Now they are coming!" cried the lady who accompanied them, and sent
forth a loud scream.

Eva fled first, as if borne by the wind; the lady followed her, and
Louise ran on after them.

Otto now really saw all the cattle, which, upon the ladies flight, had
instinctively followed, chasing over the field after them in the same
direction.

Nothing now remained for him but, like the others, to reach the gate.
This he opened, and had just closed again, when the cattle were close
upon them, but no one had eyes to see whether the cattle were little or
big.

"Now there is no more danger!" cried Otto, as soon as he had well closed
the gate; but the ladies still fled on, passing among the trees until
they reached the spot where the Kammerjunker and his two ladies awaited
them with ringing laughter.

Sophie was obliged to support herself against a tree through all the
amusement. It had been a most remarkable spectacle, this flight; Eva at
the head, and Mr. Thostrup rushing past them to open the gate. Louise
was pale as death, and her whole body trembled; the friend supported her
arm and forehead on a tree, and drew a long breath.

"Bah!" again cried Sophie, and laughed.

"But where is Eva?" asked Otto, and shouted her name.

"She ran here before me!" said Louise; "she is doubtless leaning against
a tree, and recovering her strength."

"Eva!" cried Sophie. "Where is my hero: 'I want a hero!'" [Author's
Note: Byron's Don Juan.]

Otto returned to seek her. At this moment Wilhelm arrived.

The Kammerjunker regretted that he had not seen the race with them, and
related the whole history to him.

"O come! come!" they heard Otto shout. They found him kneeling in the
high grass. Eva lay stretched out on the ground; she was as pale as
death; her head rested in Otto's lap.

"God in heaven!" cried Wilhelm, and flung himself down before her. "Eva!
Eva! O, she is dead! and thou art to blame for it, Sophie! Thou hast
killed her!" Reproachfully he fixed his eyes on his sister. She burst
into tears, and concealed her face in her hands.

Otto ran to the peasant's cottage and brought water. Peter Cripple
himself hopped like a mountain-elf behind him through the high nettles
and burdocks, which closed above and behind him again.

The Kammerjunker took Eva in his strong arms and carried her to the
cottage. Wilhelm did not leave hold of her hand. The others followed in
silence.

"Try and get her home," said Wilhelm; "I myself will