“Go back to your father,” answered the phantoms.
“But how escape when Comorre’s dog guards the court?”
“Give him this poison which killed me,” said the first wife.
“But how can I descend yon high wall?”
“By means of this cord which strangled me,” answered the second wife.
“But who will guide me through the dark?”
“The fire that burnt me,” replied the third wife.
“And how can I make so long a journey?” returned Triphyna.
“Take this stick which broke my skull,” rejoined the fourth spectre.
Armed with the poison, the rope, and the stick, Triphyna set out, silenced the dog, scaled the wall, and, miraculously 183 guided on her way through the darkness by a glowing light, proceeded on her road to Vannes. On awaking next morning Comorre found that his wife had fled, and pursued her on horseback. The poor fugitive, seeing her ring turn black, turned off the road and hid herself till night in the cabin of a shepherd, where there was only an old magpie in a cage at the door, and here her baby was born. Comorre, who had given up the pursuit, was returning home by that road, when he heard the magpie trying to imitate her complaints and calling out “Poor Triphyna!” Guessing that his wife had passed that way, he set his dog on the track.