eep gorge and the beautiful plain beyond? That is the Land of Souls,
and the one you seek is already there."

Suddenly the young man felt himself grow very light, and his feet began
to run as though they were winged. Everything looked the same to him,
only more beautiful, and the little animals did not seem afraid. They
seemed to know that he would not kill them. As he went on swiftly
through the forest, he noticed that the trees did not stop him. He
seemed to pass right through them, and he saw then that they were only
images of trees.

At last he came to a beautiful lake, whose waters were clear and
sparkling. In the centre of this lake was an island, with green grass
and flowers and birds. Then, to his joy, he noticed a canoe tied to
the shore of the lake. It was made of shining, white stone and had
paddles that shone, also. He climbed in and pushed away from the
shore, and, to his surprise, he saw the maiden whom he loved, in a
canoe exactly like his, floating beside him. They kept close together
and began to cross the lake. Its waves seemed to be rising, and at a
distance looked ready to swallow them up. But when the huge waves drew
close, they passed by and left them unharmed, and the maiden and her
lover saw that they were only the shapes of waves. But another thing
frightened them. It was _the clearness of the water_, for as they
looked down, they could see the bodies of people who had been drowned.
And in the water all along, there were men and women of all ages
struggling and sinking in the waves. Only the canoes of the little
children floated on in safety.

At last their canoes reached the shore of the island, and jumping out,
they roamed joyfully over the soft grass. They felt that the very air
was food, and thought only of great things. For there was nothing that
was sad here in this land, no cold winds, no hunger--only brightness
and joy.

As the warrior, wandered by the maiden's side, he heard the voice of
the Master of Life speaking to him. "Go back," he said, "to the land
whence you came. Your work is not completed yet. Go back and be a
good man, and do all the work that I send to you. You must leave the
spirit whom you love, but she shall wait here for you, for she is
accepted, and shall always remain young and happy. When your work is
finished, I shall call you also from the land of hunger and tears, to
come to this beautiful Land of Souls."

So the young man said farewell