is eager to save his life.--What lives in high mountains? What
falls in deep valleys? What lives without breathing? What is
never silent? King Heithrek, read me this riddle!

Heithrek replied:

Your riddle is a good one, Gestumblindi. I have guessed it.
A raven always lives in high mountains, and dew falls in
deep valleys, a fish lives without breathing, and the booming
waterfall is never silent.

Things are now becoming serious, said Gestumblindi, and I do
not know what is going to happen.--What is the marvel which
I have seen outside Delling's doorway? It points its head
towards Hell and turns its feet to the sun. King Heithrek,
read me this riddle!

Heithrek replied:

Your riddle is a good one, Gestumblindi. I have guessed it.
That is a leek. Its head grows down into the ground, and its
blades upward into the air.

Gestumblindi said:

What is the marvel which I have seen outside Delling's
doorway?--Two restless, lifeless things boiling a wound-leek.
King Heithrek, read me this riddle!

Heithrek replied:

Your riddle is a good one, Gestumblindi. I have guessed it.
That is the smith's bellows which have breath, yet not life.

Gestumblindi said:

What is the marvel which I have seen outside Delling's
doorway?--White fliers smiting the rock, and black fliers
burying themselves in sand! King Heithrek, read me this
riddle!

Heithrek replied:

Your riddle is a good one, Gestumblindi. I have guessed it.
But now your riddles are growing trivial. That is hail and
rain; for hail beats upon the street; whereas rain-drops fall
into the sand and sink into the earth.

Gestumblindi said:

What is the marvel which I have seen outside Delling's
doorway? I saw a black hog wallowing in mud, yet no bristles
were standing up on his back. King Heithrek, read me this
riddle!

Heithrek replied:

Your riddle is a good one, Gestumblindi. I have guessed
it. That is a dung-beetle. But we have talked too long when
dung-beetles come to exercise the wits of great men.

Gestumblindi said:

"It is best to put off misfortune"; and though there are some
who overlook this truth, many will want to go on trying. I
myself too see now that I shall have to look out for every
possible way of escape. What is the marvel that I have seen
outside Delling's doorway? This creat