"Please," said she, "Sister Ann" (this was her sister's name), "run up
to the tower, and see if my brothers are in sight; they promised to come
and visit me to-day; and if you see them, make a sign for them to gallop
on as fast as possible."

Her sister instantly did as she was desired, and the terrified lady
every minute called out:

"Sister Ann, do you see anyone coming?"

And her sister answered:

"I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass, which
looks green."

In the meanwhile, Blue Beard, with a great simitar in his hand, bawled
as loud as he could:

"Come down instantly, or I will fetch you."

"One moment longer, I beseech you," replied she, and again called softly
to her sister:

"Sister Ann, do you see anyone coming?"

To which she answered:

"I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass, which
looks green."

Blue Beard again bawled out:

"Come down, I say, this very moment, or I shall come and fetch you."

"I am coming; indeed I will come in one minute," sobbed his unhappy
wife. Then she once more cried out:

"Sister Ann, do you see anyone coming?"

"I see," said her sister, "a cloud of dust a little to the left."

"Do you think it is my brothers?" continued the wife.

"Alas, no, dear sister," replied she, "it is only a flock of sheep!"

"Will you come down or not, madam?" said Blue Beard, in the greatest
rage imaginable.

[Illustration]

"Only one moment more," answered she. And then she called out for the
last time:

"Sister Ann! do you see no one coming?"

"I see," replied her sister, "two men on horseback coming to the house;
but they are still at a great distance."

"God be praised!" cried she; "it is my brothers. Give them a sign to
make what haste they can."

At the same moment Blue Beard cried out so loud for her to come down,
that his voice shook the whole house. The poor lady, with her hair
loose and her eyes swimming in tears, came down, and fell on her knees
before Blue Beard, and was going to beg him to spare her life, but he
interrupted her, saying: "All this is of no use, for you shall die;"
then, seizing her with one hand by the hair, and raising the simitar he
held in the other, he was going with one blow to strike off her head.

The unfortunate woman, turning toward him, desired to have a single
moment allowed her to compose herself.

"No, no," said Blue Beard; "I will give you no more time, I am
determined. You have had