Then suddenly the bell began to ring in the forest with such a
deep and solemn sound that four or five determined to go still
deeper into the wood. The leaves hung very close, and it was
really difficult to get forward ; lilies of the valley and
anemones grew thick, and blooming convolvulus and blackberry
bushes stretched in long garlands from tree to tree, where the
nightingales sang and the sunbeams played. It was splendid ; but
the path was not practicable for girls they would have torn
their clothes. There lay great blocks of stone covered with
mosses of all colours ; the fresh spring water gushed forth, and
it sounded strangly, almost like " luck, luck." " That cannot be
the bell !" said one of the party, and he laid himself down and
listened. " That should be properly studied ! " And he remained
there, and let the others go on. They came to a house built of
the bark of trees and of twigs : a great tree laden with wild
apples stretched out its branches over the dwelling, as though
it would pour its whole