high mountain. The fellow-traveller, who had made himself invisible, so
that she could not possibly see him, flew after her through the air, and
whipped the princess with his rod, so that the blood came whenever he
struck her. Ah, it was a strange flight through the air! The wind caught her
mantle, so that it spread out on all sides, like the large sail of a ship, and the
moon shone through it. “How it hails, to be sure!” said the princess, at each
blow she received from the rod; and it served her right to be whipped.
At last she reached the side of the mountain, and knocked. The mountain
opened with a noise like the roll of thunder, and the princess went in. The
traveller followed her; no one could see him, as he had made himself
invisible. They went through a long, wide passage. A thousand gleaming
spiders ran here and there on the walls, causing them to glitter as if they
were illuminated with fire. They next entered a large hall built of silver and
gold. Large red and blue flowers shone on the walls, looking like
sunflowers in size, but no one could dare to pluck them, for the stems were
hideous poisonous snakes, and the flowers were flames of fire, darting out
of their jaws. Shining glow-worms covered the ceiling, and sky-blue bats
flapped their transparent wings. Altogether the place had a frightful
appearance. In the middle of the floor stood a throne supported by four
skeleton horses, whose harness had been made by fiery-red spiders. The
throne itself was made of milk-white glass, and the cushions were little
black mice, each biting the other’s tail. Over it hung a canopy of rose-
colored spider’s webs, spotted with the prettiest little green flies, which
sparkled like precious stones. On the throne sat an old magician with a
crown on his ugly head, and a sceptre in his hand. He kissed the princess on
the forehead, seated her by his side on the splendid throne, and then the
music commenced. Great black grasshoppers played the mouth organ, and
the owl struck herself on the body instead of a drum. It was altogether a
ridiculous concert. Little black goblins with false lights in their caps danced
about the hall; but no one could see the traveller, and he had placed himself
just behind the throne where he could see and hear everything. The
courtiers who came in afterwards looked noble and grand; but any one with
