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When； however； it came to the turn of the thirteenth dish； which
nobody ever wanted to eat； a huge black cat ran up； and stood on
the rock close to the cock； while the dish was on his other side。
There they all remained； till they were joined by the old man。
He picked up the dish in one hand； tucked the cat under his arm；
told the cock to get on his shoulder； and all four vanished into
the rock。 And this wonderful stone contained not only food； but
clothes and everything you could possibly want in the house。
At first a language was often spoken at meals which was strange
to Elsa； but by the help of the lady and her daughter she began
slowly to understand it； though it was years before she was able
to speak it herself。
One day she asked Kisika why the thirteenth dish came daily to
the table and was sent daily away untouched； but Kisika knew no
more about it than she did。 The girl must； however； have told
her mother what Elsa had said； for a few days later she spoke to
Elsa seriously：
'Do not worry yourself with useless wondering。 You wish to know
why we never eat of the thirteenth dish？ That； dear child； is
the dish of hidden blessings； and we cannot taste of it without
bringing our happy life here to an end。 And the world would be a
great deal better if men； in their greed； did not seek to snatch
every thing for themselves； instead of leaving something as a
thankoffering to the giver of the blessings。 Greed is man's
worst fault。'
The years passed like the wind for Elsa； and she grew into a
lovely woman； with a knowledge of many things that she would
never have learned in her native village； but Kisika was still
the same young girl that she had been on the day of her first
meeting with Elsa。 Each morning they both worked for an hour at
reading and writing； as they had always done； and Elsa was
anxious to learn all she could； but Kisika much preferred
childish games to anything else。 If the humour seized her； she
would fling aside her tasks； take her treasure box； and go off to
play in the sea； where no harm ever came to her。
'What a pity；' she would often say to Elsa； 'that you have grown
so big； you cannot play with me any more。'
Nine years slipped away in this manner； when one day the lady
called Elsa into her room。 Elsa was surprised at the summons；
for it was unusual； and her heart sank； for she feared some evil
threatened her。 As she crossed the threshold； she saw that the
lady's cheeks were flushed； and her eyes full of tears； which she
dried hastily； as if she would conceal them from the girl。
'Dearest child；' she began； 'the time has come when we must
part。'
'Part？' cried Elsa； burying her head in the lady's lap。 'No；
dear lady； that can never be till death parts us。 You once
opened your arms to me； you cannot thrust me away now。'
'Ah； be quiet； child；' replied the lady； 'you do not know what I
would do to make you happy。 Now you are a woman； and I have no
right to keep you here。 You must return to the world of men；
where joy awaits you。'
'Dear lady；' entreated Elsa again。 'Do not； I beseech you； send
me from you。 I want no other happiness but to live and die
beside you。 Make me your waiting maid； or set me to any work you
choose； but do not cast me forth into the world。 It would have
been better if you had left me with my stepmother； than first to
have brought me to heaven and then send me back to a worse
place。'
'Do not talk like that； dear child；' replied the lady； 'you do
not know all that must be done to secure your happiness； however
much it costs me。 But it has to be。 You are only a common
mortal； who will have to die one day； and you cannot stay here
any longer。 Though we have the bodies of men； we are not men at
all； though it is not easy for you to understand why。 Some day
or other you will find a husband who has been made expressly for
you； and will live happily with him till death separates you。 It
will be very hard for me to part from you； but it has to be； and
you must make up your mind to it。' Then she drew her golden comb
gently through Elsa's hair； and bade her go to bed； but little
sleep had the poor girl！ Life seemed to stretch before her like
a dark starless night。
Now let us look back a moment； and see what had been going on in
Elsa's native village all these years； and how her double had
fared。 It is a well…known fact that a bad woman seldom becomes
better as she grows older； and Elsa's stepmother was no exception
to the rule； but as the figure that had taken the girl's place
could feel no pain； the blows that were showered on her night and
day made no difference。 If the father ever tried to come to his
daughter's help； his wife turned upon him； and things were rather
worse than before。
One day the stepmother had given the girl a frightful beating；
and then threatened to kill her outright。 Mad with rage； she
seized the figure by the throat with both hands； when out came a
black snake from her mouth and stung the woman's tongue； and she
fell dead without a sound。 At night； when the husband came home；
he found his wife lying dead upon the ground； her body all
swollen and disfigured； but the girl was nowhere to be seen。 His
screams brought the neighbours from their cottages； but they were
unable to explain how it had all come about。 It was true； they
said； that about mid…day they had heard a great noise； but as
that was a matter of daily occurrence they did not think much of
it。 The rest of the day all was still； but no one had seen
anything of the daughter。 The body of the dead woman was then
prepared for burial； and her tired husband went to bed； rejoicing
in his heart that he had been delivered from the firebrand who
had made his home unpleasant。 On the table he saw a slice of
bread lying； and； being hungry； he ate it before going to sleep。
In the morning he too was found dead； and as swollen as his wife；
for the bread had been placed in the body of the figure by the
old man who made it。 A few days later he was placed in the grave
beside his wife； but nothing more was ever heard of their
daughter。
All night long after her talk with the lady Elsa had wept and
wailed her hard fate in being cast out from her home which she
loved。
Next morning； when she got up； the lady placed a gold seal ring
on her finger； strung a little golden box on a ribbon； and placed
it round her neck； then she called the old man； and； forcing back
her tears； took leave of Elsa。 The girl tried to speak； but
before she could sob out her thanks the old man had touched her
softly on the head three times with his silver staff。 In an
instant Elsa knew that she was turning into a bird： wings sprang
from beneath her arms； her feet were the feet of eagles； with
long claws； her nose curved itself into a sharp beak； and
feathers covered her body。 Then she soared high in the air； and
floated up towards the clouds； as if she had really been hatched
an eagle。
For several days she flew steadily south； resting from time to
time when her wings grew tired； for hunger she never felt。 And
so it happened that one day she was flying over a dense forest；
an