that was now their
last piece of property; they had often refused to sell her before,
because they could not bear the thought of letting her go into strange
hands. But the evil spirit that now controlled Falcon's actions
triumphed over his better nature; nor did Kaspar know how to restrain
him in anything.

It was now September, and the long nights of the Scottish Winter had
already begun. The night clouds were driven along before the raw night
wind, and were banked up in masses like icebergs. Deep shadows filled
the ravines between the mountains and the peat-bogs, and the troubled
channels of the streams appeared black and fearful. Falcon led the way
and Strumpf followed, shuddering at his own boldness. Tears filled
Kaspar's eyes as often as he looked at the poor creature that was going
so unconsciously and trustfully to its death, to be dealt it by the
hand that had always fed and caressed it.

With much difficulty they entered a narrow marshy valley, which was
here and there strewn with rocks, with patches of moss and heathers,
and was shut in by a chain of wild mountains whose outlines were lost
in a gray mist, and whose steep sides had seldom been ascended by a
human foot. They approached a large rock in the centre of the valley
over the shaking bog, from which a frightened eagle flew screaming into
the sky. The poor cow lowed, as if aware of the terrors of the place
and the fate that awaited her. Kaspar turned aside to wipe away
the fast falling tears. He looked down to the rocky opening through
which they had come, from which point could be heard the breakers on
the distant coast, and then up to the mountain peaks, upon which a
coal-black cloud had settled, from which might be heard from time to
time dull mutterings of thunder. As he looked toward Falcon he found
that his friend had made the cow fast to the rock, and now stood with
uplifted ax in the very act of dealing her death blow.

This was too much for Kaspar. Wringing his hands, he fell upon his
knees. "For God's sake, William Falcon!" shouted he in despairing
tones, "save yourself! Spare the cow! Save yourself and me! Save your
soul! Save your life! And if you will persist in tempting God, wait at
least until to-morrow and sacrifice some other animal than our own
cow!"

"Kaspar, are you crazy?" shrieked Falcon, like a madman, while he still
held the ax swinging in the air. "Shall I spare the cow and starve?"

"You shall not starve," answered Kaspar,