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appeared like a vast mountain； and upon it Eliza saw her own shadow
and those of the eleven swans； looking gigantic in size。 Altogether it
formed a more beautiful picture than she had ever seen； but as the sun
rose higher； and the clouds were left behind； the shadowy picture
vanished away。 Onward the whole day they flew through the air like a
winged arrow； yet more slowly than usual； for they had their sister to
carry。 The weather seemed inclined to be stormy； and Eliza watched the
sinking sun with great anxiety； for the little rock in the ocean was
not yet in sight。 It appeared to her as if the swans were making great
efforts with their wings。 Alas！ she was the cause of their not
advancing more quickly。 When the sun set； they would change to men；
fall into the sea and be drowned。 Then she offered a prayer from her
inmost heart； but still no appearance of the rock。 Dark clouds came
nearer； the gusts of wind told of a coming storm； while from a
thick； heavy mass of clouds the lightning burst forth flash after
flash。 The sun had reached the edge of the sea； when the swans
darted down so swiftly； that Eliza's head trembled； she believed
they were falling； but they again soared onward。 Presently she
caught sight of the rock just below them； and by this time the sun was
half hidden by the waves。 The rock did not appear larger than a seal's
head thrust out of the water。 They sunk so rapidly； that at the moment
their feet touched the rock； it shone only like a star； and at last
disappeared like the last spark in a piece of burnt paper。 Then she
saw her brothers standing closely round her with their arms linked
together。 There was but just room enough for them； and not the
smallest space to spare。 The sea dashed against the rock； and
covered them with spray。 The heavens were lighted up with continual
flashes； and peal after peal of thunder rolled。 But the sister and
brothers sat holding each other's hands； and singing hymns； from which
they gained hope and courage。 In the early dawn the air became calm
and still； and at sunrise the swans flew away from the rock with
Eliza。 The sea was still rough； and from their high position in the
air； the white foam on the dark green waves looked like millions of
swans swimming on the water。 As the sun rose higher； Eliza saw
before her； floating on the air； a range of mountains； with shining
masses of ice on their summits。 In the centre； rose a castle
apparently a mile long； with rows of columns； rising one above
another； while； around it； palm…trees waved and flowers bloomed as
large as mill wheels。 She asked if this was the land to which they
were hastening。 The swans shook their heads； for what she beheld
were the beautiful ever…changing cloud palaces of the 〃Fata
Morgana；〃 into which no mortal can enter。 Eliza was still gazing at
the scene； when mountains； forests； and castles melted away； and
twenty stately churches rose in their stead； with high towers and
pointed gothic windows。 Eliza even fancied she could hear the tones of
the organ； but it was the music of the murmuring sea which she
heard。 As they drew nearer to the churches； they also changed into a
fleet of ships； which seemed to be sailing beneath her； but as she
looked again； she found it was only a sea mist gliding over the ocean。
So there continued to pass before her eyes a constant change of scene；
till at last she saw the real land to which they were bound； with
its blue mountains； its cedar forests； and its cities and palaces。
Long before the sun went down； she sat on a rock； in front of a
large cave； on the floor of which the over…grown yet delicate green
creeping plants looked like an embroidered carpet。 〃Now we shall
expect to hear what you dream of to…night；〃 said the youngest brother；
as he showed his sister her bedroom。
〃Heaven grant that I may dream how to save you；〃 she replied。
And this thought took such hold upon her mind that she prayed
earnestly to God for help； and even in her sleep she continued to
pray。 Then it appeared to her as if she were flying high in the air；
towards the cloudy palace of the 〃Fata Morgana；〃 and a fairy came
out to meet her； radiant and beautiful in appearance； and yet very
much like the old woman who had given her berries in the wood； and who
had told her of the swans with golden crowns on their heads。 〃Your
brothers can be released；〃 said she； 〃if you have only courage and
perseverance。 True； water is softer than your own delicate hands；
and yet it polishes stones into shapes； it feels no pain as your
fingers would feel； it has no soul； and cannot suffer such agony and
torment as you will have to endure。 Do you see the stinging nettle
which I hold in my hand？ Quantities of the same sort grow round the
cave in which you sleep； but none will be of any use to you unless
they grow upon the graves in a churchyard。 These you must gather
even while they burn blisters on your hands。 Break them to pieces with
your hands and feet； and they will become flax； from which you must
spin and weave eleven coats with long sleeves； if these are then
thrown over the eleven swans； the spell will be broken。 But
remember； that from the moment you commence your task until it is
finished； even should it occupy years of your life； you must not
speak。 The first word you utter will pierce through the hearts of your
brothers like a deadly dagger。 Their lives hang upon your tongue。
Remember all I have told you。〃 And as she finished speaking； she
touched her hand lightly with the nettle； and a pain； as of burning
fire； awoke Eliza。
It was broad daylight； and close by where she had been sleeping
lay a nettle like the one she had seen in her dream。 She fell on her
knees and offered her thanks to God。 Then she went forth from the cave
to begin her work with her delicate hands。 She groped in amongst the
ugly nettles； which burnt great blisters on her hands and arms； but
she determined to bear it gladly if she could only release her dear
brothers。 So she bruised the nettles with her bare feet and spun the
flax。 At sunset her brothers returned and were very much frightened
when they found her dumb。 They believed it to be some new sorcery of
their wicked step…mother。 But when they saw her hands they
understood what she was doing on their behalf； and the youngest
brother wept； and where his tears fell the pain ceased； and the
burning blisters vanished。 She kept to her work all night； for she
could not rest till she had released her dear brothers。 During the
whole of the following day； while her brothers were absent； she sat in
solitude； but never before had the time flown so quickly。 One coat was
already finished and she had begun the second； when she heard the
huntsman's horn； and was struck with fear。 The sound came nearer and
nearer； she heard the dogs barking； and fled with terror into the
cave。 She hastily bound together the nettles she had gathered into a
bundle and sat upon them。 Immediately a great dog came bounding
towards her out of the ravine； and then another and another； they
barked loudly； ran back； and then came again。 In a very few minutes
all the huntsmen stood before the cave； and the handsomest of them was
the king of the country。 He advanced towards her； for he had never
seen a more beautiful maiden。
〃How did you come here； my sweet child？〃 he asked。 But Eliza shook
her head。 She dared not speak； at the cost of her brothers' lives。 And
she hid her hands under her apron； so that the king might not see
how she must be suffering。
〃Come with me；〃 he said； 〃here you cannot remain。 If you are as
good as you are beautiful； I will dress you in silk and velvet； I will
place a golden crown upon your head； and you shall dwell； and rule；
and make your home in my richest castle。〃 And then he lifted her on
his horse。 She wept and wrung her hands； but the king said； 〃I wish
only for your happiness。 A time will come when you will thank me for
this。〃 And then he galloped away over the mountains； holding her
before him on this horse； and the hunters followed behind them。 As the
s