Northern mythology

1 10 NORTH GERMAN TRADITIONS.
self out to a considerable length. Formerly he might appear
in the upper world once in every hundred years ; but
now he may no longer do so.
Some say the Hiibichenstein floated to its present site at the time of the
Deluge ; others that a giant found it in his shoe and shook it out there.
II.
THE ASCENT OF THE HUBICHENSTEIN.
In the forest-house at Grund there dwelt in former times
a forester, who lost his wife at a very early period, and had
only one son. The youth was said to be both good and
clever, only somewhat too inquisitive, as youths now-adays
are wont to be. This lad one day went out with
some of his companions to take a walk in the wood, and
on reaching the Hiibichenstein their discourse turned upon
its height, when one of them said, that could easily be
ascertained by any one who would ascend it. Whereupon
the forester^s son remarked, that to ascend it was a trifling
matter, and he would undertake the adventure,
although
the others strongly endeavoured to dissuade him; for
whenever any one has ascended it, he has not been able
to come down again, and on the following morning has
been found lying at the foot dashed to atoms. To this
story the forester's son gave no credit, but, laughing, said
that he would be the first to do the deed, and would not
allow himself to be held back. His task must have been
hard enough, for what is now called the Little Hiibichenstein
was formerly much higher than that which is now
called the Great Hiibichenstein, and was therefore then
named the Great Hiibichenstein.
When standing on the summit he laughed at and jeered
his friends, saying they appeared as diminutive as dwarfs.
When he had stood thus for some time the wind began to
blow and he thought it advisable to descend, but could
not, being unable to move a foot ; while those below were