'Yes, yes,' whispered the sprite. 'I know there is, from very ancient legends. And—hush!—I know where it is, and who can find it.'
'Oh, Wistik! Wistik!'
'Why then have you not yet got it?' asked Windekind.
'Patience, patience,—it will be found. I know as yet no particulars,—but I shall soon find it. I have toiled for it and sought it all my life. For to him who finds it life shall be one perpetual autumn day—blue air above and blue mists all round,—only no falling leaves shall rustle, no twigs shall snap, no raindrops patter, the shadows shall not change, the sun-gold on the tree-tops shall not fade. What seems to us now to be light shall be darkness; what seems to us now to be joy shall be woe by comparison, to those who read that book! Ay! I know this much, and some day I shall find it.'
The Wood-Sprite raised his eyebrows very much and laid his finger on his lips.
'Wistik, if you could but teach me——' Johannes began; but before he could say more he felt a strong gust of wind and saw a great, broad black shroud overhead, which silently and swiftly swept by. When he looked for Wistik again he saw one little foot just vanishing into the hollow tree. Whisk! the sprite had leapt into his cave, book and all. The candles burnt paler and paler and suddenly went out. Those were very strange little candles.
'What was that?' asked Johannes, clinging in terror to Windekind in the darkness.
'An owl,' said Windekind. Then they were both silent for some time. Presently Johannes said:—
'Do you believe what Wistik said?'
'Wistik is not so wise as he thinks himself. He will never find such a book, nor you either.'