Part 9 (1/2)
”Now,” said the ht you nearly all of the science that I know, and the ti that has been waiting for us froiven up wealth and the world and pleasure and joy and love for the sake of wisdom Now, then, comes the last test--whether you can remain faithful to ained”
After he said that he stripped his cloak away from his shoulders and laid bare the skin Then he took a bottle of red liquor and began bathing his shoulder-blades with it; and as Gebhart, squatting upon the ridge-pole, looked, he sao little lurow until they becas as white as snow
”Now then,” said the rip fast, for there is a long, long journey before us, and if you should lose your head and let go your hold you will fall and be dashed to pieces”
Then he spread the two great wings, and away he flew as fast as the wind, with Gebhart hanging to his belt
Over hills, over dales, overso far below that horses and cows looked like pismires and men like fleas
Then, by-and-by, it was over the ocean they were crossing, with the great shi+ps that pitched and tossed below looking like chips in a puddle in rainy weather
At last they cae land, far, far away, and there the master lit upon a sea-shore where the sand was as white as silver As soon as his feet touched the hard ground the great wings were gone like a puff of smoke, and the wise e of the sandy beach was a great, high, naked cliff; and the only way of reaching the top was by a flight of stone steps, as slippery as glass, cut in the solid rock
The wise man led the way, and the student followed close at his heels, every now and then slipping and stuave him, he would have fallen more than once and have been dashed to pieces upon the rocks below
At last they reached the top, and there found therass, but only gray stones and skulls and bones bleaching in the sun
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 froh wall of steel, and in the ere seven gates of polished brass
The wise ate 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 reat ruates of brass swung slowly back, as though of theates his heart cruether; for there, in the very on, that blew out fla 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 on sed the box
The nextand rattling its wings, leaped into the air and fleay, bellowing like a bull
If Gebhart had been wonder-struck at seeing the outside of the castle, he was ten thousand times more amazed to see the inside thereof For, as the h four-and-twenty rooms, each one old and silver and dazzling jewels that glistened so brightly that one had to shut one's eyes to their sparkle Beside all this, there were silks and satins and velvets and laces and crystal and ebony and sandal-wood that smelled sweeter than ht together into one place could not make such riches as Gebhart saith his two eyes in these four-and-twenty rooms His heart beat fast within him
At last they reached a little door of solid iron, beside which hung a sith a blade that shone like lightning The master took the sword in one hand and laid the other upon the latch of the door Then he turned to Gebhart and spoke for the first ti journey
”In this roo happen, and in a little while I shall be as one dead As soon as that coh to the roooblet of water and a silver dagger Touch nothing else, and look at nothing else, for if you do all will be lost to both of us
Bring the water straightway, and sprinkle my face with it, and when that is done you and I will be the wisest and greatest men that ever lived, for I will make you equal to myself in all that I know So noear to do what I have just bid you, and not turn aside a hair's breadth in the going and the co
”I swear,” said Gebhart, and crossed his heart
Then the master opened the door and entered, with Gebhart close at his heels
In the centre of the rooreat red cock, with eyes that shone like sparks of fire So soon as he saw theout darts of fire that blazed and sparkled like lightning
It was a dreadful battle between the ht, and here and there So and striking with his sword; and then again he would be hidden in a sheet of flame But after a while he made a lucky stroke, and off flew the cock's head Then, lo and behold! instead of a cock it was a great, hairy, black deh the master had conquered, he looked like one sorely sick He was just able to stagger to a couch that stood by the wall, and there he fell and lay, without breath or motion, like one dead, and as white as wax
As soon as Gebhart had gathered his wits together he remembered what the master had said about the other room