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But the dwarf was enraged at his behaviour, and laid a fairy

spell of ill-luck upon him; so that as he rode on the mountain

pass became narrower and narrower, and at last the way was so

straitened that he could not go to step forward: and when he

thought to have turned his horse round and go back the way he

came, he heard a loud laugh ringing round him, and found that the

path was closed behind him, so that he was shut in all round. He

next tried to get off his horse and make his way on foot, but

again the laugh rang in his ears, and he found himself unable to

move a step, and thus he was forced to abide spellbound.