The forests , the hills , and the rivers all seemed exactly like the ones he had left . The only thing that was different was the snow , which had lain thick upon the hills and trees when he started , but grew less and less the farther he went south , till it disappeared altogether . Soon the trees put forth their buds , and flowers sprang up under his feet , and instead of thick clouds there was blue sky over his head , and everywhere the birds were singing . Then he knew that he was in the right road . The thought that he should soon behold his lost bride made his heart beat for joy , and he sped along lightly and swiftly . Now his way led through a dark wood , and then over some steep cliffs , and on the top of these he found a hut or wigwam . An old man clothed in skins , and holding a staff in his hand , stood in the doorway ; and he said to the young chief who was beginning to tell his story , ' I was waiting for you , wherefore you have come I know . It is but a short while since she whom you seek was here . Rest in my hut , as she also rested , and I will tell you what you ask , and whither you should go . ' On hearing these words , the young man entered the hut , but his heart was too eager within him to suffer him to rest , and when he arose , the old man rose too , and stood with him at the door . ` Look , ' he said , ` at the water which lies far out yonder , and the plains which stretch beyond . That is the Land of Souls , but no man enters it without leaving his body behind him . So , lay down your body here ; your bow and arrows , your skin and your dog . They shall be kept for you safely . ' Then he turned away , and the young chief , light as air , seemed hardly to touch the ground ; and as he flew along the scents grew sweeter and the flowers more beautiful , while the animals rubbed their noses against him , instead of hiding as he approached , and birds circled round him , and fishes lifted up their heads and looked as he went by . Very soon he noticed with wonder , that neither rocks nor trees barred his path . He passed through them without knowing it , for indeed , they were not rocks and trees at all , but only the souls of them ; for this was the Land of Shadows . So he went on with winged feet till he came to the shores of a great lake , with a lovely island in the middle of it ; while on the bank of the lake was a canoe of glittering stone , and in the canoe were two shining paddles . The chief jumped straight into the canoe , and seizing the paddles pushed off from the shore , when to his joy and wonder he saw following him in another canoe exactly like his own the maiden for whose sake he had made this long journey . But they could not touch each other , for between them rolled great waves , which looked as if they would sink the boats , yet never did .
And the young man and the maiden shrank with fear , for down in the depths XXXXX the water they saw the bones of those who had died before , and in the waves themselves men and women were struggling , and but few passed over .
On So against in like of over that till without