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e moors；the child grew to be almost a woman； and before any one seemed awareof it； she was a wonderfully beautiful maiden of sixteen。 The casketwas splendid； but the contents were worthless。 She was； indeed； wildand savage even in those hard； uncultivated times。 It was a pleasureto her to splash about with her white hands in the warm blood of thehorse which had been slain for sacrifice。 In one of her wild moods shebit off the head of the black cock； which the priest was about to slayfor the sacrifice。 To her foster…father she said one day； 〃If thineenemy were to pull down thine house about thy ears； and thou shouldestbe sleeping in unconscious security； I would not wake thee； even ifI had the power I would never do it； for my ears still tingle with theblow that thou gavest me years ago。 I have never forgotten it。〃 Butthe Viking treated her words as a joke； he was； like every one else；bewitched with her beauty； and knew nothing of the change in theform and temper of Helga at night。 Without a saddle； she would siton a horse as if she were a part of it； while it rushed along atfull speed； nor would she spring from its back； even when itquarrelled with other horses and bit them。 She would often leap fromthe high shore into the sea with all her clothes on； and swim tomeet the Viking； when his boat was steering home towards the shore。She once cut off a long lock of her beautiful hair； and twisted itinto a string for her bow。 〃If a thing is to be done well；〃 saidshe； 〃I must do it myself。
The Viking's wife was； for the time in which she lived； a woman ofstrong character and will； but； pared to her daughter； she was agentle； timid woman； and she knew that a wicked sorcerer had theterrible child in his power。 It was sometimes as if Helga acted fromsheer wickedness； for often when her mother stood on the thresholdof the door； or stepped into the yard； she would seat herself on thebrink of the well； wave her arms and legs in the air； and suddenlyfall right in。 Here she was able； from her frog nature； to dip anddive about in the water of the deep well； until at last she wouldclimb forth like a cat； and e back into the hall dripping withwater； so that the green leaves that were strewed on the floor werewhirled round； and carried away by the streams that flowed from her。
But there was one time of the day which placed a check upon Helga。It was the evening twilight； when this hour arrived she became quietand thoughtful； and allowed herself to be advised and led； then also asecret feeling seemed to draw her towards her mother。 And as usual；when the sun set； and the transformation took place； both in bodyand mind； inwards and outwards； she would remain quiet and mournful；with her form shrunk together in the shape of a frog。 Her body wasmuch larger than those animals ever are； and on this account it wasmuch more hideous in appearance； for she looked like a wretched dwarf；with a frog's head； and webbed fingers。 Her eyes had a most piteousexpression； she was without a voice； excepting a hollow； croakingsound； like the smothered sobs of a dreaming child。
Then the Viking's wife took her on her lap； and forgot the uglyform； as she looked into the mournful eyes； and often said； 〃I couldwish that thou wouldst always remain my dumb frog child； for thouart too terrible when thou art clothed in a form of beauty。〃 And theViking woman wrote Runic characters against sorcery and spells ofsickness； and threw them over the wretched child； but they did nogood。
〃One can scarcely believe that she was ever small enough to lie inthe cup of the water…lily；〃 said the papa stork； 〃and now she is grownup； and the image of her Egyptian mother； especially about the eyes。Ah； we shall never see her again； perhaps she has not discovered howto help herself； as you and the wise men said she would。 Year afteryear have I flown across and across the moor； but there was no sign ofher being still alive。 Yes； and I may as well tell you that you thateach year； when I arrived a few days before you to repair the nest；and put everything in its place； I have spent a whole night flyinghere and there over the marshy lake； as if I had been an owl or a bat；but all to no purpose。 The two suit of swan's plumage； which I and theyoung ones dragged over here from the land of the Nile； are of no use；trouble enough it was to us to bring them here in three journeys；and now they are lying at the bottom of the nest； and if a fire shouldhappen to break out； and the wooden house be burnt down； they would bedestroyed。〃
〃And our good nest would be destroyed； too；〃 said the mamma stork；〃but you think less of that than of your plumage stuff and yourmoor…princess。 Go and stay with her in the marsh if you like。 Youare a bad father to your own children； as I have told you already；when I hatched my first brood。 I only hope neither we nor our childrenmay have an arrow sent through our wings； owing to that wild girl。Helga does not know in the least what she is about。 We have lived inthis house longer than she has； she should think of that； and wehave never forgotten our duty。 We have paid every year our toll of afeather； an egg； and a young one； as it is only right we should do。You don't suppose I can wander about the court…yard； or goeverywhere as I used to do in old times。 I can do it in Egypt； where Ican be a panion of the people； without forgetting myself。 Buthere I cannot go and peep into the pots and kettles as I do there。 No；I can only sit up here and feel angry with that girl； the littlewretch； and I am angry with you； too； you should have left her lyingin the water lily； then no one would have known anything about her。〃
〃You are far better than your conversation；〃 said the papastork； 〃I know you better than you know yourself。〃 And with that hegave a hop； and flapped his wings twice； proudly； then he stretchedhis neck and flew； or rather soared away； without moving his outspreadwings。 He went on for some distance； and then he gave a great flapwith his wings and flew on his course at a rapid rate； his head andneck bending proudly before him； while the sun's rays fell on hisglossy plumage。
〃He is the handsomest of them all；〃 said the mamma stork； as shewatched him； 〃but I won't tell him so。〃
Early in the autumn； the Viking again returned home laden withspoil； and bringing prisoners with him。 Among them was a youngChristian priest； one of those who contemned the gods of the north。Often lately there had been； both in hall and chamber； a talk of thenew faith which was spreading far and wide in the south； and which；through the means of the holy Ansgarius； had already reached as far asHedeby on the Schlei。 Even Helga had heard of this belief in theteachings of One who was named Christ； and who for the love ofmankind； and for their redemption； had given up His life。 But to herall this had； as it were； gone in one ear and out the other。 It seemedthat she only understood the meaning of the word 〃love；〃 when in theform of a miserable frog she crouched together in the corner of thesleeping chamber； but the Viking's wife had listened to thewonderful story； and had felt herself strangely moved by it。
On their return； after this voyage； the men spoke of the beautifultemples built of polished stone； which had been raised for thepublic worship of this holy love。 Some vessels； curiously formed ofmassive gold； had been brought home among the booty。 There was apeculiar fragrance about them all； for they were incense vessels；which had been swung before the altars in the temples by the Christianpriests。 In the deep stony cellars of the castle； the youngChristian priest was immured； and his hands and feet tied togetherwith strips of bark。 The Viking's wife considered him as beautifulas Baldur； and his distress raised her pity； but Helga said he oughtto have ropes fastened to his heels； and be tied to the tails ofwild animals。
〃I would let the dogs loose after him〃 she said； 〃over the moorand across the heath。 Hurrah！ that would be a spectacle for thegods； and better still to follow in its course。〃
But the Viking would not allow him to die such a death as that；especially as he was the disowned and despiser of the high gods。 Ina few days； he had decided to have him offered as a sacrifice on theblood…stone