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and pressed it hard against his forehead； vainly struggling to clear his
thoughts。 The men clung fearfully together； a few of the more
courageous ones drew their knives and made the sign of the cross with
them in the air。 Again the same mad laugh shook the air； and swept over
the crowns of the pine…trees。 Then Lage lifted his eyes toward heaven
and wrung his hands： for the awful truth stood before him。 He remained
a long while leaning against that old fir as in a dead stupor； and no one
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dared to arouse him。 A suppressed murmur reached the men's ears。
〃But deliver us from evil〃 were the last words they heard。
When Lage and his servants came home to Kvaerk with the mournful
tidings of Aasa's disappearance； no one knew what to do or say。 There
could be no doubt that Aasa was 〃mountain… taken；〃 as they call it； for
there were Trolds and dwarfs in all the rocks and forests round about； and
they would hardly let slip the chance of alluring so fair a maiden as Aasa
was into their castles in the mountains。 Elsie； her mother； knew a good
deal about the Trolds； their tricks； and their way of living； and when she
had wept her fill； she fell to thinking of the possibility of regaining her
daughter from their power。 If Aasa had not yet tasted of food or drink in
the mountain； she was still out of danger； and if the pastor would allow the
church…bell to be brought up into the forest and rung near the rock where
the laugh had been heard； the Trolds could be compelled to give her back。
No sooner had this been suggested to Lage； than the command was given
to muster the whole force of men and horses； and before evening on the
same day the sturdy swains of Kvaerk were seen climbing the tower of the
venerable church； whence soon the huge old bell descended； to the
astonishment of the throng of curious women and children who had
flocked together to see the extraordinary sight。 It was laid upon four
large wagons； which had been joined together with ropes and planks； and
drawn away by twelve strong horses。 Long after the strange caravan had
vanished in the twilight； the children stood gazing up into the empty bell…
tower。
It was near midnight； when Lage stood at the steep； rocky wall in the
forest； the men were laboring to hoist the church…bell up to a staunch
cross…beam between two mighty fir…trees； and in the weird light of their
torches； the wild surroundings looked wilder and more fantastic。 Anon；
the muffled noise and bustle of the work being at an end； the laborers
withdrew； and a strange； feverish silence seemed to brood over the forest。
Lage took a step forward； and seized the bell…rope； the clear； conquering
toll of the metal rung solemnly through the silence； and from the rocks； the
earth； and the tree… tops； rose a fierce chorus of howls； groans； and
screams。 All night the ringing continued； the old trees swayed to and fro；
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
creaked； and groaned； the roots loosened their holds in the fissures of the
rock； and the bushy crowns bowed low under their unwonted burden。
It was well…nigh morn； but the dense fog still brooded over the woods；
and it was dark as night。 Lage was sitting on the ground； his head
leaning on both his elbows； at his side lay the flickering torch； and the
huge bell hung dumb overhead。 In the dark he felt a hand touch his
shoulder； had it happened only a few hours before； he would have
shuddered； now the physical sensation hardly communicated itself to his
mind； or； if it did； had no power to rouse him from his dead； hopeless
apathy。 Suddenlycould he trust his own ears？the church…bell gave a
slow； solemn； quivering stroke； and the fogs rolled in thick masses to the
east and to the west； as if blown by the breath of the sound。 Lage seized
his torch； sprang to his feet； and sawVigfusson。 He stretched his arm
with the blazing torch closer to the young man's face； stared at him with
large eyes； and his lip quivered； but he could not utter a word。
〃Vigfusson？〃 faltered he at last。
〃It is I；〃 and the second stroke followed； stronger and more solemn
than the first。 The same fierce； angry voices chorused forth from every
nook of the rock and the woods。 Then came the thirdthe noise grew；
fourthand it sounded like a hoarse； angry hiss； when the twelfth stroke
fell； silence reigned again in the forest。 Vigfusson dropped the bell…rope；
and with a loud voice called Lage Kvaerk and his men。 He lit a torch；
held it aloft over his head； and peered through the dusky night。 The men
spread through the highlands to search for the lost maiden； Lage followed
close in Vigfusson's footsteps。 They had not walked far when they heard
the babbling of the brook only a few feet away。 Thither they directed
their steps。 On a large stone in the middle of the stream the youth
thought he saw something white； like a large kerchief。 Quick as thought
he was at its side； bowed down with his torch； andfell backward。 It was
Aasa； his beloved； cold and dead； but as the father stooped over his dead
child the same mad laugh echoed wildly throughout the wide woods； but
madder and louder than ever before； and from the rocky wall came a fierce；
broken voice：
〃I came at last。〃
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When； after an hour of vain search； the men returned to the place
whence they had started； they saw a faint light flickering between the
birches not fifty feet away； they formed a firm column； and with fearful
hearts drew nearer。 There lay Lage Kvaerk； their master； still bending
down over his child's pale features； and staring into her sunken eyes as if
he could not believe that she were really dead。 And at his side stood
Vigfusson； pale and