44 Fairy Tales

of a cave in the hill unclose, and wondered
exceedingly that a woman should be stand-
ing inside, a woman old and yet beautiful,
for her hair was white as snow, and yet
her eyes glowed. She was very tall and
stately, and was clothed from head to foot
in rich furs. By her side stood a gaunt
grey wolf, which snarled and showed his
fangs until she struck him with a’ long
ice-staff which she carried. And when she
spoke her voice was full and deep, like
the undertone which you hear in the rush
of the wind on a winter’s night.

‘“Welcome,” she said, ‘‘welcome. Come
in without fear, for though Klopp is an ill-
natured beast, he will not venture to be
disagreeable. Who is this thou bringest,
Krawk ?”

“Tt is a man-child,” said the raven,
“who would learn where the clouds start
from.”

‘He would never have got here if I had
not carried him,” said the bear, dropping
gladly on all fours, for she was stiff.