]

Sometimes he lost sight of the light, and again he caught it, till it
became brighter and brighter, and very soon he came to a high rock, on
the top of which was perched a tall, dark tower. After groping about, he
found a narrow path that led up to the tower, from one of the windows of
which the light was brightly shining. He ascended a flight of steep
steps till he reached a massive door covered with iron. He knocked as
loud as he could, when a large dog began barking furiously inside, and
springing up to the door, as if it would tear it down. Then a gruff
voice called out of a window over the door, "Who is there? Who disturbs
me in this way?" The little boy replied, "Please, sir, I am Eric, son of
King Magnus, and I have lost my way in this wood." "The son of the king,
are you?" asked the voice. "That is a grand joke! Let me have a sight of
you." Then the window was shut, and he heard footsteps coming tramp,
tramp, down the stairs, and the voice said to the dog, "Lie down, hound,
and don't be greedy! You would not eat a young prince, would you? Lie
down, Tuscar!" The door was then opened by a fierce-looking man, with a
long beard. The man bid him enter, and examined him about himself and
his journey. Eric answered truly every question. Then the man rang a
bell for an old woman who lived in the house, and bid her take the boy
with her, and give him his supper. The old woman looked very ugly and
very cross, and led him up, up, a great number of dark, gloomy stairs,
until she reached a small room, with a bed and table in it, where she
bade Eric wait till she brought him supper. The big hound followed them,
and stayed in the room while the woman went away. Eric was at first
afraid of the dog, he was so large and wild-looking, but he came and
laid his head on his knee, and he scratched his ears, and patted him,
and was very kind to him. The supper came, and the boy managed to keep a
few bits of meat out of his own supper for the dog, and when the old
woman went out of the room, he fed the hound, who seemed very hungry,
and said to him, "Tuscar, old fellow, I like you very much. Take another
bit, good dog, and be happy!" The dog wagged his tail, and looked up
kindly with his large eyes, for he was thankful for his supper, and ate
much more than Eric. "Now," said the old woman gruffly, when she took
away the remains of the supper, "you have ate what would do me for a
week. You won't starve, Master Prince. Go to bed." The o