74 The Catskill Fazrtes.

on the other side, and rebounding again like an India- rubber
ball. ‘Fire! fire! she called very softly, under her breath.
Lo! the earth opened and two giant heads emerged; but if
Wind, already seen by the girl, was terrible, Fire was more
so, for a ruddy glow came from his body, and the grass with-
ered before him. The Giant stood on the bank, and hurled a
burning torch into the lake, between the shore and the place
where the island was chained, and the torch devoured the
water, which rose in a cloud of steam, so that the lady stepped
dry-shod back to the mainland.

“ Then there was great rejoicing over her return among the
rocks and trees, and the witch-child received much praise for
her conduct.

“« There is a storm coming, shouted Wind. ‘I go to share
the sport—uprooting trees and whisking off steeples and chim-
neys.’

“« As for me, work is never done in the earth, said Fire.

“ Mulkgraub awoke after the mischief was accomplished ;
the glass box exploded like a soap bubble.

“This is your turn, Rapp, he said. ‘ Wait until the spring
freshets help me to repay you!

“ Always seeking her tribe and never finding them, the witch-
child flew on toward the West. Far below she saw lakes, riv-
ers, and cities; then the wide expanse of prairie became visible,
like a sea of waving grain.

“«This must be the end of the earth, she thought, and
paused.
and the little prairie dogs were sitting on

“It was evening,

top of their mounds to see what was going on, for they were