-THE WATER OF THE 
 
 WONDROUS ISLES BY 
 
 WILLIAM MORRIS 
 
 
 LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 
 
 NEW YORK, LONDON, AND BOMBAY 
 MDCCCXCVII 
 
Copyright, 1 897, by Longmans, Green, and Co. 
 
 ^7f// 
 
'3 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 The First Part : Of, the House of Captivity 
 
 ^JOOJ "^ ,,,, 
 
 Chtip. I. Catch at Utterhay i 
 
 //, ^ow shall be told of the House by the Waterside . 8 
 
 ///. Of Skin-changing lo 
 
 IV. Of the Waxing of the Stolen Child .... 12 
 V. OfBirdalone, and how she is grown into Maiden- 
 hood 15 
 
 VI. Herein is told of Birdalone^ s Raiment ... iK 
 
 VII. Birdalone hath an Adventure in the Wood . . 22 
 
 VIII. OfBirdalone and the Witch-wife .... 30 
 
 IX. Of Birdalone'' s Swimming 33 
 
 X. Birdalone comes on New Tidifigs 36 
 
 XI. Of Birdalone' s Guilt and the Chastisement thereof 39 
 
 XII. The Words of the Witch-zvife to Birdalone . . 43 
 
 XIII. Birdalone meeteth the Wood-woman again . . 46 
 
 XIV. Of Birdalone' s Fishing 51 
 
 XV. Birdalone weareth her Serpent-ring . . . . 54 
 XVI. Birdalone meeteth Habundia again ; and kiirneth 
 
 her First Wisdom of her 59 
 
 XVII. The Passing of the 7'ear into Winter . ... 62 
 XVIII. Of Springtide and the Mind of Birdalone . . 65 
 XIX. They bid Farewell, Birdalone and the Wood- 
 mother 68 
 
 XX. Of Birdalone and the Sending Boat .... 70 
 
 The Second Part : Of the/Wondrous Isles 
 
 Chap. I. The First Isle . .^:'^'h^. 75 
 
 //. Birdalone falleth in zvith New Friends . . . 77 
 
 ///. Birdalone is brought before the Witch-wife's Sister 8 2 
 
 IV. Of the Witch' s Prison in the Wailing-tower . . 85 
 
vi CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chap. F. They feast in the Witch's Prison 89 
 
 FI. Atra tells of how they three came unto the Isle of 
 
 Increase Unsought 97 
 
 VII. The three Damsels take Birdalone out of the 
 
 Witch'' s Prison 109 
 
 VIII. In what Wise Birdalone was clad, and how she 
 went her Ways from the Isle of Increase Un- 
 sought 112 
 
 IX. How Birdalone came to the Isle of the Young and 
 
 the Old 117 
 
 X. Birdalone comes to the Isle of the Queens . . .131 
 XI. And now she comes to the Isle of the Kings . . 1 36 
 XII. Of Birdalone, how she came unto the Isle of 
 
 Nothing 141 
 
 The Third Part: Of the Castle of the ^estQf\^\ 
 
 Chap. I. Birdalone comes to the Castle of the Quest . .146 
 //. Of Birdalone, and how she rested the Night 
 through in a Bower without the Castle of 
 
 the Quest 152 
 
 ///. How Birdalone dight her for meeting the Cham- 
 pions of the Quest 157 
 
 IV. And now she meets the Champions . . . . 1 60 
 V. Birdalone has True Tokens from the Champions 
 
 of the Quest 167 
 
 VI. How the Champions would do Birdalone to be clad 
 
 anew in the Castle of the Quest . . .176 
 VII. Of Birdalone, how she told the Champions all her 
 
 Tale 180 
 
 VIII. In the Meanwhile of the Departing of the Cham- 
 pions, they would pleasure Birdalone with 
 Feats of Arms and Games of Prowess . .184 
 IX. Birdalone cometh before the Champions in her New 
 
 Array 186 
 
 X. The Champions go their Ways in the Sending 
 
 Boat 190 
 
)NTENTS 
 
 w. 
 
