| Share page |
|
336 THE LION'S CASTLE.
" No," replied the Sun, " I have seen no dove ; but I will give you this little casket, which you may open when you are in great trouble."
She thanked the Sun, and went away, wandering about till evening came on. She saw the Moon shining at last..
So she said to her : " Moon, thou shinest the whole night over field and meadow; hast thou seen a white dove flying near ?"
"No," said the Moon, " I have seen no dove; but here is an egg for you, which you may break when you are in any great trouble."
She thanked the Moon and went on farther, and presently the Night-wind arose and blew upon her, so she spoke to him, and said : " Night-wind, thou wavest with thy breath the summits of the forest trees, and the boughs bend and toss beneath thy power; hast thou seen a white dove flying near ?"
" No," said the Night-wind, " I have not seen it; but I will ask the three other winds, probably they may have seen the white dove."
The East-wind and the West-wind were both questioned, but they had seen nothing. The South-wind, however, said : " Yes, I have seen the white dove; it has flown to the Red Sea, and has again become a lion, for the seven years are over. The lion is at this moment in combat with a dragon, who is a bewitched king's daughter."
"Then," said the Night-wind, "if this is the case; I can give you some good advice. Go to the Red Sea, and on the right shore you will see several large reeds; count them till you come to the eleventh, cut the eleventh off, and strike the dragon with it then the lion will conquer, and they will both return to their human shape. After this look round quickly, and you will see a griffin near you, with wings like a bird, sitting on the waters of the Red Sea; leap on his back with the greatest swiftness, and the bird will carry you over the ocean to your home, i will also give you this nut," continued the North-wind, " and while you ate crossing the ocean, you must drop it into the sea ; as soon as re reaches, the bottom, a great nut-tree wili grow out of the water, on which the griffin can rest, for without rest he would not be strong enough to carry you over. Should you forget to drop the nut, he will let you fall into the sea," |
||