It was then about midnight, and the woodman, with the sword in
his hand, took Im and went to one side through a succession of
gates that seemed never ending. At last they came to a place where
lights were reflected on a pond of water. There was a high pavilion
apparently in the middle of the lake, and from the inside of it came
the lights. There were sounds, too, of laughter and talking that came
from the upper storey. Through the sliding doors he could distinguish
two people seated together. There was another pavilion to the right
of the lake and a large tree near it, up which the woodman told Im
to climb.
"When you get well up," said he, "take your belt, tie yourself fast
to the trunk and keep perfectly still."
Im climbed the tree as directed, and made himself secure. From this
point of vantage he looked intently, and the first thing he saw was
the woodman give a leap that cleared the lake and landed him in the
pavilion. At once he ascended to the upper storey, and now Im could
distinguish three persons sitting talking and laughing. He heard the
woodman, after drinking, say to his neighbour, "We have made our wager,
now let's see it out." The man replied, "Let's do so." Then both arose,
came down to the entrance, and vaulted off into mid-air, where they
disappeared from sight. Nothing could be distinguished now but the
clashing of steel and flashes of fire, which kept up for a long time.
In beholding this from the tree top, where he was stationed, his
bones grew cold and his hair stood stiff on end. He knew not what to
do. Then a moment later he heard something fall to the ground with
a great thud. A cry of victory arose too, and he recognized that it
was the woodman's voice. Chills ran all over him, and goose-flesh
covered his skin; only after a long time could he gain control of
himself. He came down from the tree and the woodman met him, took him
suddenly under his arm, and vaulted over into the pavilion. Here he
met a beautiful woman with hair like fleecy clouds. Before the fight
the woman's voice was evidently full of hilarity, but now she was
overcome with grief and tears.
The woodman spoke roughly to her, saying, "Do you not know that you,
a wicked woman, have caused the death of a great man?" The woodman
said also to Im, "You have courage and valour in your way, but it is
not sufficient to meet a world like this. I will now give you this
woman, and this house, so you can bid farewell to the dusty world
and live here in peace and quiet for the rest of your days."
Im replied, "What I have seen to-night I am at a loss to
understand. I'd like to know the meaning of it first; please tell
me. After hearing that I'll do what you ask."
The woodman said, "I am not an ordinary mortal of the world, but am an
outlaw of the hills and woods. I am a robber, really, and by robbing
have many such a house as this. Not only here but in all the provinces
I have homes abundant, a beautiful woman in each, and rich and dainty
fare. All unexpectedly this woman has neglected me for another man,
and he and she have several times tried to kill me. There being no
help for it, I had to kill him. I have killed the man, but I ought
truly to have killed the woman. Take this place, then, off my hands,
will you, and the woman too?"