it Lindanisa, in memory of his
mother.[93] Other fortified cities were founded by the Alevide and the
Sulevide.

But news came that hostile troops were landing on the coast, and the
Kalevide mounted his war-horse. The king wore a golden helmet, gold
spurs, and a silver belt, and carried a shield of gold, and the steed
was all caparisoned with gold and silver and pearls, while the maidens
of the country looked on with admiration.

The Kalevide and his three friends fought a pitched battle with the
countless forces of the enemy on the plains of Esthonia. Their heads
fell before him like autumn leaves, and their scattered limbs were
strewn about in heaps like straw or rushes. His horse waded in blood and
bones to the belly; for the Kalevide slaughtered his enemies by tens of
thousands, and would have utterly annihilated them, but, as he was
pursuing the fugitives over hill and dale, his horse lost his footing in
a bog, and was engulfed in the morass.

As the Kalevide was unable to continue the pursuit after the loss of his
horse, he recalled his troops and divided the booty. Then he sent his
soldiers to carry news of the victory to the towns and villages
throughout the country, and he and his three friends set out on a
journey across the plains and swamps, and through primeval forests,
making a pathway for others as they advanced. At length they came to a
place where smoke and flames were shooting up into the air, and when
they reached the spot they found an old woman sitting at the mouth of a
cave and stirring the fire under a pot. The Alevide asked what she was
cooking, and she answered, "Cabbage for my sons and for myself." Then
the son of Sulev said they were hungry travellers, and asked her to give
them some, and to take a rest while they finished the cookery. The old
woman consented, but warned them, if a strange youth asked to be allowed
to taste the broth, to take good care that he did not empty the pot and
leave them nothing. Three of the heroes at once volunteered to take
turns to watch the pot, but the Kalevide said nothing. Then the old
woman crept into the bushes, and hid herself in a wolf's den.

The Alevide took the first watch, and his companions lay down by the
fire to sleep. He had not been long sitting there, and throwing fresh
faggots on the fire, when one of the little dwarf race stole up
stealthily and timidly through the long grass. He was about three spans
high, and had a gold bell[94] hanging t