impossible.'

He spoke without thinking, but the flash of anger which darted
from her eyes made him feel uncomfortable. However, all she said
was:

'As you like; since you reject me, let the crows have you,' and
hurried away down the street.

Left to himself, the full horror of his coming death rushed upon
the young man, and he understood that he had thrown away his sole
chance of life. Well, if he must, he must, he said to himself,
and began to run as fast as he could after the old crone, who by
this time could scarcely be seen, even in the moonlight. Who
would have believed a woman past ninety could walk with such
speed? It seemed more like flying! But at length, breathless and
exhausted, he reached her side, and gasped out:

'Madam, pardon me for my hasty words just now; I was wrong, and
will thankfully accept the offer you made me.'

'Ah, I thought you would come to your senses,' answered she, in
rather an odd voice. 'We have no time to lose--follow me at
once,' and they went on silently and swiftly till they stopped at
the door of a small house in which the priest lived. Before him
the old woman bade the prisoner swear that she should be his
wife, and this he did in the presence of witnesses. Then, begging
the priest and the guards to leave them alone for a little, she
told the young man what he was to do, when the next morning he
was brought before the king and the judges.