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of the high gods。 Ina few days； he had decided to have him offered as a sacrifice on theblood…stone in the grove。 For the first time； a man was to besacrificed here。 Helga begged to be allowed to sprinkle theassembled people with the blood of the priest。 She sharpened herglittering knife； and when one of the great； savage dogs； who wererunning about the Viking's castle in great numbers； sprang towardsher； she thrust the knife into his side； merely； as she said； to proveits sharpness。
The Viking's wife looked at the wild； badly disposed girl； withgreat sorrow； and when night came on； and her daughter's beautifulform and disposition were changed； she spoke in eloquent words toHelga of the sorrow and deep grief that was in her heart。 The uglyfrog； in its monstrous shape； stood before her； and raised its brownmournful eyes to her face； listening to her words； and seeming tounderstand them with the intelligence of a human being。
〃Never once to my lord and husband has a word passed my lips ofwhat I have to suffer through you； my heart is full of grief aboutyou；〃 said the Viking's wife。 〃The love of a mother is greater andmore powerful than I ever imagined。 But love never entered thyheart； it is cold and clammy； like the plants on the moor。〃
Then the miserable form trembled； it was as if these words hadtouched an invisible bond between body and soul； for great tears stoodin the eyes。
〃A bitter time will e for thee at last；〃 continued the Viking'swife； 〃and it will be terrible for me too。 It had been better for theeif thou hadst been left on the high…road； with the cold night windto lull thee to sleep。〃 And the Viking's wife shed bitter tears； andwent away in anger and sorrow； passing under the partition of furs；which hung loose over the beam and divided the hall。
The shrivelled frog still sat in the corner alone。 Deep silencereigned around。 At intervals； a half…stifled sigh was heard from itsinmost soul； it was the soul of Helga。 It seemed in pain； as if anew life were arising in her heart。 Then she took a step forward andlistened； then stepped again forward； and seized with her clumsy handsthe heavy bar which was laid across the door。 Gently； and with muchtrouble； she pushed back the bar； as silently lifted the latch； andthen took up the glimmering lamp which stood in the ante…chamber ofthe hall。 It seemed as if a stronger will than her own gave herstrength。 She removed the iron bolt from the closed cellar…door； andslipped in to the prisoner。 He was slumbering。 She touched him withher cold； moist hand； and as he awoke and caught sight of thehideous form； he shuddered as if he beheld a wicked apparition。 Shedrew her knife； cut through the bonds which confined his hands andfeet； and beckoned to him to follow her。 He uttered some holy namesand made the sign of the cross； while the form remained motionlessby his side。
〃Who art thou？〃 he asked； 〃whose outward appearance is that ofan animal； while thou willingly performest acts of mercy？〃
The frog…figure beckoned to him to follow her； and led him througha long gallery concealed by hanging drapery to the stables； and thenpointed to a horse。 He mounted upon it； and she sprang up alsobefore him； and held tightly by the animal's mane。 The prisonerunderstood her； and they rode on at a rapid trot； by a road which hewould never have found by himself； across the open heath。 He forgother ugly form； and only thought how the mercy and loving…kindness ofthe Almighty was acting through this hideous apparition。 As he offeredpious prayers and sang holy songs of praise； she trembled。 Was itthe effect of prayer and praise that caused this？ or； was sheshuddering in the cold morning air at the thought of approachingtwilight？ What were her feelings？ She raised herself up； and wanted tostop the horse and spring off； but the Christian priest held herback with all his might； and then sang a pious song； as if thiscould loosen the wicked charm that had changed her into thesemblance of a frog。
And the horse galloped on more wildly than before。 The sky painteditself red； the first sunbeam pierced through the clouds； and in theclear flood of sunlight the frog became changed。 It was Helga again；young and beautiful； but with a wicked demoniac spirit。 He held nowa beautiful young woman in his arms； and he was horrified at thesight。 He stopped the horse； and sprang from its back。 He imaginedthat some new sorcery was at work。 But Helga also leaped from thehorse and stood on the ground。 The child's short garment reachedonly to her knee。 She snatched the sharp knife from her girdle； andrushed like lightning at the astonished priest。 〃Let me get atthee！〃 she cried； 〃let me get at thee； that I may plunge this knifeinto thy body。 Thou art pale as ashes； thou beardless slave。〃 Shepressed in upon him。 They struggled with each other in heavy bat；but it was as if an invisible power had been given to the Christian inthe struggle。 He held her fast； and the old oak under which they stoodseemed to help him； for the loosened roots on the ground becameentangled in the maiden's feet； and held them fast。 Close by rose abubbling spring； and he sprinkled Helga's face and neck with thewater； manded the unclean spirit to e forth； and pronounced uponher a Christian blessing。 But the water of faith has no power unlessthe well…spring of faith flows within。 And yet even here its power wasshown； something more than the mere strength of a man opposeditself； through his means； against the evil which struggled withinher。 His holy action seemed to overpower her。 She dropped her arms；glanced at him with pale cheeks and looks of amazement。 He appeared toher a mighty magician skilled in secret arts； his language was thedarkest magic to her； and the movements of his hands in the air wereas the secret signs of a magician's wand。 She would not have blinkedhad he waved over her head a sharp knife or a glittering axe； butshe shrunk from him as he signed her with the sign of the cross on herforehead and breast； and sat before him like a tame bird； with herhead bowed down。 Then he spoke to her； in gentle words； of the deed oflove she had performed for him during the night； when she had eto him in the form of an ugly frog； to loosen his bonds； and to leadhim forth to life and light； and he told her that she was bound incloser fetters than he had been； and that she could recover alsolife and light by his means。 He would take her to Hedeby to St。Ansgarius； and there； in that Christian town； the spell of thesorcerer would be removed。 But he would not let her sit before himon the horse； though of her own free will she wished to do so。 〃Thoumust sit behind me； not before me；〃 said he。 〃Thy magic beauty has amagic power which es from an evil origin； and I fear it； still I amsure to overe through my faith in Christ。〃 Then he knelt down；and prayed with pious fervor。 It was as if the quiet woodland were aholy church consecrated by his worship。 The birds sang as if they werealso of this new congregation； and the fragrance of the wild flowerswas as the ambrosial perfume of incense； while； above all； sounded thewords of Scripture； 〃A light to them that sit in darkness and in theshadow of death； to guide their feet into the way of peace。〃 And hespoke these words with the deep longing of his whole nature。
Meanwhile； the horse that had carried them in wild career stoodquietly by； plucking at the tall bramble…bushes； till the ripe youngberries fell down upon Helga's hands； as if inviting her to eat。Patiently she allowed herself to be lifted on the horse； and sat therelike a somnambulist… as one who walked in his sleep。 The Christianbound two branches together with bark； in the form of a cross； andheld it on high as they rode through the forest。 The way graduallygrew thicker of brushwood； as they rode along； till at last itbecame a trackless wilderness。 Bushes of the wild sloe here andthere blocked up the path； so that they had to ride over them。 Thebubbling spring formed not a stream； but a marsh； round which alsothey were obliged to guide the horse； still there were strength andrefreshment in the cool forest breeze； and no trifling power in thegentle words spoken in faith and Christian love by the young priest；whose inmost heart yearned to lead this poor l