 The Fourth Part : Of the Days of ^biding 
 
 -fti'-^'l Vl"^ PAGE 
 
 Chap. I. Of Birdalone^ s Grief ; and of Leotiard the 
 
 Chaplain 194 
 
 //. Birdalone learneth Lore of the Priest. Ten 
 
 Days of Waiting wear 197 
 
 ///. Now would Birdalone ride abroad . . . . 201 
 
 Jf^. Of Birdalone' s Faring abroad 205 
 
 V. Sir Aymeris showeth Birdalone the Mountains 
 
 afar off 208 
 
 FI. Birdalone heareth tell Tales of the Black Val- 
 ley of the Grcywethers 213 
 
 FIL Birdalone heguileth the Priest to help her to 
 
 Outgoing 216 
 
 VI 11. Birdalone fares on her Adventure . . . . 220 
 
 IX. Birdalone comes to the Black Valley . . . 224 
 X. How Birdalone fell in with a Man in the Black 
 
 Valley of the Grcywethers . . . . 227 
 
 XI. Birdalone is led up the Black Valley . . . 231 
 XII. How those Twain get them from out of the 
 
 Black Valley of the Grcywethers . . . 235 
 
 XIII. Now they rest for the Night in the Strait Pass . 243 
 
 XIV. The Black Knight tells the Truth of Himsef . 245 
 XV. The Black Knight brings Birdalone to the 
 
 Bower in the Dale 250 
 
 XVI. Tet a Day and a Night they tarry in the Dale 255 
 
 The Fifth Part: The Tale of the jest's Ending J$^^ 
 
 Chap. I. Of Sir Leonard' s Trouble and the Coming of 
 
 the Quest 263 
 
 //. Now ask they of Birdalone, and Sir Leonard 
 
 speaks 268 
 
 ///. How they follow the Slot of Birdalone and the 
 
 Black Knight 271 
 
 IV. Of the Slaying of Friend and Foe . . . . 276 
 V. They come home to the Castle of the Quest . 283 
 
viii CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chap. n. Of the Talk betwixt Birdalone and Viridis . 285 
 FII. Birdalone telleth the Tale of her Wandering up 
 
 the Valley of the Greywcthers . . . . 289 
 Fill. Atra and Birdalone talk together while the 
 
 Lords sit at the Murder-council . . 305 
 IX. Hugh tells the Story of the Quest's Ending . 309 
 X. How it fared zvith the Three Ladies after the 
 
 Escape of Birdalone 3 40 
 
 XI. Birdalone and the Black Squire talk together 
 
 in the Hall of the Castle 350 
 
 XII. The Knights and their Fellows betake them to 
 
 the Assaulting of the Red Hold . . . 355 
 XIII. Birdalone bethinks her to fulfil the Promise 
 
 made unto Atra 358 
 
 XIV. Birdalone leaves the Castle of the Quest . . 364 
 
 lite Sixth Part : The Days of Absence 
 
 Chap. I. Birdalone rides to Greenford and there takes 
 
 Leave of Arnold and his Men . . . 366 
 //. Of Birdalone and her Fellowship, their Faring 
 
 over the Downland 372 
 
 III. They come to the City of the Five Crafts, and 
 
 Birdalone meets with the Poor-wife . . 374 
 IV. Of the Love of Gerard'' s Sons and of Jacobus 
 
 for Birdalone 385 
 
 V. Of the death of Audrey, Mother to Birdalone. 
 She is warned in a Dream to seek the Black 
 Squire, and is minded to depart the City of 
 the Five Crafts, and seek again the Castle 
 
 of the Quest 389 
 
 VI. Of the Sundering of Birdalone fro?n Gerard 
 
 and his Sons 396 
 
 VII. Birdalone cometh to Greenford, and hears of 
 
 the fVasting of the Castle of the Quest . 401 
 VIII. Birdalone cometh to the Castle of the Quest, 
 heareth the Tale thereof from Leonard, 
 and departeth thence by the Sending Boat 406 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 X. 
 
