the flask into
the stream. And as he did so the lightning glared in his eyes, the earth
gave way beneath him, and the river flowed over

The Two Black Stones.

When Gluck found himself alone, he at last decided to try his luck with
the King of the Golden River. The priest gave him some holy water as soon
as he asked for it, and with this and a basket of bread he started off.

The hill of ice was much harder for Gluck to climb, because he was not so
strong as his brothers. He lost his bread, fell often, and was exhausted
when he got on firm ground. He began to climb the hill in the hottest part
of the day. When he had climbed for an hour he was very thirsty, and
lifted the bottle to drink a little water. As he did so he saw a feeble
old man coming down the path toward him.

"I am faint with thirst," said the old man; "will you give me some of that
water?"

Gluck saw that he was pale and tired, so he gave him the water, saying,
"Please don't drink it all." But the old man drank a great deal, and gave
back the bottle two-thirds emptied. Then he bade Gluck good speed, and
Gluck went on merrily.

Some grass appeared on the path, and the grasshoppers began to sing.

At the end of another hour, Gluck felt that he must drink again. But, as
he raised the flask, he saw a little child lying by the roadside, and it
cried out pitifully for water. After a struggle with himself Gluck decided
to bear the thirst a little longer. He put the bottle to the child's lips,
and it drank all but a few drops. Then it got up and ran down the hill.

All kinds of sweet flowers began to grow on the rocks, and crimson and
purple butterflies flitted about in the air.

At the end of another hour, Gluck's thirst was almost unbearable. He saw
that there were only five or six drops of water in the bottle, however,
and he did not dare to drink. So he was putting the flask away again when
he saw a little dog on the rocks, gasping for breath. He looked at it, and
then at the Golden River, and he remembered the dwarf's words, "No one can
succeed except at the first trial"; and he tried to pass the dog. But it
whined piteously, and Gluck stopped. He could not bear to pass it.
"Confound the King and his gold, too!" he said; and he poured the few
drops of water into the dog's mouth.

The dog sprang up; its tail disappeared, its nose grew red, and its eyes
twinkled. The next minute the dog was gone, and the King of the Golden
River stood there. He sto