Balad, He said to Brunswik: “Dear lord! thy dear lady knoweth not thine adventure, neither do they know what has happened to us.” Brunswik heard these words and was very sorrowful. Then said Balad: “Be not sorrowful, my dear lord! If thou wilt hearken to me, I will give thee such counsel, that thou shalt escape hence, but I know not whether thou wilt then go far or near. I am now old and care not; I must now remain here; but if ever thou comest to happiness, think on my faithful service.” Saith Brunswik: “Faithful knight of mine! how can it be possible for me to escape hence? For I have heard, that whoso comes to the Yak-stone mountain must remain there for ever.” Saith Balad: “There is a bird called ‘Noh,’ and its wont is to fly hither once every year and in a moment to seize what corpses there are remaining and fly away; and it well knows the hour when it ought to come. This bird will take thee away, if thou wilt, but further than that I know not what will happen.” Saith Brunswik: “Faithful Balad! indeed this is good counsel; if I could but get out of this prison, it would not be a sorrow to me to die; and perhaps
