Page 571 - Child's own book

hands* they understood what she was doing foT their sakes; and
the youngest brother wept, and wherever his tears fell on her
hands, the burning blisters disappeared.
She worked ail night, for she could not rest tilt she had
delivered her dear brothers. The swans were absent during the
whole of the following day, and she sat alone ; but never had
the hours seemed to fly faster. One coat of mail was already
finished, and. she then began another,
A bugle-horn now echoed amongst the mountains, and made
her start with fear. The sound approached— she heard the
barking of dogs, and she flew back into the cave in great alarm,
and tying up the nettles that she had gathered and dressed, into
a bundle, she sat upon it.
At that moment, a large dog jumped out from a narrow pass
between the mountains, and was quickly followed by another,
and another still; they barked aloud, and ran back, and then
returned again. In a few minutes, all the huntsmen stood, before
the cave, and the handsomest amongst them was the king of the
land. He stepped up to Eiise, who was the most beautiful gitl
he had ever seen.
** How did you come hither, lovely maiden ? ” asked he.
Elise shook her head. She dared not speak, for her
brothers’ delivery and lives were at stake; and she hid her
hands under her apron, that the king might not see what she
must be enduring.
“ Come with me,” said h e; (< you cannot temain here. If
you are as good as you are beautiful, 1 will dress you in silk and
velvet, and place my gold crown on your head, and you shall
dwell in my richest palace. He then lifted her on to hla horse.
She wept, and wrung her hands, but the king said : u I do but
wish for your happiness. Some day you will thank me for what
I am doing.’*