Then she ceased and stood with her root-like finger up-raised, and from near by came the voice of a great white owl, which took up the song, saying:
“Things of the dark and things without name,
Save us from light and the torch’s red flame.”
Now all this was by starlight, but the moment the owl had ceased, from over the hill came a glint of light as the pale moon rose, and with a sound like a thunderclap the witch melted into the great rock and the owl flapped away heavily.
“Brother,” whispered the girl, “you heard what the owl said?”
“Yes, sister, I heard,” he answered.
“Brother, come to me. I am afraid,” said Natalia, and commenced to cry a little.
“Sister,” he said, “I try but I cannot. There is something through which I cannot pass. I can see but I cannot press through.”
“Can you not climb over, dear Luis?” asked Natalia.
“No, Natalia. I have reached high as I can, but the wall that I cannot see goes up and up.”