nowforhome!"

buthelgasaidshecouldnotleavethedanishlandwithoutoncemoreseeingherfoster-mother,thelovingwifeoftheviking.eachpleasingrecollection,eachkindword,everytearfromtheheartwhichherfoster-motherhadweptforher,roseinhermind,andatthatmomentshefeltasifshelovedthismotherthebest.

"yes,wemustgototheviking'scastle,"saidthestork;"motherandtheyoungonesarewaitingformethere.howtheywillopentheireyesandflaptheirwings!mywife,yousee,doesnotsaymuch;sheisshortandabruptinhermanner;butshemeanswell,forallthat.iwillflapmywingsatonce,thattheymayhearuscoming."thenstork-papaflappedhiswingsinfirst-ratestyle,andheandtheswansflewawaytotheviking'scastle.

inthecastle,everyonewasinadeepsleep.ithadbeenlateintheeveningbeforetheviking'swiferetiredtorest.shewasanxiousabouthelga,who,threedaysbefore,hadvanishedwiththechristianpriest.helgamusthavehelpedhiminhisflight,foritwasherhorsethatwasmissedfromthestable;butbywhatpowerhadallthisbeenaccomplished?theviking'swifethoughtofitwithwonder,thoughtonthemiracleswhichtheysaidcouldbeperformedbythosewhobelievedinthechristianfaith,andfolloweditsteachings.thesepassingthoughtsformedthemselvesintoavividdream,anditseemedtoherthatshewasstilllyingawakeonhercouch,whilewithoutdarknessreigned.astormarose;sheheardthelakedashingandrollingfromeastandwest,likethewavesofthenorthseaorthecattegat.themonstroussnakewhich,itissaid,surroundstheearthinthedepthsoftheocean,wastremblinginspasmodicnightofthefallofthegodswascome,"ragnorock,"astheheathenscallthejudgment-day,wheneverythingshallpassaway,eventhehighgodsthemselves.thewartrumpetsounded;ridingupontherainbow,camethegods,cladinsteel,tofighttheirlastbattleonthelastbattle-field.beforethemflewthewingedvampires,andthedeadwarriorsclosedupthetrain.thewholefirmamentwasablazewiththenorthernlights,andyetthedarknesstriumphed.itwasaterriblehour.and,closetotheterrifiedwoman,helgaseemedtobeseatedonthefloor,inthehideousformofafrog,yettrembling,andclingingtoherfoster-mother,whotookheronherlap,andlovinglycaressedher,hideousandfrog-likeasshewas.theairwasfilledwiththeclashingofarmsandthehissingofarrows,asifastormofhailwasdescendingupontheearth.itseemedtoherthehourwhenearthandskywouldburstasunder,andallthingsbeswallowedupinsaturn'sfierylake;butsheknewthatanewheavenandanewearthwouldarise,andthatcorn-fieldswouldwavewherenowthelakerolledoverdesolatesands,andtheineffablegodreign.thenshesawrisingfromtheregionofthedead,baldurthegentle,theloving,andastheviking'swifegazeduponhim,sherecognizedhiscountenance.itwasthecaptivechristianpriest."whitechristian!"sheexclaimedaloud,andwiththewords,shepressedakissontheforeheadofthehideousfrog-child.thenthefrog-skinfelloff,andhelgastoodbeforeherinallherbeauty,morelovelyandgentle-looking,andwitheyesbeamingwithlove.shekissedthehandsofherfoster-mother,blessedherforallherfosteringloveandcareduringthedaysofhertrialandmisery,forthethoughtsshehadsuggestedandawokeinherheart,andfornamingthenamewhichshenowrepeated.thenbeautifulhelgaroseasamightyswan,andspreadherwingswiththerushingsoundoftroopsofbirdsofpassageflyingthroughtheair.

thentheviking'swifeawoke,butshestillheardtherushingsoundwithout.sheknewitwasthetimeforthestorkstodepart,andthatitmustbetheirwingswhichsheheard.shefeltsheshouldliketoseethemoncemore,andbidthemfarewell.sherosefromhercouch,steppedoutonthethreshold,andbeheld,ontheridgeoftheroof,apartyofstorksrangedsidebyside.troopsofthebirdswereflyingincirclesoverthecastleandthehighesttrees;butjustbeforeher,asshestoodonthethresholdandclosetothewellwherehelgahadsooftensatandalarmedherwithherwildness,nowstoodtwoswans,gazingatherwithintelligenteyes.thensherememberedherdream,whichstillappearedtoherasareality.shethoughtofhelgaintheformofaswan.shethoughtofachristianpriest,andsuddenlyawonderfuljoyaroseinherheart.theswansflappedtheirwingsandarchedtheirnecksasiftoofferheragreeting,andtheviking'swifespreadoutherarmstowardsthem,asifsheacceptedit,andsmiledthroughhertears.shewasrousedfromdeepthoughtbyarustlingofwingsandsnappingofbeaks;allthestorksarose,andstartedontheirjourneytowardsthesouth.

"wewillnotwaitfortheswans,"saidthemammastork;"iftheywanttogowithus,letthemcomenow;wecan'tsitheretilltheploversstart.itisafinethingafteralltotravelinfamilies,notlikethefinchesandthepartridges.therethemaleandthefemalebirdsflyinseparateflocks,which,tospeakcandidly,iconsiderveryunbecoming."

"whatarethoseswansflappingtheirwingsfor?"