"Listen," said the Phooka. "The clothes you have assumed have magic powers. The cap is the cap of intellect, and makes you see clearly and determine correctly. When in doubt, state the case in your own mind; when you have come to what you should do, the cap will bind itself tightly to your head. The jerkin is the jerkin of strength. While you wear it you will have four times the strength of other men. The shoes are the shoes of endurance. So long as they are on your feet you will be able to bear any toil without fatigue. As for means to support you, place your hand in your pocket and draw out a purse which it contains."
Gofaster obeyed, and drew out a small silken purse. "Why, this," he said, "contains but one coin—a broad gold piece."
"Take out the coin and put it in your pocket." And Gofaster obeyed.
"Why," said the giant, "there is another piece in the purse."
"Do with that as you did with the other." And Gofaster did so.
"Well," said the giant, "there seems to be another still."
"As often as you draw out," said the goblin, "from that inexhaustible treasury it will be replaced by another. And now I can transport you to Huperborea. You could not get there without my assistance, for between that country and this there are hundreds of miles of eternal ice and snow, with a very short season of growth of stunted herbage, with few animals that you could kill for support; and those who have tried to visit this great open sea, which skirts the Huperborea kingdom, have either been obliged to turn back or have perished miserably. I have the power to transport you thither. How will you go? Above, below, or between?"
THE JOURNEY TO HUPERBOREA.
Gofaster said to himself, "Which shall it be? Shall I go upward or on the ground—that seems best—or midway?"