from his
hermitage through the forests, and three days afterwards he reached Lake
Peipus, without remembering that he had ever travelled the same way
before. Singing gaily, he came to the brook Kaepae, and waded in. The hero
had laid an injunction on his lost sword which he had intended to apply
to the sorcerer who had robbed him of it; but the understanding of the
sword was confused by the curse which the Finnish smith had previously
laid upon it, and it reflected that now was the time for vengeance. So
without more ado the great sword raised itself, and cut off both the
hero's legs at the knee. He cried out for help, and dragged himself with
his hands to the shore, where he lay down bleeding, his legless body
covering a whole acre of ground.

The cries of the dying Kalevide rose above the clouds and ascended to
heaven. The heavenly powers assembled round the hero, and vainly tried
to salve his wounds and soothe his pain. Presently he expired, and his
soul, like a joyful bird, took its flight to the halls of Taara in
heaven. There he sat in the firelight among the heroes of Taara, resting
his cheek on his hand, and listening to the bards as they sang of his
great deeds.

But the old father of the gods knew that so great a hero, who had
conquered all his enemies in battle, and had bound even the prince of
Porgu in chains, could not remain idle in heaven. So he summoned all the
gods in secret conclave to consider what work they should assign to the
Kalevide, and the debate lasted for many days and nights. At last they
determined that he should keep watch and ward at the gates of Porgu, so
that Sarvik should never be able to free himself from his bonds.

So the soul of the Kalevide flew down from heaven like a bird, and was
bidden to reanimate his body; but the might of all the gods, and even
the divine wisdom of Taara, could not put his legs on again. Then they
mounted him on a white charger,[102] and sent him to the post which had
been assigned to him at the gates of Porgu.

When the Kalevide reached the rocky portal, a voice was heard from
heaven, "Strike the rock with thy fist!" He did so, and clove open the
rock, and his right hand was caught in the cleft. Here he sits now on
his horse at the gates of Porgu, watching the bonds of others while
bound himself. The demons attempt unceasingly to soften their chains by
heaping up charcoal faggots around them, but when the cock crows at dawn
their fetters grow thicker