136 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. “Do I notice them?” replied Martha. “Don’t talk to me © about the faces; the sight of them, and the terror they have caused me, have nearly taken my senses away.” “You must not allow them to do that. It is wonderful how many things one can overcome if one is only brave.” “ You look very brave,” said Martha. ‘“ You have a beautiful strong kind of look about your face. It comforts me more than I can say to hold your hand. How are you going through the hedge with the thorns? for whatever way you go through, I will follow.” “Tet me think,” said Primrose. “Don’t speak to me for a minute ; let me think.” As she spoke Primrose closed her eyes; her lips moved as though she was speaking to someone, but Martha could not hear a word she said. The night was getting darker and darker, and the wicked little men were making more cruel remarks, and laugh- ing more heartily, and saying over and over again, “ Ha, ha! we have got you now—you are in our power at last.” “No, we are not,’ said Primrose suddenly. “ I know what to do. At any rate, I'll try it. Early this morning, Martha, I could remove a very cruel spell by a ‘iss. There was great power in my kiss this morning. The power may not have quite left me yet. I will try it once again on the hedge of thorns.” Primrose went up very close to the hedge as she spoke. Martha walked timidly, step by step, behind her. The little men laughed louder than ever. “ Ha, ha!” said one; and he put out his claw-like hand, and caught a great bunch of Primrose’s rich golden hair. Another little man took hold of her hat, and tried to pull it from her head.