Page:The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen (c1899).djvu/141

 THE MARSH KINGS DAUGHTER

1 1

pyramid, I did not know which. He flung his arms about me, and I felt that I should die. When I first returned to life again, and m- breast became warm, there was a little bird which beat its wuigs, and twittered and sang. It flew up from my breast towards the dark, heavy roof, but a long green band still fastened it to me. I heard and understood its longing notes : ' Liberty ! sun- shine ! to my father ! ' Then I thought of my father in the sun-lit land of my home, my life, my affection ! and I loosed the band and let him flutter away — home to his father. Since that hour I have not dreamed : I slept a long and heavy sleep till the moment when the sounds and fragrance arose and raised me."

That green band from the mother's heart to the bird's wings, whither had it passed now ? where was it lying cast away ? Onl_- the stork had seen it. The band was that green stalk ; the knot was that shining flower which ser-ed as a cradle for the child who now had grown in beaut)', and again reposed near the mother's heart

And whilst they stood there in close embrace, the father-stork flew in circles about them, made speed to his nest, fetched from thence the feather dresses kept for so many years, and threw one over each of them ; and they flew, and raised themselves from the earth like two white swans.

" Let us talk," said father- stork, " now that we can under- stand each other's speech, al- though the beak is cut differently on one bird and on the other ! It is the most lucky thing possible that you come to-night. In the morning we should have been off, mother, and I, and the young ones ! We are flying to the South ! Yes, look at me ! I am an old friend from the land of the Nile, and that is the mother : she has more in her heart than in her chatter. She always be- lieved that the princess was onl- taking care of herself I and the young ones have brought the swan-skins here. Well, how glad I am ! And what a fortunate- thing it is that I am here still I At daybreak we shall set oflT, a large part}- of storks. We fly in front ; you can fly behind, and then you will not mistake the way. I and the young ones will then be able to keep an eye upon you

" And the lotus flower, that I ought to bring," said the Eg.-ptian princess, " it flies in swan's plumage b' m>- side I I have the flower of m>- heart with me ; thus it has released itself Home- ward ! homeward I "

But Helga said that she could not leave the land of Denmark till she had once more seen her foster-mother, the kind wife of the Viking. In Helga's thoughts came up ever)- beautiful remembrance, ever- affectionate word, ever)' tear which her foster-mother had shed, and it almost seemed at that instant as if she clung closest to that mother.

" Yes, we will go to the Viking's house," said the stork-father. "There I expect mother and the young one.s. How they will open their eyes and chatter about it ! Yes, mother doesn't say so very much ; what she does is short and pith-, and so she thinks the best ! I will sound the rattle directl)-, so that she will hear we are coming."

.And so father-stork chattered his beak, and flew with the swans to hold.

Ever)- one there was l)-ing deep in slumber. The Viking's wife had not gone to rest till late that night ; she was still in fear for little Helga, who had disappeared three days ago with the Christian priest. She must have helped him to escape, for it was her horse that was missing from

THE HIDEOUS FORM OF A TOAD, TREMBLING AND .NESTLING UP AGAINST HER FOSTER-MOTHER.

I"

the Viking's strong-