She knelt down and tried to wrench the lock off, but her little hands were as slender as little twigs, and she had not the strength. She threw the stone away and began to cry. Then Zhílin set to work again at the lock, and Dina squatted beside him with her hand on his shoulder.

Zhílin looked round and saw a red light to the left behind the hill. The moon was just rising. “Ah!” he thought, “before the moon has risen I must have passed the valley and be in the forest.” So he rose and threw away the stone. Shackles or no, he must go on.

“Goodbye, Dina dear!” he said. “I shall never forget you!”

Dina seized hold of him and felt about with her hands for a place to put some cheeses she had brought. He took them from her.

“Thank you, my little one. Who will make dolls for you when I am gone?” And he stroked her head.