〃No；〃　replied　the　old　woman；　〃But　I　saw　yesterday　eleven　swans；
  with　gold　crowns　on　their　heads；　swimming　on　the　river　close　by。〃
  Then　she　led　Eliza　a　little　distance　farther　to　a　sloping　bank；　and　at
  the　foot　of　it　wound　a　little　river。　The　trees　on　its　banks
  stretched　their　long　leafy　branches　across　the　water　towards　each
  other；　and　where　the　growth　prevented　them　from　meeting　naturally；　the　roots　had　torn　themselves　away　from　the　ground；　so　that　the　branches　might　mingle　their　foliage　as　they　hung　over　the　water。　Eliza　bade　the　old　woman　farewell；　and　walked　by　the　flowing　river；　till　she
  reached　the　shore　of　the　open　sea。　And　there；　before　the　young
  maiden's　eyes；　lay　the　glorious　ocean；　but　not　a　sail　appeared　on
  its　surface；　not　even　a　boat　could　be　seen。　How　was　she　to　go　farther？
  She　noticed　how　the　countless　pebbles　on　the　sea…shore　had　been
  smoothed　and　rounded　by　the　action　of　the　water。　Glass；　iron；
  stones；　everything　that　lay　there　mingled　together；　had　taken　its
  shape　from　the　same　power；　and　felt　as　smooth；　or　even　smoother　than　her　own　delicate　hand。　〃The　water　rolls　on　without　weariness；〃　she　said；　till　all　that　is　hard　becomes　smooth；　so　will　I　be　unwearied
  in　my　task。　Thanks　for　your　lessons；　bright　rolling　waves；　my　heart
  tells　me　you　will　lead　me　to　my　dear　brothers。〃　On　the　foam…covered
  sea…weeds；　lay　eleven　white　swan　feathers；　which　she　gathered　up　and
  placed　together。　Drops　of　water　lay　upon　them；　whether　they　were
  dew…drops　or　tears　no　one　could　say。　Lonely　as　it　was　on　the
  sea…shore；　she　did　not　observe　it；　for　the　ever…moving　sea　showed　more　changes　in　a　few　hours　than　the　most　varying　lake　could　produce　during　a　whole　year。　If　a　black　heavy　cloud　arose；　it　was　as　if　the　sea　said；
  〃I　can　look　dark　and　angry　too；〃　and　then　the　wind　blew；　and　the　waves　turned　to　white　foam　as　they　rolled。　When　the　wind　slept；　and　the　clouds　glowed　with　the　red　sunlight；　then　the　sea　looked　like　a　rose　leaf。　But　however　quietly　its　white　glassy　surface　rested；　there　was　still　a　motion　on　the　shore；　as　its　waves　rose　and　fell　like　the
  breast　of　a　sleeping　child。　When　the　sun　was　about　to　set；　Eliza　saw
  eleven　white　swans　with　golden　crowns　on　their　heads；　flying　towards
  the　land；　one　behind　the　other；　like　a　long　white　ribbon。　Then　Eliza
  went　down　the　slope　from　the　shore；　and　hid　herself　behind　the　bushes。
  The　swans　alighted　quite　close　to　her　and　flapped　their　great　white
  wings。　As　soon　as　the　sun　had　disappeared　under　the　water；　the
  feathers　of　the　swans　fell　off；　and　eleven　beautiful　princes；
  Eliza's　brothers；　stood　near　her。　She　uttered　a　loud　cry；　for；
  although　they　were　very　much　changed；　she　knew　them　immediately。
  She　sprang　into　their　arms；　and　called　them　each　by　name。　Then；　how
  happy　the　princes　were　at　meeting　their　little　sister　again；　for
  they　recognized　her；　although　she　had　grown　so　tall　and　beautiful。
  They　laughed；　and　they　wept；　and　very　soon　understood　how　wickedly　their　mother　had　acted　to　them　all。　〃We　brothers；〃　said　the　eldest；　〃fly　about　as　wild　swans；　so　long　as　the　sun　is　in　the　sky；　but　as　soon　as　it　sinks　behind　the　hills；　we　recover　our　human　shape。
