e witch was again
close on her heels, when she threw down the apple in her need; and this
became a lofty mountain of granite. A narrow path, as if traced by a
snake, wound up to the summit, and showed the witch her way. Before she
could overcome this obstacle, another day had passed; but the princess
had only gone a short distance farther, for sleep had closed her weary
eyes, and when she awoke, and could see her father's castle in the
distance at last, the witch was so close upon her that she never hoped
to escape. In great terror she flung the linen robe on the ground behind
her. It fell broadside, and soon rushed forth into a vast lake, whose
foaming waves raged wildly round the witch. A howling storm flung water
and spray into the witch's face; her wickedness could not save her, nor
could her steed, the hellish cock, escape. He raised his neck above the
water, thrust up his beak, and beat the water with his wings, but it was
all to no purpose, and he was miserably drowned. Peipa called on all the
spirits of hell to aid her, with curses, but none of them appeared, and
she sank into the depths howling. There she lies to this day in pain and
torment. The pikes and other horrible creatures of the depths gnaw upon
her and torture her incessantly. She strikes about her with her hands
and feet, and twists and stretches her limbs in her great distress.
Thence comes it that the lake, which is named Peipus after her, always
rises in billows and stormy waves.

Rannapuura reached her father's castle in safety, and soon became the
bride of a prince. But the king's name is still perpetuated in that of
the church at Karkus, and the estate of Rannapungern, which lies north
of Peipus, on the boundary between Livonia and Esthonia, is named after
Rannapuura. The river which rose from the silver comb is the river
Pliha, with its shining waters. He who knows it now may understand its
origin. It cannot run straight, but twists right and left like the teeth
of a double comb, unites with the Narova, and falls with that river into
the sea. The forest, too, remained until two hundred years ago, when the
Swedes and Poles brought war into the land. The Poles concealed
themselves in the forest, but the Swedes set fire to it and burned it
down. The mountain formed by the apple of the princess is likewise
standing, but its granite has become changed to sandstone.

THE LAKE AT EUSEKUeLL.

(JANNSEN.)

In former times there was no lake a