the first stroke of twelve a great noise arose over the silent
heath, and the earth seemed to rock under the feet of the two watchers.
The next moment by the light of the moon they beheld the huge stones
near them leave their places and go down the slope leading to the river,
knocking against each other in their haste. Passing the spot where stood
Bernez and the beggar, they were lost in the darkness. It seemed as if a
procession of giants had gone by.

'Quick,' said the wizard, in a low voice, and he rushed towards the
empty holes, which even in the night shone brightly from the treasures
within them. Flinging himself on his knees, the old man began filling
the wallets he had brought, listening intently all the time for the
return of the stones up the hill, while Bernez more slowly put handfuls
of all he could see into his pockets.

The sorcerer had just closed his third wallet, and was beginning to
wonder if he could carry away any more treasures when a low murmur as of
a distant storm broke upon his ears.

The stones had finished drinking, and were hastening back to their
places.

On they came, bent a little forward, the tallest of them all at their
head, breaking everything that stood in their way. At the sight Bernez
stood transfixed with horror, and said,

'We are lost! They will crush us to death.'

'Not me!' answered the sorcerer, holding up the crowsfoot and the
five-leaved trefoil, 'for these will preserve me. But in order to keep
my riches, I was obliged to sacrifice a Christian to the stones, and an
evil fate threw you in my way.' And as he spoke he stretched out the
magic herbs to the stones, which were advancing rapidly. As if
acknowledging a power greater than theirs, the monstrous things
instantly parted to the right and left of the wizard, but closed their
ranks again as they approached Bernez.

The young man did not try to escape, he knew it was useless, and sank on
his knees and closed his eyes. But suddenly the tall stone that was
leading stopped straight in front of Bernez, so that no other could get
past.

It was the stone on which Bernez had carved the cross, and it was now a
baptized stone, and had power to save him.

So the stone remained before the young man till the rest had taken their
places, and then, darting like a bird to its own hole, came upon the
beggar, who, thinking himself quite safe, was staggering along under the
weight of his treasures.

Seeing the stone approaching,