  Therefore　must　we　always　be　near　a　resting　place　for　our　feet　before
  sunset；　for　if　we　should　be　flying　towards　the　clouds　at　the　time　we
  recovered　our　natural　shape　as　men；　we　should　sink　deep　into　the
  sea。　We　do　not　dwell　here；　but　in　a　land　just　as　fair；　that　lies
  beyond　the　ocean；　which　we　have　to　cross　for　a　long　distance；　there　is　no　island　in　our　passage　upon　which　we　could　pass；　the　night；
  nothing　but　a　little　rock　rising　out　of　the　sea；　upon　which　we　can
  scarcely　stand　with　safety；　even　closely　crowded　together。　If　the
  sea　is　rough；　the　foam　dashes　over　us；　yet　we　thank　God　even　for
  this　rock；　we　have　passed　whole　nights　upon　it；　or　we　should　never
  have　reached　our　beloved　fatherland；　for　our　flight　across　the　sea
  occupies　two　of　the　longest　days　in　the　year。　We　have　permission　to
  visit　out　home　once　in　every　year；　and　to　remain　eleven　days；　during
  which　we　fly　across　the　forest　to　look　once　more　at　the　palace　where
  our　father　dwells；　and　where　we　were　born；　and　at　the　church；　where
  our　mother　lies　buried。　Here　it　seems　as　if　the　very　trees　and
  bushes　were　related　to　us。　The　wild　horses　leap　over　the　plains　as
  we　have　seen　them　in　our　childhood。　The　charcoal　burners　sing　the
  old　songs；　to　which　we　have　danced　as　children。　This　is　our
  fatherland；　to　which　we　are　drawn　by　loving　ties；　and　here　we　have
  found　you；　our　dear　little　sister。；　Two　days　longer　we　can　remain
  here；　and　then　must　we　fly　away　to　a　beautiful　land　which　is　not　our
  home；　and　how　can　we　take　you　with　us？　We　have　neither　ship　nor　boat。〃
  〃How　can　I　break　this　spell？〃　said　their　sister。　And　then　she
  talked　about　it　nearly　the　whole　night；　only　slumbering　for　a　few
  hours。　Eliza　was　awakened　by　the　rustling　of　the　swans'　wings　as
  they　soared　above。　Her　brothers　were　again　changed　to　swans；　and
  they　flew　in　circles　wider　and　wider；　till　they　were　far　away；　but　one
  of　them；　the　youngest　swan；　remained　behind；　and　laid　his　head　in
  his　sister's　lap；　while　she　stroked　his　wings；　and　they　remained
  together　the　whole　day。　Towards　evening；　the　rest　came　back；　and　as
  the　sun　went　down　they　resumed　their　natural　forms。　〃To…morrow；〃
  said　one；　〃we　shall　fly　away；　not　to　return　again　till　a　whole　year
  has　passed。　But　we　cannot　leave　you　here。　Have　you　courage　to　go
  with　us？　My　arm　is　strong　enough　to　carry　you　through　the　wood；　and　will　not　all　our　wings　be　strong　enough　to　fly　with　you　over　the　sea？〃
  〃Yes；　take　me　with　you；〃　said　Eliza。　Then　they　spent　the　whole
  night　in　weaving　a　net　with　the　pliant　willow　and　rushes。　It　was
  very　large　and　strong。　Eliza　laid　herself　down　on　the　net；　and　when
  the　sun　rose；　and　her　brothers　again　became　wild　swans；　they　took　up
  the　net　with　their　beaks；　and　flew　up　to　the　clouds　with　their　dear
  sister；　who　still　slept。　The　sunbeams　fell　on　her　face；　therefore
  one　of　the　swans　soared　over　her　head；　so　that　his　broad　wings　might
  shade　her。　They　were　far　from　the　land　when　Eliza　woke。　She　thought
