but he would not allow himself to be frightened, and said, "i must and will ride through it." then he took bear-skins and covered himself and his horse with them, so that the gold was no more to be seen, and rode fearlessly into the forest. when he had ridden onward a little he heard a rustling in the bushes, and heard voices speaking together. from one side came cries of, "there is one," but from the other, "let him go, ’tis an idle fellow, as poor and bare as a church-mouse, what should we gain from him?"