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Aasa well knew that every brook and river has its Neck； besides hosts
of little water…sprites。 She had heard also that in the moonlight at
midsummer； one might chance to see them rocking in bright little shells；
playing among the pebbles； or dancing on the large leaves of the water…lily。
And that they could sing also； she doubted not； it was their voices she
heard through the murmuring of the brook。 Aasa eagerly bent forward
and gazed down into the water： the faint song grew louder； paused
suddenly； and sprang into life again； and its sound was so sweet； so
wonderfully alluring！ Down there in the water； where a stubborn pebble
kept chafing a precipitous little side current； clear tiny pearl…drops would
leap up from the stream； and float half…wonderingly downward from rapid
to rapid； until they lost themselves in the whirl of some stronger current。
Thus sat Aasa and gazed and gazed； and in one moment she seemed to see
what in the next moment she saw not。 Then a sudden great hush stole
through the forest； and in the hush she could hear the silence calling her
name。 It was so long since she had been in the forest； it seemed ages and
ages ago。 She hardly knew herself； the light seemed to be shining into
her eyes as with a will and purpose； perhaps to obliterate something； some
old dream or memory； or to impart some new powerthe power of seeing
the unseen。 And this very thought； this fear of some possible loss；
brought the fading memory back； and she pressed her hands against her
throbbing temples as if to bind and chain it there forever； and it was he to
whom her thought returned。 She heard his voice； saw him beckoning to
her to follow him； and she rose to obey； but her limbs were as petrified；
and the stone on which she was sitting held her with the power of a
hundred strong arms。 The sunshine smote upon her eyelids； and his
name was blotted out from her life； there was nothing but emptiness all
around her。 Gradually the forest drew nearer and nearer； the water
bubbled and rippled； and the huge； bare… stemmed pines stretched their
long gnarled arms toward her。 The birches waved their heads with a
wistful nod； and the profile of the rock grew into a face with a long；
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hooked nose； and a mouth half open as if to speak。 And the word that
trembled on his lips was； 〃Come。〃 She felt no fear nor reluctance； but
rose to obey。 Then and not until then she saw an old man standing at her
side； his face was the face of the rock； his white beard flowed to his girdle；
and his mouth was half open； but no word came from his lips。 There was
something in the wistful look of his eye which she knew so well； which
she had seen so often； although she could not tell when or where。 The
old man extended his hand； Aasa took it； and fearlessly or rather
spontaneously followed。 They approached the steep； rocky wall； as they
drew near； a wild； fierce laugh rang through the forest。 The features of
the old man were twisted as it were into a grin； so also were the features of
the rock； but the laugh blew like a mighty blast through the forest。
Aasa clung to the old man's hand and followed himshe knew not
whither。
At home in the large sitting…room at Kvaerk sat Lage； brooding over
the wreck of his hopes and his happiness。 Aasa had gone to the woods
again the very first day after Vigfusson's departure。 What would be the
end of all this？ It was already late in the evening； and she had not
returned。 The father cast anxious glances toward the door； every time he
heard the latch moving。 At last； when it was near midnight； he roused all
his men from their sleep； and commanded them to follow him。 Soon the
dusky forests resounded far and near with the blast of horns； the report of
guns； and the calling and shouting of men。 The affrighted stag crossed
and recrossed the path of the hunters； but not a rifle was leveled at its head。
Toward morning it was before the sun had yet risenLage； weary and
stunned； stood leaning up against a huge fir。 Then suddenly a fierce； wild
laugh rang through the forest。 Lage shuddered； raised his hand slowly
and pressed it hard against his forehead； vainly struggling to clear his
thoughts。 The men clung fearfully together； a few of the more
courageous ones drew their knives and made the sign of the cross with
them in the air。 Again the same mad laugh shook the air； and swept over
the crowns of the pine…trees。 Then Lage lifted his eyes toward heaven
and wrung his hands： for the awful truth stood before him。 He remained
a long while leaning against that old fir as in a dead stupor； and no one
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dared to arouse him。 A suppressed murmur reached the men's ears。
〃But deliver us from evil〃 were the last words they heard。
When Lage and his servants came home to Kvaerk with the mournful
tidings of Aasa's disappearance； no one knew what to do or say。 There
could be no doubt that Aasa was 〃mountain… taken；〃 as they call it； for
there were Trolds and dwarfs in all the rocks and forests round about； and
they would hardly let slip the chance of alluring so fair a maiden as Aasa
was into their castles in the mountains。 Elsie； her mother； knew a good
deal about the Trolds； their tricks； and their way of living； and when she
had wept her fill； she fell to thinking of the possibility of regaining her
daughter from their power。 If Aasa had not yet tasted of food or drink in
the mountain； she was still out of danger； and if the pastor would allow the
church…bell to be brought up into the forest and rung near the rock where
the laugh had been heard； the Trolds could be compelled to give her back。
No sooner had this been suggested to Lage； than the command was given
to muster the whole force of men and horses； and before evening on the
same day the sturdy swains of Kvaerk were seen climbing the tower of the
venerable church； whence soon the huge old bell descended； to the
astonishment of the throng of curious women and children who had
flocked together to see the extraordinary sight。 It was laid upon four
large wagons； which had been joined together with ropes and planks； and
drawn away by twelve strong horses。 Long after the strange caravan had
vanished in the twilight； the children stood gazing up into the empty bell…
tower。
It was near midnight； when Lage stood at the steep； rocky wall in the
forest； the men were laboring to hoist the church…bell up to a staunch
cross…beam between two mighty fir…trees； and in the weird light of their
torches； the wild surroundings looked wilder and more fantastic。 Anon；
the muffled noise and bustle of the work being at an end； the laborers
withdrew； and a strange； feverish silence seemed to brood over the forest。
Lage took a step forward； and seized the bell…rope； the clear； conquering
toll of the metal rung solemnly through the silence； and from the rocks； the
earth； and the tree… tops； rose a fierce chorus of howls； groans； and
screams。 All night the ringing continued； the old trees swayed to and fro；
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creaked； and groaned； the roots loosened their holds in the fissures of the
rock； and the bushy crowns bowed low under their unwonted burden。
It was well…nigh morn； but the dense fog still brooded over the woods；
and it was dark as night。 Lage was sitting on the ground； his head
leaning on both his elbows； at his side lay the flickering