112 PRINCE FILDERKIN

his kind host adieu, and, as he refused
all payment, vigorously shaking his head
when offered money, contented himself with
thanking the old man warmly for his hospi-
tality, and stepped boldly forward.

The Prince had been too tired on the
previous evening to take much notice of the
country around the cottage of his host.
Now, however, he perceived that he was
very near the foot of a great mountain,
although between it and him ran a broad
though apparently not very deep river. He
had little difficulty in deciding at once that
it must be the Golden Mountains which he
saw before him, partly because he expected
to see them that morning, and partly
because lumps of sparkling metal, which he
supposed to be gold, lay here and there on
the side of the mountain, as if it had been
dug up there and left by the diggers.
Encouraged by finding that the words of
the wise man had so far come true, the
Prince stepped boldly forward towards the
mountains and presently found himself upon
the bank of the river. The uppermost
thought in his mind was as to the manner
in which he should cross it, as cross it he