 XL 
 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 XX. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Birdalone findeth the Isle of Nothing greatly 
 
 bettered, and is kindly entreated there . 413 
 Of Birdalone' s Flitting from the Isle of 
 
 Nothing 420 
 
 Coming to the Isle of Kings, Birdalone findeth 
 there a Score and Two of Fair Damsels 
 who would fain have her Company . . 422 
 
 Birdalone cometh again to the Isle of Queens, 
 
 and findeth a Perilous Adventure therein 427 
 
 Coming to the Isle of the Young and the Old, 
 
 Birdalone findeth it peopled with Children 438 
 
 The Sending Boat disappeareth from the Isle 
 of Increase Unsought, and Birdalone seek- 
 eth to escape thence by Swimming . . 442 
 
 Birdalone lacketh little of Drowning, but 
 
 cometh latterly to the Green Eyot . . 446 
 
 Birdalone findeth her Witch-mistress dead . 449 
 
 Birdalone layeth to Earth the Body of the 
 Witch, and findeth the Sending Boat 
 broken up 454 
 
 The Wood-mother cometh to Birdalone and 
 
 heareth her Story 458 
 
 Habundia hideth Birdalone' s Nakedness with 
 
 Faery Raiment 463 
 
 Birdalone telleth Habundia of her Love for 
 Arthur, and getteth from her Promise of 
 Help therein 465 
 
 How the Wood-wife entered the Cot, and a 
 
 Wonder that befell thereon . . . . 468 
 
 Birdalone wendeth the Wildwood in Fellow- 
 ship with Habundia 472 
 
 The Wood-wife bringeth Birdalone to the 
 
 Sight of Arthur in the Wildwood . . 47 5 
 
 The Wood-mother changeth her Form to that 
 
 of a Woman stricken in Tears . . . 485 
 
 The Wood-wife healeth and tendeth the 
 
 Black Squire 489 
 
X CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chap. XXVI. The Black Squire telleth the Wood-wife 
 of his Doings since Birdalone went from 
 
 the Castle of the Quest 493 
 
 XXVII. Sir Arthur cometh to the House under the 
 
 Wood 500 
 
 XXVIII. Fair Days in the House of Love , . . 503 
 XXIX. Those Twain will seek the Wisdom of the 
 
 Wood-wife 505 
 
 XXX. They have Speech with Habundia con- 
 cerning the Green Knight and his 
 
 Fellows 509 
 
 XXXI. Habundia cometh with Tidings of those 
 
 Dear Friends 512 
 
 XXXII. Of the Fight in the Forest and the Rescue 
 of those Friends from the Men of the 
 
 Red Company 518 
 
 XXXIII. Viridis telleth the Tale of their Seeking . 525 
 
 The Seventh Part : The Bays of Returning 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 II. 
 
 III. 
 
 Sir Hugh asketh Birdalone where she would 
 
 have the Abode of their Fellowship to be . 533 
 Birdalone taketh Counsel with her Wood-mother 
 
 concerning the Matter of Sir Hugh . . . 537 
 Of the Journeying through the Forest of Evil- 
 
 shaw unto the Town of Utter hay . . . 541 
 Of the Abiding in Utterhay in Love and 
 
 Contentment 550 
 
THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS 
 ISLES. THE FIRST PART: OF THE 
 HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. CATCH AT UTTERHAY. 
 
 WHILOM, as tells the tale, was a walled 
 cheaping-town hight Utterhay, which was 
 builded in a bight of the land a little off 
 the great highway which went from over the moun- 
 tains to the sea. 
 
