that would be a spectacle for thegods, and better still to follow in its course."
  But the Viking would not allow him to die such a death as that,especially as he was the disowned and despiser 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 come 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?