been bad enough, but a green dragon, with claws
and a long wriggling fork-pointed tail, was out of the question; the
very idea was enough to drive her distracted. The Lord High Steward was
a man who always took the bull by the horns in a dilemma, and so he
resolved forthwith to take steps to solve the mystery. He had heard
that in the Black Forest in Germany there lived a powerful enchantress,
Kalyb by name, who would, without doubt, be able at once to give him all
the information he required. Sir Albert, for that was the High
Steward's name, instantly set off across the seas, accompanied only by
his faithful Squire, De Fistycuff. They bore offerings of gold and
silver and precious stones with which to propitiate her.

For many days they voyaged, tossed by the stormy billows, and for many
days they travelled on till they arrived at the dreary precincts of the
Black Forest. Boldly plunging into it, they reached a dense part of the
wood, composed of withered, hollow, and distorted trees, whence
proceeded sounds the most unearthly and terrific. The dismal croaking
of the night raven, the hissing of serpents, the hoarse bellowing of
wild bulls, the roaring of lions, the laughing of hyenas, and other
hideous cries of all sorts of savage beasts. Some men would have stood
astounded. Not so Sir Albert and his faithful Squire. On they went
till they found themselves in front of a dark and lofty rock, within
which was seen a vast and gloomy cavern. The entrance was secured by a
massive iron gate studded over with huge knots and bars of steel. Near
it hung a brazen trumpet, the use of which the Knight full readily
guessed. He blew a blast which rung through the vaulted cave, echoing
away till the sounds were lost in the distance, while it made the very
earth rock and tremble. Scarcely had the echoes of the magic horn died
away than a terrifically loud, discordant, hollow voice, proceeding out
of the very depths of the cavern, inquired:--"Mortal, what want you
here?" Sir Albert briefly told his errand, and said that he had brought
gifts which he desired to offer to the famous Enchantress Kalyb, the
lady of the Black Forest.

As he was a courteous knight, and had spoken the Enchantress fair, so he
expected a courteous and satisfactory reply. What, then, was his
amazement when he heard these words proceeding from the cavern:--

"Whatever must be--must be there's no doubt;
You've got an answer, and so turn about!