  she　must　still　be　dreaming；　it　seemed　so　strange　to　her　to　feel
  herself　being　carried　so　high　in　the　air　over　the　sea。　By　her　side　lay
  a　branch　full　of　beautiful　ripe　berries；　and　a　bundle　of　sweet
  roots；　the　youngest　of　her　brothers　had　gathered　them　for　her；　and
  placed　them　by　her　side。　She　smiled　her　thanks　to　him；　she　knew　it　was　the　same　who　had　hovered　over　her　to　shade　her　with　his　wings。
  They　were　now　so　high；　that　a　large　ship　beneath　them　looked　like　a　white　sea…gull　skimming　the　waves。　A　great　cloud　floating　behind　them　appeared　like　a　vast　mountain；　and　upon　it　Eliza　saw　her　own　shadow　and　those　of　the　eleven　swans；　looking　gigantic　in　size。
  Altogether　it　formed　a　more　beautiful　picture　than　she　had　ever　seen；　but　as　the　sun　rose　higher；　and　the　clouds　were　left　behind；　the　shadowy　picture　vanished　away。　Onward　the　whole　day　they　flew　through　the　air　like　a　winged　arrow；　yet　more　slowly　than　usual；　for　they　had　their　sister　to　carry。　The　weather　seemed　inclined　to　be　stormy；　and　Eliza　watched　the　sinking　sun　with　great　anxiety；　for　the　little　rock　in　the　ocean　was　not　yet　in　sight。　It　appeared　to　her　as　if　the　swans　were　making　great　efforts　with　their　wings。　Alas！　she　was　the　cause　of　their　not　advancing　more　quickly。　When　the　sun　set；　they　would　change　to　men；　fall　into　the　sea　and　be　drowned。　Then　she　offered　a　prayer　from　her　inmost　heart；　but　still　no　appearance　of　the　rock。　Dark　clouds　came　nearer；　the　gusts　of　wind　told　of　a　coming　storm；　while　from　a　thick；　heavy　mass　of　clouds　the　lightning　burst　forth　flash　after　flash。　The　sun　had　reached　the　edge　of　the　sea；　when　the　swans　darted　down　so　swiftly；　that　Eliza's　head　trembled；　she　believed　they　were　falling；　but　they　again　soared　onward。　Presently　she　caught　sight　of　the　rock　just　below　them；　and　by　this　time　the　sun　was　half　hidden　by　the　waves。　The　rock　did　not　appear　larger　than　a　seal's　head　thrust　out　of　the　water。　They　sunk　so　rapidly；　that　at　the　moment　their　feet　touched　the　rock；　it　shone　only　like　a　star；　and　at　last　disappeared　like　the　last　spark　in　a　piece　of　burnt　paper。　Then　she
  saw　her　brothers　standing　closely　round　her　with　their　arms　linked
  together。　There　was　but　just　room　enough　for　them；　and　not　the
  smallest　space　to　spare。　The　sea　dashed　against　the　rock；　and
  covered　them　with　spray。　The　heavens　were　lighted　up　with　continual
  flashes；　and　peal　after　peal　of　thunder　rolled。　But　the　sister　and
  brothers　sat　holding　each　other's　hands；　and　singing　hymns；　from　which　they　gained　hope　and　courage。　In　the　early　dawn　the　air　became　calm　and　still；　and　at　sunrise　the　swans　flew　away　from　the　rock　with
  Eliza。　The　sea　was　still　rough；　and　from　their　high　position　in　the
  air；　the　white　foam　on　the　dark　green　waves　looked　like　millions　of
  swans　swimming　on　the　water。　As　the　sun　rose　higher；　Eliza　saw
  before　her；　floating　on　the　air；　a　range　of　mountains；　with　shining
  masses　of　ice　on　their　summits。　In　the　centre；　rose　a　castle
  apparently　a　mile　long；　with　rows　of　columns；　rising　one　above
  another；　while；　around　it；　palm…trees　waved　and　flowers　bloomed　as
  large　as　mill　wheels。　She　asked