dark, cloudy sky vaulted overhead. But when he looked down into
the sea he presently saw that what he had thought was water was a firm,
transparent, sparkling substance, in the shimmer of which the ship, in
a wonderful manner, melted away, so that he found himself standing upon
this floor of crystal, with a vault of black rock above him, for that
was rock which he had taken at first for clouds. Impelled by some power
unknown to him he stepped onwards, but, at that moment, every thing
around him began to move, and wonderful plants and flowers, of
glittering metal, came shooting up out of the crystal mass he was
standing on, and entwined their leaves and blossoms in the loveliest
manner. The crystal floor was so transparent that Elis could distinctly
see the roots of these plants. But soon, as his glance penetrated
deeper and deeper, he saw, far, far down in the depths, innumerable
beautiful maidens, holding each other embraced with white, gleaming
arms; and it was from their hearts that the roots, plants, and flowers
were growing. And when these maidens smiled, a sweet sound rang all
through the vault above, and the wonderful metal-flowers shot up
higher, and waved their leaves and branches in joy. An indescribable
sense of rapture came upon the lad; a world of love and passionate
longing awoke in his heart.

"'Down, down to you!' he cried, and threw himself with outstretched
arras down upon the crystal ground. But it gave way under him, and he
seemed to be floating in shimmering aether.

"'Ha! Elis Froebom; what think you of this world of glory?' a strong
voice cried. It was the old miner. But as Elis looked at him, he seemed
to expand into gigantic size, and to be made of glowing metal. Elis was
beginning to be terrified; but a brilliant light came darting, like a
sudden lightning-flash, out of the depths of the abyss, and the earnest
face of a grand, majestic woman appeared. Elis felt the rapture of his
heart swelling and swelling into destroying pain. The old man had hold
of him, and cried:

"'Take care, Elis Froebom! That is the queen. You may look up now.'

"He turned his head involuntarily, and saw the stars of the night sky
shining through a cleft in the vault overhead. A gentle voice called
his name as if in inconsolable sorrow. It was his mother's. He thought
he saw her form up at the cleft. But it was a young and beautiful woman
who was calling him, and stretching her hands down into the vault.

"'Take m