or,wassheshudderinginthecoldmorningairatthethoughtofapproachingtwilight?whatwereherfeelings?sheraisedherselfup,andwantedtostopthehorseandspringoff,butthechristianpriestheldherbackwithallhismight,andthensangapioussong,asifthiscouldloosenthewickedcharmthathadchangedherintothesemblanceofafrog.

andthehorsegallopedonmorewildlythanbefore.theskypainteditselfred,thefirstsunbeampiercedthroughtheclouds,andintheclearfloodofsunlightthefrogbecamechanged.itwashelgaagain,youngandbeautiful,butwithawickeddemoniacspirit.heheldnowabeautifulyoungwomaninhisarms,andhewashorrifiedatthesight.hestoppedthehorse,andsprangfromitsback.heimaginedthatsomenewsorcerywasatwork.buthelgaalsoleapedfromthehorseandstoodontheground.thechild'sshortgarmentreachedonlytoherknee.shesnatchedthesharpknifefromhergirdle,andrushedlikelightningattheastonishedpriest."letmegetatthee!"shecried;"letmegetatthee,thatimayplungethisknifeintothybody.thouartpaleasashes,thoubeardlessslave."shepressedinuponhim.theystruggledwitheachotherinheavycombat,butitwasasifaninvisiblepowerhadbeengiventothechristianinthestruggle.heheldherfast,andtheoldoakunderwhichtheystoodseemedtohelphim,fortheloosenedrootsonthegroundbecameentangledinthemaiden'sfeet,andheldthemfast.closebyroseabubblingspring,andhesprinkledhelga'sfaceandneckwiththewater,commandedtheuncleanspirittocomeforth,andpronounceduponherachristianblessing.butthewateroffaithhasnopowerunlessthewell-springoffaithflowswithin.andyetevenhereitspowerwasshown;somethingmorethanthemerestrengthofamanopposeditself,throughhismeans,againsttheevilwhichstruggledwithinher.hisholyactionseemedtooverpowerher.shedroppedherarms,glancedathimwithpalecheeksandlooksofamazement.heappearedtoheramightymagicianskilledinsecretarts;hislanguagewasthedarkestmagictoher,andthemovementsofhishandsintheairwereasthesecretsignsofamagician'swand.shewouldnothaveblinkedhadhewavedoverherheadasharpknifeoraglitteringaxe;butsheshrunkfromhimashesignedherwiththesignofthecrossonherforeheadandbreast,andsatbeforehimlikeatamebird,withherheadboweddown.thenhespoketoher,ingentlewords,ofthedeedofloveshehadperformedforhimduringthenight,whenshehadcometohimintheformofanuglyfrog,toloosenhisbonds,andtoleadhimforthtolifeandlight;andhetoldherthatshewasboundincloserfettersthanhehadbeen,andthatshecouldrecoveralsolifeandlightbyhismeans.hewouldtakehertohedebytosgarius,andthere,inthatchristiantown,thespellofthesorcererwouldberemoved.buthewouldnotlethersitbeforehimonthehorse,thoughofherownfreewillshewishedtodoso."thoumustsitbehindme,notbeforeme,"saidhe."thymagicbeautyhasamagicpowerwhichcomesfromanevilorigin,andifearit;stilliamsuretoovercomethroughmyfaithinchrist."thenhekneltdown,andprayedwithpiousfervor.itwasasifthequietwoodlandwereaholychurchconsecratedbyhisworship.thebirdssangasiftheywerealsoofthisnewcongregation;andthefragranceofthewildflowerswasastheambrosialperfumeofincense;while,aboveall,soundedthewordsofscripture,"alighttothemthatsitindarknessandintheshadowofdeath,toguidetheirfeetintothewayofpeace."andhespokethesewordswiththedeeplongingofhiswholenature.

meanwhile,thehorsethathadcarriedtheminwildcareerstoodquietlyby,pluckingatthetallbramble-bushes,tilltheripeyoungberriesfelldownuponhelga'shands,asifinvitinghertoeat.patientlysheallowedherselftobeliftedonthehorse,andsattherelikeasomnambulist-asonewhowalkedinhissleep.thechristianboundtwobranchestogetherwithbark,intheformofacross,andhelditonhighastheyrodethroughtheforest.thewaygraduallygrewthickerofbrushwood,astheyrodealong,tillatlastitbecameatracklesswilderness.bushesofthewildsloehereandthereblockedupthepath,sothattheyhadtorideoverthem.thebubblingspringformednotastream,butamarsh,roundwhichalsotheywereobligedtoguidethehorse;stilltherewerestrengthandrefreshmentinthecoolforestbreeze,andnotriflingpowerinthegentlewordsspokeninfaithandchristianlovebytheyoungpriest,whoseinmostheartyearnedtoleadthispoorlostoneintothewayoflightandlife.itissaidthatrain-dropscanmakeahollowinthehardeststone,andthewavesoftheseacansmoothandroundtheroughedgesoftherocks;sodidthedewofmercyfalluponhelga,softeningwhatwashard,andsmoothingwhatwasroughinhercharacter.theseeffectsdidnotyetappear;shewasnotherselfawareofthem;neitherdoestheseedinthelapofearthknow,whentherefreshingdewandthewarmsunbeamsfalluponit,thatitcontainswithinitselfpowerbywhichitwillflourishandbloom.thesongofthemothersinksintotheheartofthechild,andthelittleoneprattlesthewordsafterher,withoutunderstandingtheirmeaning;butafteratimethethoughtsexpand,andwhathasbeenheardinchildhoodseemstothemindclearandbright.sonowthe"word,"whichisall-powerfultocreate,wasworkingintheheartofhelga.

theyrodeforthfromthethickforest,crossedtheheath,andagainenteredapathlesswood.here,towardsevening,theymetwithrobbers.

"wherehastthoustolenthatbeauteousmaiden?"