122 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

her to redouble her efforts, and on they went,
faster than ever. She did not observe that the
wary wisp drew her farther and farther into the
woods, and nearer to the very meadow into
which she had intended to entice the hunter’s
little maid.

As he approached the meadow, the wisp
occasionally allowed his pursuer to approach
so closely that she could almost put her hand
on him, and then, at the very moment she
thought to grasp him, off he was again, as dis-
tant as before. This had the effect of making
Wassa more determined to succeed, and she
redoubled her speed, not heeding in her excite-
ment that the ground under her feet was
becoming damp and soft.

At last it seemed as if the strength of the
wisp were indeed giving out. He was almost
within Wassa’s grasp, his steps wavered, and
the light from his lantern flickered and grew
dim. Wassa made a vigorous bound forward,
with both hands extended, when suddenly the
apparently exhausted wisp gave a long leap to
one side, out went the lantern, and Wassa
plunged heavily forward, up to her knees in
water, and felt her feet gradually settling in