Chapter 22

They leave the Northern Land

At last Bearslayer stirred: The Maiden he implored, To show the course preferred, And let them go on board. The North Wind's Daughter gave Her vow all to fulfil, But sought their lives to save, With better counsel still.

For he should not retrace The path he took before, Because he there would face His enemies of yore, Who now might well succeed To smash him with their force. Therefore, he should proceed Along a better course.

This path was long to go, And full of risks severe, But known not to the foe, Whose envy he must fear. The course would lead him past The Land of Ogres, then, Along the coast at last, To reach his home again.

Like people with dog's jaw; Thus was the ogres' form. They ate their meat while raw, And drank fresh blood still warm. No mercy could distract Their hunt for humankind. On foot their prey they tracked, Killed all that they could find!

Still, men could foil their hunt, By wearing footwear turned, The heel towards the front, So none their path discerned.- Still further was a land Where lived in caves deep set, Of little folk a band, Who helped all those they met.

Within their lands were found The Gardens of the Sun. So when it from the ground Rose up, its course to run, It hung close to your hand.- Which meant, at dawn of day, In caves they had to stand, Or burn up in its ray.

Here shelves nobody knew, Nor cups on hooks hung loose; Behind the clouds they threw Their spoons straight after use. To get the washing clean, The maids boiled what they wear; Then clouds of steam were seen, And storms formed in the air.

On leaving from this land, No more they would see sky, But in the darkness stand, And endless sea pass by. At length their eyes would sight A Hill of Diamonds rare, That sparkles giving light.- Yet none to land should dare!

Bright shining is the peak, It glistens without stop- But let no sailor seek, To climb up to the top! Still further on their way, The sky would lighten, then The night would yield to day, And they would see again.

A verdant island near Its beauty plain would show.- But let them all know fear, And never closer go! This island to it draws All vessels from the sea, And once upon its shores, They never more come free.

If cunning he revealed, Through all these troubles passed, The Northern Sea would yield And bring him home at last.

Heartfelt Bearslayer then His earnest thanks could say; Together called his men To set out on their way. But quickly they all scorned Their life of ease to break.- The North Wind's Daughter warned, Her father soon would wake.

Then all would be in vain, Their homes they would not reach.- They hurried back again And rushed down to the beach. Their ship they found safe there, As it had been before. It needed no repair, To leave this northern shore.

But ice-flows formed up fast And ringed them all around. They felt earth tremors vast, That shook the island's ground. The North Wind's Daughter's cries Were, "Save yourselves and go, My father soon will rise, And winter storms will blow!"

Then all knew that they must At once raise up the sail, And, with the wind's first gust, They tried to flee the gale. They scarcely were at sea, When, with a tempest's roar, The snow-capped waves rose free- The North Wind slept no more!

In fear of death the crew Exerted all their strength; Before the wind they flew, And got to sea at length.

The Land of the Dog-Snout Ogres

Long hours in waves they heaved Until, about to drown, Their troubles were relieved, Land found, the anchor down.- They seemed from death here saved, But new risks were at hand: Blown by the storm just braved Into the Ogres' Land!

The storm its course had run, The sea could gently rock. The sailors had begun To take of things good stock. The ship survived the storm, Which showed that it was strong. Repairs they would perform, Their voyage then prolong.

As far as eye could sight, It was an empty shore. The crew thus thought it right, To go on land once more.

Upon a mossy rise, Some doe were grazing near. Bearslayer, for supplies, Went out to hunt the deer. A hope formed from this scene: These parts could well be clear, No Dog-Snouts might have been; Perhaps they need not fear.

Bearslayer with some men Approached the mossy hill; Already deer for them He had contrived to kill. And now with dagger blows This meat they would share round.- Then from the hill arose A horrid shrieking sound.

And from a cave now poured The Dog-Faced Monsters out.- Surrounded by this horde The men yet battled stout. But doglike teeth soon ripped To shreds men fighting here. Bearslayer firmly gripped, And faced them with his spear.

He stabbed the howling gangs, But still could not prevent That with their vicious fangs His hip and side they rent. He had not found the strength To hold them long alone, If not a thought at length Had saving counsel shown.

