man's arms.

When he saw her fall, Peter bent over her to see if she still lived. It
was as if he repented the deed for a moment. And as he looked, the
little man spoke to him in a well-known voice: "Don't trouble yourself,
Charcoal-Peter; this was the most beautiful and most lovable flower in
the forest; you have struck it down, and it will never bloom again."

All the blood left Peter's face as he replied: "So, it is you, Master
Guardian? Well, what has been done cannot be undone, and it was bound
to happen thus. But I hope you won't accuse me before the justices as a
murderer."

"Wretch!" answered the Glassmanikin. "What profit could it be to me to
bring your mortal body to the gallows? It is no earthly judge that you
have to fear, but another and sterner Judge; for you have sold your
soul to the Evil One."

"And if I have sold my heart," shrieked Peter, "then nobody is to blame
but yourself and your illusory gifts. Malicious spirit that you are,
you led me on to my destruction; it was you who drove me to seek help
of that other, and you will have to answer for it."

But scarcely had he uttered these words than the Glassmanikin suddenly
began to increase in size and stature, his eyes became as big as
soup-plates, and his mouth was as a glowing furnace, flames darting
from between his lips. Peter sank to his knees, and even his
stone-heart did not prevent his limbs from trembling like an aspen.
With vulture-like claws the forest spirit seized Peter by the neck,
swung him round like dried leaves in a whirlwind, and flung him to
earth with such force that all his ribs cracked.

"Earth-worm!" cried the spirit in a voice that rolled like thunder; "I
could smash you to atoms if I would, for you have blasphemed against
the lord of the forest. But for this dead woman's sake, who gave me
food and drink, I give you eight days' grace. If you do not repent I
will come and crush your bones to powder, and send you hence in your
sins."

It was not until nightfall that some men, who happened to be passing
that way, spied the wealthy Peter Munk lying stretched on the ground.
They turned him over, seeking to discover if he yet lived; and for a
long time he gave no sign. At last, one of them went to a house and
fetched some water. After they had dashed some in his face, Peter drew
a deep breath, groaned and opened his eyes. He gazed about him, and
then asked for his wife, Elspeth; but no one had seen her. He thanked
the men f