Now too the path began to grow less and less marked; then it became a mere trace, with a footmark here and there; then it ceased altogether.

He sang no more, but struck forth a path for himself, until it reached a mighty wall of rock, smooth and without break, stretching as far as the eye could see.

'I will rear a stair against it; and, once this wall climbed, I shall be almost there,' he said bravely; and worked.

With his shuttle of imagination he dug out stones; but half of them would not fit, and half a month's work would roll down because those below were ill chosen.
But the hunter worked on, saying always to himself, 'Once this wall climbed, I shall be almost there.

This great work ended!' "At last he came out upon the top, and he looked about him.