Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/170

THE CHILDREN tine will be saved. But you must never tell any one why you killed the horse. If you do you will turn into stone from your feet up to your knees."

"Alas, alas!" said John Ball.

"But even then the peril made by the hag's plotting will not be past. She will strive to take Golden Hood from Valentine. When you go into the bride's chamber in the palace you will see the bridal dress upon the couch. All woven of gold it will seem. Golden Hood will put out her hands to take it up and put it around her. If she does the dress will turn into pitch and brimstone and burn her to death. But if you will seize the dress before she puts her hands on it and fling it into the fire no harm will come to her."

"I will do it," said John Ball.

"You must not tell any one why you have burned the bridal dress. If you do you will change from your knees to your heart into stone."