t, and he hesitated a moment, when a
raven called to him from the summit of a pine-tree to sound the bell.
Instantly the clouds of smoke disappeared, and he set out on the
downward path. As he proceeded, he found himself in thick darkness,
without a ray of light to guide him, and he was forced to grope his
way, when the voice of a mouse directed him to sound the bell again. The
path grew dimly light, and the Kalevide proceeded, but soon found his
way so much impeded by nets and snares, which multiplied faster than he
could destroy them, that he was unable to advance, and his strength
began to fail him. This time it was a toad who advised him to sound the
bell, when all the magic snares vanished, and he hurried on till he
reached the edge of a rivulet about two spans broad. Every time he
attempted to cross, his foot sank in the mud in the middle, and no
matter how often he renewed his efforts, he could not reach the opposite
shore. While the Kalevide was lamenting that he found less difficulty in
crossing Lake Peipus with a heavy load of timber on his back, he heard a
crayfish advising him to sound the bell, when the brook instantly
vanished.

There was nothing in these caverns to mark the difference between night
and day, and the Kalevide did not know how long he had been struggling
against the various difficulties of the road. He was now assailed by
swarms of mosquitoes, which he thought to escape by hurrying through
them and leaving them behind; but they grew thicker and thicker, till a
cricket in the grass called to him to sound the bell. The mosquitoes
vanished as if carried away by the wind, and the hero sat down to rest
and refresh himself, and having at length learned wisdom from
experience, tied the bell on his little finger, that he might have its
constant aid in future. Then he advanced farther.

And now the hosts of hell, the servants of Sarvik, heard his heavy
tread, and they sent out scouts, who fled back in consternation,
reporting that the son of Kalev, the strongest of men, was advancing
with hostile intentions. Then Sarvik commanded his forces to march
against him.

The Kalevide had now reached a river of blazing pitch, crossed by an
iron bridge. Here the hosts of hell determined to make a stand, and
formed themselves into four detachments, one upon the bridge, one below,
one on the bank, and one in the rear.

"What's this swarm of frogs?" cried the Kalevide, drawing his sword and
rushing forward t