She was upon 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 allow her five minutes longer to finish her prayers, which he, knowing she was completely within his power, granted her, and again left her.
Fatima again renewed her inquiries to her sister; "Do you see any 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 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 cried, "Do you think it is my brothers?"
"Alas! no, my dearest Fatima," returned her sister, "it is only a flock of sheep."