through. Only one thing he knew, that if the path was there, he would
find it. At first he was puzzled, as there seemed no reason he should
go in one direction more than another. Then all at once he thought he
had heard one of the old men say that the Land of Souls lay to the
south, and so, filled with new hope and courage, he set his face
southwards. For many, many miles the country looked the same as it did
round his own home. The forests, the hills, and the rivers all seemed
exactly like the ones he had left. The only thing that was different
was the snow, which had lain thick upon the hills and trees when he
started, but grew less and less the farther he went south, till it
disappeared altogether. Soon the trees put forth their buds, and
flowers sprang up under his feet, and instead of thick clouds there
was blue sky over his head, and everywhere the birds were singing.
Then he knew that he was in the right road.

[Footnote 21: From the Red Indian.]

The thought that he should soon behold his lost bride made his heart
beat for joy, and he sped along lightly and swiftly. Now his way led
through a dark wood, and then over some steep cliffs, and on the top
of these he found a hut or wigwam. An old man clothed in skins, and
holding a staff in his hand, stood in the doorway; and he said to the
young chief who was beginning to tell his story, 'I was waiting for
you, wherefore you have come I know. It is but a short while since she
whom you seek was here. Rest in my hut, as she also rested, and I will
tell you what you ask, and whither you should go.'

On hearing these words, the young man entered the hut, but his heart
was too eager within him to suffer him to rest, and when he arose, the
old man rose too, and stood with him at the door. 'Look,' he said, 'at
the water which lies far out yonder, and the plains which stretch
beyond. That is the Land of Souls, but no man enters it without
leaving his body behind him. So, lay down your body here; your bow and
arrows, your skin and your dog. They shall be kept for you safely.'

Then he turned away, and the young chief, light as air, seemed hardly
to touch the ground; and as he flew along the scents grew sweeter and
the flowers more beautiful, while the animals rubbed their noses
against him, instead of hiding as he approached, and birds circled
round him, and fishes lifted up their heads and looked as he went by.
Very soon he noticed with wonder, that neither rocks nor tree