صفحة 212 من 1116

Hereat he rejoiced and said to himself, "Haply some one here

shall acquaint me with the mystery of the tarn and its fishes."

Presently drawing near the dark object he found it a palace built

of swart stone plated with iron; and, while one leaf of the gate

stood wide open, the other was shut, The King's spirits rose high

as he stood before the gate and rapped a light rap; but hearing

no answer he knocked a second knock and a third; yet there came

no sign. Then he knocked his loudest but still no answer, so he

said, "Doubtless 'tis empty." Thereupon he mustered up resolution

and boldly walked through the main gate into the great hall and

there cried out aloud, "Holla, ye people of the palace! I am a

stranger and a wayfarer; have you aught here of victual?" He

repeated his cry a second time and a third but still there came

no reply; so strengthening his heart and making up his mind he

stalked through the vestibule into the very middle of the palace

and found no man in it.