TWILIGHT LAND

In the middle of the plain was a castle such as the eyes
of man never saw before, for it was built all of crystal
from roof to cellar. Around it was a high wall of steel,
and in the wall were seven gates of polished brass.

The wise man led the way straight to the middle gate
of the seven, where there hung a horn of pure silver,
which he set to his lips. He blew a blast so loud and
shrill that it made Gebhart’s ears tingle. In an instant
there sounded a great rumble and grumble like the noise
of loud thunder, and the gates of brass swung slowly
back, as though of themselves.

But when Gebhart saw what he saw within the gates,
his heart crumbled away for fear, and his knees knocked
together ; for there, in the very middle of the way, stood
a monstrous, hideous dragon, that blew out flames and
clouds of smoke from his gaping mouth like a chimney
a-fire.

But the wise master was as cool as smooth water; he
thrust his hand into the bosom of his jacket and drew
forth a little black box, which he flung straight into the
gaping mouth.

Snap !—the dragon swallowed the box.

The next moment it gave a great, loud, terrible cry,
and, clapping and rattling its wings, leaped into the air
and flew away, bellowing like a bull.

If Gebhart had been wonder-struck at seeing the out-
side of the castle, he was ten thousand times more amazed
to see the inside thereof. For, as the master led the way
and he followed, he passed through four-and-twenty
rooms, each one more wonderful than the other. Every-
where was gold and silver and dazzling jewels that glis-
tened so brightly that one had to shut one’s eyes to their

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