“‘I should like to try the beautiful horse you brought me,’ she said to him.  He was much pleased.  The horse was brought to the door.  The princess mounted him and rode for a time up and down in front of the palace.

“The very next day was that set apart for the wedding.  The castle was filled with guests who feasted and made merry.  The giant entered into everything with a will.  He laughed till the floors and walls shook.  Little did he think what was taking place.  For the princess slipped out of the castle when no one was watching, hurried into the stable, and leaped upon the back of her swift white horse.

“‘Lower the drawbridge instantly,’ she called to the guard.  She passed over it, and away she flew like the wind.

“You were too late, too late, O giant, when you discovered that Brunhilda was missing.

“He flew out of the castle, and on the back of his own fiery black horse he dashed after the runaway princess.

“On they went!  On, on, without stopping.  Over the plains, up and down the hillsides, through the villages.  The sun set and darkness fell upon the world, but there was never a moment’s rest for the maiden on the white horse or the giant lover on his black steed.

“Sometimes in the darkness sparks were struck off from the horses’ hoofs as they passed over rough and rocky places.  These sparks always showed the princess ahead and slowly increasing the distance between herself and her pursuer.

“When the morning light first appeared, the maiden could see the summit of the Brocken ahead of her.  It was the home of her lover.  Her heart leaped within her.  If she could only reach it she would be safe.

“But alas! her horse suddenly stood still.  He would not move.  He had reached the edge of a precipice.  There it lay, separating the princess from love and safety.

“The brave girl had not a moment to lose.  The giant was fast drawing near.  She wheeled her horse around; then, striking his sides a sharp blow with her whip, she urged him to leap across the precipice.

“The spring must be strong and sure.  It was a matter of life and death.  The chasm was deep.  If the horse should fail to strike the other side securely, it meant a horrible end to beast and rider.

“But he did not fail.  The feet of the brave steed came firmly down upon the rocky platform.  So heavily did they fall that the imprint of a hoof was left upon the rock.

“The princess was now safe.  It would be an easy matter for her to reach her lover’s side.

“As for the giant, he tried to follow Brunhilda across the chasm.  But he was too heavy and his horse failed to reach the mark.  The two sank together to the bottom of the precipice.”

Every one thanked the story-teller, and begged him to tell more of the Hartz Mountains, where he had spent his boyhood days.  The children were delighted when he spoke of the gnomes, in whom he believed when he was a child.