throng of men of valour."

Then departed Lemminkainen,
When the horse in sledge was harnessed. 420
With his ready whip he struck him,
With his beaded whip he smote him,
And the fiery steed sprang forward,
Onward sped the rapid courser.

When a short way he had journeyed,
For about an hour had travelled,
There he saw a flock of blackfowl,
In the air the grouse flew upward,
And the flock ascended rushing
From before the speeding courser. 430

On the ice there lay some feathers
Cast by grouse upon the roadway;
These collected Lemminkainen,
And he put them in his pocket,
For he knew not what might happen,
Or might chance upon his journey.
In a house are all things useful,
Can at need be turned to something.

Then he drove a little further,
On his road a little further, 440
When to neigh began the courser,
Pricked his long ears up in terror.

Then the lively Lemminkainen,
He the handsome Kaukomieli,
In the sledge at once leaned forward,
Bending down to gaze about him.
There he saw, as said his mother,
As his own old mother warned him,
How there flowed a fiery river,
Right across the horse's pathway, 450
In the stream a cataract fiery,
In the fall a fiery island,
On the isle a peak all fiery,
On the peak a fiery eagle.
In his throat the fire was seething,
And his mouth with flame was glowing,
And his plumage fire was flashing,
And the sparks around were scattering.

Kauko from afar he noticed,
From afar saw Lemminkainen. 460

"Whither wilt thou go, O Kauko,
Whither goes the son of Lempi?"

Answered lively Lemminkainen,
Said the handsome Kaukomieli,
"Unto Pohja's feast I journey,
The carousal held in secret.
Turn thee on one side a little,
From the youth's path do thou turn thee,
Let the traveller make his journey,
Do not hinder Lemminkainen, 470
Therefore move aside a little,
Let him now pursue his journey."

Thereupon the eagle answered,
Hissing from his throat of fire,
"I will let the traveller pass me,
Will not hinder Lemminkainen,
Through my mouth will let him hasten,
Let him thus pursue his journey.
Thither shall thy path direct thee,
Fortunate shall be thy