No monsters any more Were pouring from the cave, So he rushed to its door, Therein himself to save. Now, standing in this way, He could, with sturdy limb, Drive off or quickly slay All those that ran at him.

A howl the monsters gave, When first they saw this trick, Then rolled before the cave Great boulders broad and thick. They heaped the stones until The entrance they secured. Bearslayer waited, still, Within the cave immured.

The sailors could not wait, Until the hunters came; But orders did not state To seek them, all the same. They worked on board until All readied was to sail; Their comrades, missing still, They sought to no avail.

They felt a special care About Bearslayer too; Without his presence there, They knew not what to do. But then the helmsman cried: "Bearslayer comes, see now!" And soon with hurried stride He reached the ship's sharp prow.

He did not wish to wait, But sailed without delay; Then told the hunters' fate, And how he got away:-

Low in the cave's dark rear An opening small he found, That with his heavy spear He widened all around. Within the cave there lay Some half-raw scraps of meat, Of that on every day, A portion he could eat.

And after some days more, He fled from in the cave.- The Dog-Snouts to the door, Their full attention gave, And so they had no chance- He gave them all the slip. Without a backward glance, He set off to the ship.

They travelled far once more, Across the distant sea, Until they reached the shore, A land where they were free.

The Kingdom of Dreams

The East, of legend place, Where dreams their kingdom find, First bore the human race, The cradle of our kind! Here sky and ground both merge, Do not exist apart; The gates at Heaven's verge Near Hell's domain here start.

Here is the home, behold, The sons of Perkons won, Where bright they forge their gold, In Gardens of the Sun. Its Daughters care devote, Grow golden apples bright. Safe in a diamond boat, Here sleeps the Sun each night.

Each morning new, its steeds Swim in the ocean's tide, With golden reins it leads Them from a mountainside.

The people living here Enjoy a happy lot; Like children nothing fear, Of evil know no jot. The Gods' Sons them protect, From what foul spirits do. Their destiny close direct The Sun's fair Daughters too.

Bearslayer stayed here long, And with his men lived through Of happy days a throng; Saw many wonders too. The people of the land Protected them from harm, And sought to show the band The country's special charm.

The Gardens of the Sun Alone they did not show; To live mankind must shun The splendour of their glow.

The Hill of Diamonds

Bearslayer once again To set off homeward chose.- The happy day came when, Before the Sun arose And crossed through Heaven's dome, The sails were raised up high. The ship set out for home, Beyond the land and sky.

The darkness was as thick As in the depths of Hell. The sailors could not pick, One from the other tell. But somewhere far away, A glimmer caught their glance; They steered the ship that way To seize this happy chance.

When suddenly, quite near, They reached the Diamond Hill. Although in mists unclear, The peak bright sparkled still. The golden glow they neared, Whose rays like diamonds pour.. To land the helmsman steered- The crewmen rushed ashore.

All felt now strong the will The Diamond Hill to seek; Bearslayer warned, but still One clambered to the peak. Up on the hilltop's height, With all to him revealed, Cried: "God, how fair a sight!" But then his fate was sealed.

As though on wind's wings borne, From off the hill he flew, Into the air was drawn, And vanished from their view. A second climbed up high, To where the diamonds shone: "Oh God, how fair!" his cry, And then-he too was gone!

To miss this fate, a third, Tied to a rope, climbed too. The same words all then heard- He also slipped from view! But others seized the line, And could him backwards draw. Though he would always pine, And never word spoke more.

Bearslayer left this hill, And long they sailed around, Their voyage blind until The light of day they found.

The Enchanted Isle

There was no more delay Upon the journey there; The weather every day Like all the winds was fair. The vessel soon sailed free, And hope in all was born, To find the Baltic Sea.- Then came a fateful dawn:

At first by fog concealed, An island came in sight, Whose beauty when revealed Filled all with great delight. Upon Bearslayer dawned, That this the coast must be, Of which the Maiden warned, That draws ships from the sea.-

In vain to flee they sought; The coast neared more and more, Until, by magic caught, They grounded on the shore!