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offered a prayer from herinmost heart； but still no appearance of the rock。 Dark clouds camenearer； the gusts of wind told of a ing storm； while from athick； heavy mass of clouds the lightning burst forth flash afterflash。 The sun had reached the edge of the sea； when the swansdarted down so swiftly； that Eliza's head trembled； she believedthey were falling； but they again soared onward。 Presently shecaught sight of the rock just below them； and by this time the sun washalf hidden by the waves。 The rock did not appear larger than a seal'shead thrust out of the water。 They sunk so rapidly； that at the momenttheir feet touched the rock； it shone only like a star； and at lastdisappeared like the last spark in a piece of burnt paper。 Then shesaw her brothers standing closely round her with their arms linkedtogether。 There was but just room enough for them； and not thesmallest space to spare。 The sea dashed against the rock； andcovered them with spray。 The heavens were lighted up with continualflashes； and peal after peal of thunder rolled。 But the sister andbrothers sat holding each other's hands； and singing hymns； from whichthey gained hope and courage。 In the early dawn the air became calmand still； and at sunrise the swans flew away from the rock withEliza。 The sea was still rough； and from their high position in theair； the white foam on the dark green waves looked like millions ofswans swimming on the water。 As the sun rose higher； Eliza sawbefore her； floating on the air； a range of mountains； with shiningmasses of ice on their summits。 In the centre； rose a castleapparently a mile long； with rows of columns； rising one aboveanother； while； around it； palm…trees waved and flowers bloomed aslarge as mill wheels。 She asked if this was the land to which theywere hastening。 The swans shook their heads； for what she beheldwere the beautiful ever…changing cloud palaces of the 〃FataMorgana；〃 into which no mortal can enter。 Eliza was still gazing atthe scene； when mountains； forests； and castles melted away； andtwenty stately churches rose in their stead； with high towers andpointed gothic windows。 Eliza even fancied she could hear the tones ofthe organ； but it was the music of the murmuring sea which sheheard。 As they drew nearer to the churches； they also changed into afleet of ships； which seemed to be sailing beneath her； but as shelooked again； she found it was only a sea mist gliding over the ocean。So there continued to pass before her eyes a constant change of scene；till at last she saw the real land to which they were bound； withits blue mountains； its cedar forests； and its cities and palaces。Long before the sun went down； she sat on a rock； in front of alarge cave； on the floor of which the over…grown yet delicate greencreeping plants looked like an embroidered carpet。 〃Now we shallexpect to hear what you dream of to…night；〃 said the youngest brother；as he showed his sister her bedroom。
〃Heaven grant that I may dream how to save you；〃 she replied。And this thought took such hold upon her mind that she prayedearnestly to God for help； and even in her sleep she continued topray。 Then it appeared to her as if she were flying high in the air；towards the cloudy palace of the 〃Fata Morgana；〃 and a fairy cameout to meet her； radiant and beautiful in appearance； and yet verymuch like the old woman who had given her berries in the wood； and whohad told her of the swans with golden crowns on their heads。 〃Yourbrothers can be released；〃 said she； 〃if you have only courage andperseverance。 True； water is softer than your own delicate hands；and yet it polishes stones into shapes； it feels no pain as yourfingers would feel； it has no soul； and cannot suffer such agony andtorment as you will have to endure。 Do you see the stinging tlewhich I hold in my hand？ Quantities of the same sort grow round thecave in which you sleep； but none will be of any use to you unlessthey grow upon the graves in a churchyard。 These you must gathereven while they burn blisters on your hands。 Break them to pieces withyour hands and feet； and they will bee flax； from which you mustspin and weave eleven coats with long sleeves； if these are thenthrown over the eleven swans； the spell will be broken。 Butremember； that from the moment you mence your task until it isfinished； even should it occupy years of your life； you must notspeak。 The first word you utter will pierce through the hearts of yourbrothers like a deadly dagger。 Their lives hang upon your tongue。Remember all I have told you。〃 And as she finished speaking； shetouched her hand lightly with the tle； and a pain； as of burningfire； awoke Eliza。
It was broad daylight； and close by where she had been sleepinglay a tle like the one she had seen in her dream。 She fell on herknees and offered her thanks to God。 Then she went forth from the caveto begin her work with her delicate hands。 She groped in amongst theugly tles； which burnt great blisters on her hands and arms； butshe determined to bear it gladly if she could only release her dearbrothers。 So she bruised the tles with her bare feet and spun theflax。 At sunset her brothers returned and were very much frightenedwhen they found her dumb。 They believed it to be some new sorcery oftheir wicked step…mother。 But when they saw her hands theyunderstood what she was doing on their behalf； and the youngestbrother wept； and where his tears fell the pain ceased； and theburning blisters vanished。 She kept to her work all night； for shecould not rest till she had released her dear brothers。 During thewhole of the following day； while her brothers were absent； she sat insolitude； but never before had the time flown so quickly。 One coat wasalready finished and she had begun the second； when she heard thehuntsman's horn； and was struck with fear。 The sound came nearer andnearer； she heard the dogs barking； and fled with terror into thecave。 She hastily bound together the tles she had gathered into abundle and sat upon them。 Immediately a great dog came boundingtowards her out of the ravine； and then another and another； theybarked loudly； ran back； and then came again。 In a very few minutesall the huntsmen stood before the cave； and the handsomest of them wasthe king of the country。 He advanced towards her； for he had neverseen a more beautiful maiden。
〃How did you e here； my sweet child？〃 he asked。 But Eliza shookher head。 She dared not speak； at the cost of her brothers' lives。 Andshe hid her hands under her apron； so that the king might not seehow she must be suffering。
〃e with me；〃 he said； 〃here you cannot remain。 If you are asgood as you are beautiful； I will dress you in silk and velvet； I willplace a golden crown upon your head； and you shall dwell； and rule；and make your home in my richest castle。〃 And then he lifted her onhis horse。 She wept and wrung her hands； but the king said； 〃I wishonly for your happiness。 A time will e when you will thank me forthis。〃 And then he galloped away over the mountains； holding herbefore him on this horse； and the hunters followed behind them。 As thesun went down； they approached a fair royal city； with churches； andcupolas。 On arriving at the castle the king led her into marble halls；where large fountains played； and where the walls and the ceilingswere covered with rich paintings。 But she had no eyes for all theseglorious sights； she could only mourn and weep。 Patiently sheallowed the women to array her in royal robes； to weave pearls inher hair； and draw soft gloves over her blistered fingers。 As shestood before them in all her rich dress； she looked so dazzinglybeautiful that the court bowed low in her presence。 Then the kingdeclared his intention of making her his bride； but the archbishopshook his head； and whispered that the fair young maiden was only awitch who had blinded the king's eyes and bewitched his heart。 But theking would not listen to this； he ordered the music to sound； thedaintiest dishes to be served； and the loveliest maidens to dance。After…wards he led her through fragrant gardens and lofty halls； butnot a smile appeared on her lips or sparkled in her eyes。 She lookedthe very picture of grief。 Then the king opened the door of a littlechamber in which she。 was to sleep； it was adorned with rich gr