60 BLUE BEARD.

In the meanwhile, Blue Beard, with a great scimitar in his
hand, bawled as loudly as he could to his wife, “ Come down
at once, or I will fetch you.”— One moment, I beseech you,”
replied she ; and again called softly to her sister, “ Sister Anne,
do you see any one coming?” ‘To which she answered, “I see
nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass, which
looks green.” Blue Beard now again bawled out, “Come down,
I say, this very moment, or I shall come and fetch you.” I
am coming; indeed I will come in.one minute,” sobbed his
wretched wife. Then she once more cried out, “ Anne, sister
Anne! do you see any one coming ?””—“ I see,” said her sister,
© a cloud of dust a little to the left.” Do you think it is my
brothers?” said the wife. “ Alas! no, dear sister,” replied she,
“itis only a flock of sheep.” —“* Will you come down, madam?”
said Blue Beard in the greatest rage. “Only one single
moment more,” said she. And then she called out for the last,
time, “ Sister Anne! sister Anne! do you sce no one coming?”
—*'T see,” replied her sister, “ two men on horseback coming,
but they are still a great way off.” —“ Thank God,” cried she,
“it is my brothers; beckon them to make haste.” Blue
Beard now cried out so loudly for
her to come down, that his voice
shook the whole house. The poor
Jady, with her hair loose, and all in
tears, now came down, and fell on
her knees, begging him to spare
her life ; but he stopped her, say-
ing, “ All this is of no use, for you
shall die.” And then, seizing her
by the hair, raised his scimitar to
strike off her head. The poor
woman now begged a single moment to say one prayer.
“No, no,” said Blue Beard, “I will give you no more