By and by Blue Beard, who had pulled out his huge sabre, and was trying its edge on the short turf of the terrace, shouted to her:—
'Wife, your time is up. Come down, and at once!'
Then, as she made no answer, he shouted again, and as loudly as he could bawl: 'Come down quickly, or I will come up to you!'
'A moment—give me a moment longer!' she answered, and called softly to her sister: 'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?'
And Sister Anne answered: 'I see nothing but the noon dust a-blowing, and the green grass a-growing.'
'Come down quickly,' shouted Blue Beard, 'or I will come up to you!'
'I am coming,' answered his wife; and again she cried: 'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?'
'I see,' answered Sister Anne, 'yonder a great cloud of dust coming.'
'Is it my brothers?'
'Alas! no, sister. I see a flock of sheep.'