to the hut, and that he should look out for
some one who had never seen or heard of the princess, and whom he
could trust never to tell anyone anything about her; and that is the
reason he selected you."

"Since you know so much," said the dwarf, "can you tell me who I am,
and where I came from?"

"You will know that time enough," said the fairy. "I have given you
back your speech. It will depend solely on yourself whether you will
get back your memory of who and what you were before the day you
entered the king's service. But are you really willing to try and
break the spell of enchantment and free the princess?"

"I am," said the dwarf.

"Whatever it will cost you?"

"Yes, if it cost me my life," said the dwarf; "but tell me, how can
the spell be broken?"

"Oh, it is easy enough to break the spell if you have the weapons,"
said the fairy.

"And what are they, and where are they?" said the dwarf.

"The spear of the shining haft and the dark blue blade and the silver
shield," said the fairy. "They are on the farther bank of the Mystic
Lake in the Island of the Western Seas. They are there for the man who
is bold enough to seek them. If you are the man who will bring them
back to the lonely moor you will only have to strike the shield three
times with the haft, and three times with the blade of the spear, and
the silence of the moor will be broken for ever, the spell of
enchantment will be removed, and the princess will be free."

"I will set out at once," said the dwarf, jumping from his chair.

"And whatever it cost you," said the fairy, "will you pay the price?"

"I will," said the dwarf.

"Well, then, mount your horse, give him his head, and he will take you
to the shore opposite the Island of the Mystic Lake. You must cross to
the island on his back, and make your way through the water-steeds
that swim around the island night and day to guard it; but woe betide
you if you attempt to cross without paying the price, for if you do
the angry water-steeds will rend you and your horse to pieces. And
when you come to the Mystic Lake you must wait until the waters are as
red as wine, and then swim your horse across it, and on the farther
side you will find the spear and shield; but woe betide you if you
attempt to cross the lake before you pay the price, for if you do, the
black Cormorants of the Western Seas will pick the flesh from your
bones."

"What is the price?" said the dwarf.

"You will know that