this region； which； seventy years ago；was overrun with wolves。 It may well be called the Wild Moor； andone can easily imagine； with such a wild expanse of marsh and lake；how lonely and dreary it must have been a thousand years ago。 Manythings may be noticed now that existed then。 The reeds grow to thesame height； and bear the same kind of long； purple…brown leaves； withtheir feathery tips。 There still stands the birch； with its white barkand its delicate； loosely hanging leaves； and with regard to theliving beings who frequented this spot； the fly still wears a gauzydress of the same cut； and the favorite colors of the stork are white；with black and red for stockings。 The people； certainly； in thosedays； wore very different dresses to those they now wear； but if anyof them； be he huntsman or squire； master or servant； ventured onthe wavering； undulating； marshy ground of the moor； they met with thesame fate a thousand years ago as they would now。 The wanderer sank；and went down to the Marsh King； as he is named； who rules in thegreat moorland empire beneath。 They also called him 〃Gunkel King；〃 butwe like the name of 〃Marsh King〃 better； and we will give him thatname as the storks do。 Very little is known of the Marsh King'srule； but that； perhaps； is a good thing。
In the neighborhood of the moorlands； and not far from the greatarm of the North Sea and the Cattegat which is called theLumfjorden； lay the castle of the Viking； with its water…tight stonecellars； its tower； and its three projecting storeys。 On the ridgeof the roof the stork had built his nest； and there the stork…mammasat on her eggs and felt sure her hatching would e to something。
One evening； stork…papa stayed out rather late； and when he camehome he seemed quite busy； bustling； and important。 〃I havesomething very dreadful to tell you；〃 said he to the stork…mamma。
〃Keep it to yourself then；〃 she replied。 〃Remember that I amhatching eggs； it may agitate me； and will affect them。〃
〃You must know it at once；〃 said he。 〃The daughter of our hostin Egypt has arrived here。 She has ventured to take this journey；and now she is lost。〃
〃She who sprung from the race of the fairies； is it？〃 cried themother stork。 〃Oh； tell me all about it； you know I cannot bear tobe kept waiting at a time when I am hatching eggs。〃
〃Well； you see； mother；〃 he replied； 〃she believed what thedoctors said； and what I have heard you state also； that themoor…flowers which grow about here would heal her sick father； and shehas flown to the north in swan's plumage； in pany with some otherswan…princesses； who e to these parts every year to renew theiryouth。 She came； and where is she now！〃
〃You enter into particulars too much；〃 said the mamma stork；〃and the eggs may take cold； I cannot bear such suspense as this。〃
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃I have kept watch； and this evening I went amongthe rushes where I thought the marshy ground would bear me； andwhile I was there three swans came。 Something in their manner offlying seemed to say to me； 'Look carefully now； there is one notall swan； only swan's feathers。' You know； mother； you have the sameintuitive feeling that I have； you know whether a thing is right ornot immediately。〃
〃Yes； of course；〃 said she； 〃but tell me about the princess； Iam tired of hearing about the swan's feathers。〃
〃Well； you know that in the middle of the moor there issomething like a lake；〃 said the stork…papa。 〃You can see the edgeof it if you raise yourself a little。 Just there； by the reeds and thegreen banks； lay the trunk of an elder…tree； upon this the three swansstood flapping their wings； and looking about them； one of themthrew off her plumage； and I immediately recognized her as one ofthe princesses of our home in Egypt。 There she sat； without anycovering but her long； black hair。 I heard her tell the two othersto take great care of the swan's plumage； while she dipped down intothe water to pluck the flowers which she fancied she saw there。 Theothers nodded； and picked up the feather dress； and took possession ofit。 I wonder what will bee of it？ thought I； and she most likelyasked herself the same question。 If so； she received an answer； a verypractical one； for the two swans rose up and flew away with her swan'splumage。 'Dive down now！' they cried； 'thou shalt never more fly inthe swan's plumage； thou shalt never again see Egypt； here； on themoor； thou wilt remain。' So saying； they tore the swan's plumageinto a thousand pieces； the feathers drifted about like a snow…shower；and then the two deceitful princesses flew away。〃
〃Why； that is terrible；〃 said the stork…mamma； 〃I feel as if Icould hardly bear to hear any more； but you must tell me what happenednext。〃
〃The princess wept and lamented aloud； her tears moistened theelder stump； which was really not an elder stump but the Marsh Kinghimself； he who in marshy ground lives and rules。 I saw myself how thestump of the tree turned round； and was a tree no more； while long；clammy branches like arms； were extended from it。 Then the poorchild was terribly frightened； and started up to run away。 Shehastened to cross the green； slimy ground； but it will not bear anyweight； much less hers。 She quickly sank； and the elder stump divedimmediately after her； in fact； it was he who drew her down。 Greatblack bubbles rose up out of the moor…slime； and with these everytrace of the two vanished。 And now the princess is buried in thewild marsh； she will never now carry flowers to Egypt to cure herfather。 It would have broken your heart； mother； had you seen it。〃
〃You ought not to have told me；〃 said she； 〃at such a time asthis； the eggs might suffer。 But I think the princess will soon findhelp； some one will rise up to help her。 Ah！ if it had been you orI； or one of our people； it would have been all over with us。〃
I mean to go every day；〃 said he； 〃to see if anything es topass；〃 and so he did。
A long time went by； but at last he saw a green stalk shootingup out of the deep； marshy ground。 As it reached the surface of themarsh； a leaf spread out； and unfolded itself broader and broader； andclose to it came forth a bud。
One morning； when the stork…papa was flying over the stem； hesaw that the power of the sun's rays had caused the bud to open； andin the cup of the flower lay a charming child… a little maiden；looking as if she had just e out of a bath。 The little one was solike the Egyptian princess； that the stork； at the first moment；thought it must be the princess herself； but after a little reflectionhe decided that it was much more likely to be the daughter of theprincess and the Marsh King； and this explained also her beingplaced in the cup of a water…lily。 〃But she cannot be left to liehere；〃 thought the stork； 〃and in my nest there are already so many。But stay； I have thought of something： the wife of the Viking has nochildren； and how often she has wished for a little one。 People alwayssay the stork brings the little ones； I will do so in earnest thistime。 I shall fly with the child to the Viking's wife； whatrejoicing there will be！〃
And then the stork lifted the little girl out of the flower…cup；flew to the castle； picked a hole with his beak in thebladder…covered； window； and laid the beau