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have helped him in his flight； for it washer horse that was missed from the stable； but by what power had allthis been acplished？ The Viking's wife thought of it with wonder；thought on the miracles which they said could be performed by thosewho believed in the Christian faith； and followed its teachings。 Thesepassing thoughts formed themselves into a vivid dream； and it seemedto her that she was still lying awake on her couch； while withoutdarkness reigned。 A storm arose； she heard the lake dashing androlling from east and west； like the waves of the North Sea or theCattegat。 The monstrous snake which； it is said； surrounds the earthin the depths of the ocean； was trembling in spasmodic convulsions。The night of the fall of the gods was e； 〃Ragnorock；〃 as theheathens call the judgment…day； when everything shall pass away；even the high gods themselves。 The war trumpet sounded； riding uponthe rainbow； came the gods； clad in steel； to fight their lastbattle on the last battle…field。 Before them flew the winged vampires；and the dead warriors closed up the train。 The whole firmament wasablaze with the northern lights； and yet the darkness triumphed。 Itwas a terrible hour。 And； close to the terrified woman； Helga seemedto be seated on the floor； in the hideous form of a frog； yettrembling； and clinging to her foster…mother； who took her on her lap；and lovingly caressed her； hideous and frog…like as she was。 The airwas filled with the clashing of arms and the hissing of arrows； asif a storm of hail was descending upon the earth。 It seemed to her thehour when earth and sky would burst asunder； and all things beswallowed up in Saturn's fiery lake； but she knew that a new heavenand a new earth would arise； and that corn…fields would wave where nowthe lake rolled over desolate sands； and the ineffable God reign。 Thenshe saw rising from the region of the dead； Baldur the gentle； theloving； and as the Viking's wife gazed upon him； she recognized hiscountenance。 It was the captive Christian priest。 〃White Christian！〃she exclaimed aloud； and with the words； she pressed a kiss on theforehead of the hideous frog…child。 Then the frog…skin fell off； andHelga stood before her in all her beauty； more lovely andgentle…looking； and with eyes beaming with love。 She kissed thehands of her foster…mother； blessed her for all her fostering love andcare during the days of her trial and misery； for the thoughts she hadsuggested and awoke in her heart； and for naming the Name which shenow repeated。 Then beautiful Helga rose as a mighty swan； and spreadher wings with the rushing sound of troops of birds of passageflying through the air。
Then the Viking's wife awoke； but she still heard the rushingsound without。 She knew it was the time for the storks to depart；and that it must be their wings which she heard。 She felt she shouldlike to see them once more； and bid them farewell。 She rose from hercouch； stepped out on the threshold； and beheld； on the ridge of theroof； a party of storks ranged side by side。 Troops of the birdswere flying in circles over the castle and the highest trees； but justbefore her； as she stood on the threshold and close to the wellwhere Helga had so often sat and alarmed her with her wildness； nowstood two swans； gazing at her with intelligent eyes。 Then sheremembered her dream； which still appeared to her as a reality。 Shethought of Helga in the form of a swan。 She thought of a Christianpriest； and suddenly a wonderful joy arose in her heart。 The swansflapped their wings and arched their necks as if to offer her agreeting； and the Viking's wife spread out her arms towards them； asif she accepted it； and smiled through her tears。 She was rousedfrom deep thought by a rustling of wings and snapping of beaks； allthe storks arose； and started on their journey towards the south。
〃We will not wait for the swans；〃 said the mamma stork； 〃if theywant to go with us； let them e now； we can't sit here till theplovers start。 It is a fine thing after all to travel in families； notlike the finches and the partridges。 There the male and the femalebirds fly in separate flocks； which； to speak candidly； I considervery unbeing。〃
〃What are those swans flapping their wings for？〃
〃Well； every one flies in his own fashion；〃 said the papa stork。〃The swans fly in an oblique line； the cranes； in the form of atriangle； and the plovers； in a curved line like a snake。〃
〃Don't talk about snakes while we are flying up here；〃 saidstork…mamma。 〃It puts ideas into the children's heads that can notbe realized。〃
〃Are those the high mountains I have heard spoken of？〃 askedHelga； in the swan's plumage。
〃They are storm…clouds driving along beneath us；〃 replied hermother。
〃What are yonder white clouds that rise so high？〃 again inquiredHelga。
〃Those are mountains covered with perpetual snows； that you seeyonder；〃 said her mother。 And then they flew across the Alps towardsthe blue Mediterranean。
〃Africa's land！ Egyptia's strand！〃 sang the daughter of theNile； in her swan's plumage； as from the upper air she caught sight ofher native land； a narrow； golden； wavy strip on the shores of theNile； the other birds espied it also and hastened their flight。
〃I can smell the Nile mud and the wet frogs；〃 said thestork…mamma； 〃and I begin to feel quite hungry。 Yes； now you shalltaste something nice； and you will see the marabout bird； and theibis； and the crane。 They all belong to our family； but they are notnearly so handsome as we are。 They give themselves great airs；especially the ibis。 The Egyptians have spoilt him。 They make amummy of him； and stuff him with spices。 I would rather be stuffedwith live frogs； and so would you； and so you shall。 Better havesomething in your inside while you are alive； than to be made a paradeof after you are dead。 That is my opinion； and I am always right。〃
〃The storks are e；〃 was said in the great house on the banks ofthe Nile； where the lord lay in the hall on his downy cushions；covered with a leopard skin； scarcely alive； yet not dead； waiting andhoping for the lotus…flower from the deep moorland in the far north。Relatives and servants were standing by his couch； when the twobeautiful swans who had e with the storks flew into the hall。They threw off their soft white plumage； and two lovely female formsapproached the pale； sick old man； and threw back their long hair； andwhen Helga bent over her grandfather； redness came back to his cheeks；his eyes brightened； and life returned to his benumbed limbs。 Theold man rose up with health and energy renewed； daughter andgrandchild weled him as joyfully as if with a morning greetingafter a long and troubled dream。
Joy reigned through the whole house； as well as in the stork'snest； although there the chief cause was really the good food；especially the quantities of frogs； which seemed to spring out ofthe ground in swarms。
Then the learned men hastened to note down； in flyingcharacters； the story of the two princesses； and spoke of thearrival of the health…giving flower as a mighty event； which hadbeen a blessing to the house and the land。 Meanwhile； the stork…papatold the story to his family in his own way； but not till they hadeaten and were satisfied； otherwise they would have had something elseto do than to listen to stories。
〃Well；〃 said the stork…mamma； when she had heard it； 〃you willbe made something of at last； I suppose they can do nothing less。〃
〃What could I be made？〃 said stork…papa； 〃what have I done？…just nothing。〃
〃You have done more than all the rest；〃 she replied。 〃But foryou and the youngsters the two young princesses would never haveseen Egypt again； and the recovery of the old man would not havebeen effected。 You will bee something。 They must certainly give youa doctor's hood； and our young ones will inherit it； and theirchildren after them； and so on。 You already look like an Egyptiandoctor； at least in my eyes。〃
〃I cannot quite remember the words I heard when I listened onthe roof；〃 said stork…papa； while relating the story to his family；〃all I know is； that what the wise men said was so plicated andso learned； that they received not only rank； but presents； even thehead cook at the great house was honored with a mark of distinction；most likely