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leaning on both his elbows； at his side lay the flickering torch； and the
huge bell hung dumb overhead。 In the dark he felt a hand touch his
shoulder； had it happened only a few hours before； he would have
shuddered； now the physical sensation hardly communicated itself to his
mind； or； if it did； had no power to rouse him from his dead； hopeless
apathy。 Suddenlycould he trust his own ears？the church…bell gave a
slow； solemn； quivering stroke； and the fogs rolled in thick masses to the
east and to the west； as if blown by the breath of the sound。 Lage seized
his torch； sprang to his feet； and sawVigfusson。 He stretched his arm
with the blazing torch closer to the young man's face； stared at him with
large eyes； and his lip quivered； but he could not utter a word。
〃Vigfusson？〃 faltered he at last。
〃It is I；〃 and the second stroke followed； stronger and more solemn
than the first。 The same fierce； angry voices chorused forth from every
nook of the rock and the woods。 Then came the thirdthe noise grew；
fourthand it sounded like a hoarse； angry hiss； when the twelfth stroke
fell； silence reigned again in the forest。 Vigfusson dropped the bell…rope；
and with a loud voice called Lage Kvaerk and his men。 He lit a torch；
held it aloft over his head； and peered through the dusky night。 The men
spread through the highlands to search for the lost maiden； Lage followed
close in Vigfusson's footsteps。 They had not walked far when they heard
the babbling of the brook only a few feet away。 Thither they directed
their steps。 On a large stone in the middle of the stream the youth
thought he saw something white； like a large kerchief。 Quick as thought
he was at its side； bowed down with his torch； andfell backward。 It was
Aasa； his beloved； cold and dead； but as the father stooped over his dead
child the same mad laugh echoed wildly throughout the wide woods； but
madder and louder than ever before； and from the rocky wall came a fierce；
broken voice：
〃I came at last。〃
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
When； after an hour of vain search； the men returned to the place
whence they had started； they saw a faint light flickering between the
birches not fifty feet away； they formed a firm column； and with fearful
hearts drew nearer。 There lay Lage Kvaerk； their master； still bending
down over his child's pale features； and staring into her sunken eyes as if
he could not believe that she were really dead。 And at his side stood
Vigfusson； pale and aghast； with the burning torch in his hand。 The
footsteps of the men awakened the father； but when he turned his face on
them they shuddered and started back。 Then Lage rose； lifted the maiden
from the stone； and silently laid her in Vigfusson's arms； her rich yellow
hair flowed down over his shoulder。 The youth let his torch fall into the
waters； and with a sharp； serpent…like hiss its flame was quenched。 He
crossed the brook； the men followed； and the dark pine…trees closed over
the last descendant of Lage Ulfson's mighty race。
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