13
battlements, where she stood to observe if any one approached the castle, while the poor trembling girl below, every minute, cried out, "Sister Anne, my dear sister Anne, do you see any person approaching yet?"
Her sister always replied, "There is not a human being in view, and I see nothing but the sun and the grass."
She was on her knees bewailing her fate, when Blue Beard,
in a tremendous voice cried out, "Are you ready? the time is expired;" and she heard the sound of his footsteps approaching.
She again supplicated him to spare her life, but he refused; and he was proceeding to seize her, when she entreated five minutes longer to finish her prayers. Blue Beard knowing she was completely in his power, and without the least chance of escape, granted her the five minutes she had requested, and then retired.
Fatima again renewed her inquiries to her sister; " Do you see no one coming yet?"
Her sister replied, "There is not a human being within sight."
When the five minutes were elapsed, the voice of Blue Beard was heard bawling out, "Are you ready yet?" She again beseeched him to allow her only two minutes more, and then addressed her sister, "Dear sister Anne, do you see any one coming yet?"
"I see," said her sister, "a cloud of dust rising a little to the left."
In breathless agitation she again cried out, "Do you think it is my brothers?"
"Alas! no, my dearest Fatima," replied the sister, "it is only a flock of sheep."
