Page:Christmas Fireside Stories.djvu/133

 Motiier Bertha's Stories. 121 she did not adjust her voice to my ear, arid &o I heard the whole form ula >—» My black horse chanced to get a sprain, Flesh placed 'gainst flesh, and blood 'gainst blood Have made my black horse well again." Her voice now subsided to an inaudible whisper. The end of the verse consistcd of a repetition of the word " fy, " which she hurled to the four corncrs of the world. During the height of this incantation she had risen from her seat; now she sat down again by the hearth. The cold brandy, which she now poured over my foot, had a pleasant cooling effect. " I think it has already done me good, Bertha," said I ; " but tell me, what was that you read over the brandy ? " " No, I dåre not tell you that, for you might tell the parson and the doctor," she said with a sly grin, which apparently meant that she did not care much for either of them ; "and I had to promise the one who taught it to me that I would not tell any human being except my own km. I have sworn to it with such a frightfui oath, that I hope I shall never utter anything so frightful again." " Well; there is no use asking you any more about that, Bertha," said I, "but I suppose it's no secret, who taught you the art ? He must have been a regular sorcerer." " Yes, you are quite right there ; he was a regular sorcerer—he was my mother's own brother, Mads in Hurdale," she answered. stop bleeding, melt lead, and tell of stolen goods ; and to tell the truth, he knew also a little about witchcraft, and could afflict people with evil. It was he who taught me J But wise as he was, he could not protect himself 'gainst witchcraft for all that ! " " How?" I asked, "was he bewitched then? Was he possessed?" " No, not exactly," answered Bertha. " But something happened to him, and afterwards he seemed to be quite another man for some time. He must have been spellbound by the huldre. Yo u
 * ' As I was riding through a gate,
 * ' He could read over and cure all sorts of ailments and sprains,