any of this kind grow round the cave where you sleep; only
these and the ones which grow in the church-yards may be used. Mark
that! Those you may pluck, although they will burn and blister your
hands. Crush the nettles with your feet and you will have flax, and of
this you must weave eleven coats of mail with long sleeves. Throw
these over the eleven wild swans and the charm is broken! But remember
that from the moment you begin this work till it is finished, even if
it takes years, you must not utter a word! The first word you say will
fall like a murderer's dagger into the hearts of your brothers. Their
lives hang on your tongue. Mark this well!"

She touched her hand at the same moment--it was like burning fire--and
woke Elise. It was bright daylight, and close to where she slept lay a
nettle like those in her dream. She fell upon her knees with thanks to
God, and left the cave to begin her work.

She seized the horrid nettles with her delicate hands, and they burnt
like fire; great blisters rose on her hands and arms, but she
suffered it willingly if only it would deliver her beloved brothers.
She crushed every nettle with her bare feet, and twisted it into green
flax.

When the sun went down and the brothers came back they were alarmed at
finding her mute; they thought it was some new witchcraft exercised by
their wicked stepmother. But when they saw her hands they understood
that it was for their sakes; the youngest brother wept, and wherever
his tears fell she felt no more pain and the blisters disappeared.

She spent the whole night at her work, for she could not rest till she
had delivered her dear brothers. All the following day while her
brothers were away she sat solitary, but never had the time flown so
fast. One coat of mail was finished, and she began the next. Then a
hunting-horn sounded among the mountains; she was much frightened;
the sound came nearer, and she heard dogs barking. In terror she
rushed into the cave, and tied the nettles she had collected and woven
into a bundle, upon which she sat.

At this moment a big dog bounded forward from the thicket, and another
and another; they barked loudly, and ran backward and forward. In a
few minutes all the huntsmen were standing outside the cave, and the
handsomest of them was the king of the country. He stepped up to
Elise; never had he seen so lovely a girl.

"How came you here, beautiful child?" he said.

Elise shook her head; she dared not