“What shall we do?” exclaimed Elrick. “There is no way to get across the lake.”
“We must try,” said Mansur, and he took his ax and began to cut down some trees.
When he had enough he trimmed off all the branches, and tied them together, making a very good raft. In a short time they had crossed the lake and were on land again.
They journeyed on until they came to a high mountain, where they sat down to rest. They bought some bread from an old woman, and while they were eating it Elrick said:
“I am tired of traveling. This mountain is too high to climb, let us go back.”
“Never,” replied his brother, “until I have reached King Fortune’s country.” So saying he arose and started to climb the high mountain.
Elrick followed slowly and murmured all the way, but Mansur kept right on without a word of complaint. They had gone about half way up the mountain when all at once they fell, and before they could stop themselves, they rolled over and over down the mountain side and never stopped until they reached its base.
“It is too bad,” exclaimed Elrick, picking himself up, “when we were so far up the mountain, to fall. I am not going to climb it again, are you?”
“Yes, indeed I am,” replied Mansur, and began to climb the steep mountain again as fast as he could.
Elrick did not want to do it, but he felt a little ashamed when he saw his brother, so he arose and followed him.