

As soon as she saw the youth, she ran towards him and greeted him as

her husband and master. She gave him all her treasures, and the youth

became a rich and mighty ruler. But he never returned to the earth,

for only the mighty eagle, who had been the guardian of the Princess

and of the castle, could have carried on his wings the enormous

treasure down to the world. But as the eagle had lost its feet it

died, and its body was found in a wood on the Glass Mountain.

*    *    *    *    *

One day when the youth was strolling about in the palace garden with

the Princess, his wife, he looked down over the edge of the