rough six latticed
gates before she could get there.

And on they went.

Their way lay along a footpath, full of stones and old tree-roots, so
that she was obliged to carry the little girl, and that was very hard
work. The doctor had told her that the child must not strain her left
foot, because it was so weak that it might easily have grown deformed.

The young mother staggered along, under her beloved burden, and large
beads of perspiration stood like pearls on her forehead, for it was very
hot in the wood.

"I am so thirsty, mammy," whispered the little, complaining voice.

"Have patience, darling, there will be plenty of water when we get
there."

And she kissed the little parched mouth, and the child smiled and
forgot all about her thirst.

But the scorching rays of the sun burned their skin and there was not a
breath of air in the wood.

"Try and walk a little, darling," said the mother, putting the child
down.

But the little foot gave way and the child could not walk a step.

"I am so tired, mammy," she laid, sitting down and beginning to cry.

But the prettiest little flowers, which looked like rose-coloured
bells and smelt of sweet almonds, grew all over the spot where she was
sitting. She smiled when she saw them, for she had never seen anything
half as lovely, and her smile strengthened the heart of the mother so
that she could continue her walk with the child in her arms.

Now they had arrived at the first gate. They passed through it and
carefully re-fastened the latch.

All of a sudden they heard a noise like a loud neighing; a horse
galloped towards them, blocked the path and neighed again; its neighing
was answered on the right and the left and from all sides of the wood;
the ground trembled, the branches of the trees cracked, and the stones
were scattered in all directions by the approaching hoofs. In less than
no time the poor, frightened travellers were surrounded on all sides by
a herd of savage horses.

The child hid her face on her mother's shoulder, and her little heart
ticked with fear like a watch.

"I am so frightened!" she whispered.

"Oh! Father in Heaven, help us!" prayed the mother.

At the same moment a blackbird, sitting on a fir tree, began to sing;
the horses scudded away as fast as they could, and there was once more
silence in the wood.

They came to the second gate, walked through and re-fastened the latch.

They were on fallow ground now, and the sun scorch