And to his every thought
she answered in words, and that so sweetly and kindly and cleverly that
he was soon without fear, though he saw that she had powerful
_m'teoulin_, or great magic power. And they being soon pleased one
with the other, and wanting each other, she bade him accompany her, and
that by walking directly through the rock. "Have no fear," said she,
"but, advance boldly!" So he obeyed, and lo! the rock was as the air,
and it gave way as he went on. And ever as they went the maiden talked
to him, answering his thoughts, so that he spoke not aloud.
And anon they came to a great cavern far within, and there was an old
man seated by a fire, and the old man welcomed him. And he was very
kindly treated by the strange pair all day: in all his life he had
never been so happy. Now as the night drew near, the old man said to
his daughter, "Can you hear aught of your brothers?" Then she went out
to the terrace, and, returning, said, "No." Then anon he asked her
again, and she, going and returning as before, replied, "Now I hear
them coming." Then they listened, when lo! there came, as at the door
without, a crash of thunder with a flash of lightning, and out of the
light stepped two young men of great beauty, but like giants,
stupendous and of awful mien. And, like their father, their eyebrows
were of stone, while their cheeks were as rocks.
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