 /" The said town was hard on the borders of a 
 wood, which men held to be mighty great, or 
 y^aybe measureless ; though few indeed had en- 
 <r tered it, and they that had, brought back tales 
 yild and confused thereof. 
 
 Therein was neither highway nor byway, nor 
 wood-reeve nor way-warden ; never came chap- 
 man thence into Utterhay ; no man of Utterhay 
 was so poor or so bold that he durst raise the 
 
 hunt therein ; no outlaw durst flee thereto ;--Jto_ 
 
 roan of God had such trust in the saints that he 
 durst^buitd^im a cell in that wood. 
 
 For all men deemed it more than perilous ; 
 and some said that there walked the worst of the 
 dead ; othersome that the God desses of jthe Gen- 
 tilgsjiaunted there ; others again that it was the 
 faery rather, but they full of malice and guile. 
 But most commonly it was deemed that the devils 
 swarmed amidst of its thickets, and that whereso- 
 ever a man sought to, who was once environed by 
 
 i 
 
2 TFF. WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 it, ever it was the Gate of Hell whereto he came. 
 And the said wood was called Evilshaw. 
 
 Nevertheless the cheaping-town throve not ill ; 
 for whatso evil things haunted Evilshaw, never 
 came they into Utterhay in such guise that men 
 knew them, neither wotted they of any hurt that 
 they had of the Devils of Evilshaw. 
 
 Now in the said cheaping-town, on a day, it was^ 
 market and high noon, and in the market-place f 
 was much people thronging ; and amidst of them 
 went a woman, tall, and strong of aspect, of some 
 thirty winters by seeming, black-haired, hook- 
 nosed and hawk-eyed, not so fair to look on as mas-/ 
 terful and proud. She led a great grey ass betwixt 
 two panniers, wherein she laded her marketings. 
 But now she had done her chaffer, and was look- 
 ing about her as if to note the folk for her disport ; 
 but when she came across a child, whether it were 
 borne in arms or led by its kinswomen, or were 
 going alone, as were some, she seemed more heed- 
 ful of it, and eyed it more closely than aught else. 
 
 So she strolled about till she was come to the 
 outskirts of the throng, and there she happened 
 on a babe of some two winters, which was crawl- 
 ing about on its hands and knees, with scarce a 
 rag upon its Httle body. She watched it, and 
 looked whereto it was going, and saw a woman 
 sitting on a stone, with none anigh her, her face 
 bowed over her knees as if she were weary or 
 sorry. Unto her crept the little one, murmuring 
 and merry, and put its arms about the woman's 
 legs, and buried its face in the folds of her gown : 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 3 
 
 she looked up therewith, and showed a face which 
 had once been full fair, but was now grown bony 
 and haggard, though she were scarce past five and 
 twenty years. She took the child and strained it 
 to her bosom, and kissed it, face and hands, and 
 made it great cheer, but ever woefully. The tall 
 stranger stood looking down on her, and noted 
 how evilly she was clad, and how she seemed to 
 have nought to do with that throng of thriving 
 cheapeners, and she smiled somewhat sourly. 
 
 At last she spake, and her voice was not so 
 harsh as might have been looked for from her 
 face : Dame, she said, thou seemest to be less 
 busy than most folk here ; might I crave of thee 
 to tell an alien who has but some hour to dwell 
 in this good town where she may find her a cham- 
 ber wherein to rest and eat a morsel, and be un- 
 troubled of ribalds and ill company ? Said the 
 poor-wife : Short shall be my tale ; I am over 
 poor to know of hostelries and ale-houses that I 
 may tell thee aught thereof. Said the other : 
 Maybe some neighbour of thine would take me 
 in for thy sake ? Said the mother : What neigh- 
 bours have I since my man died ; and I dying of 
 hunger, and in this town of thrift and abundance .'' 
 
 The leader of the ass was silent a while, then 
 she said : Poor woman ! I begin to have pity on 
 thee ; and I tell thee that luck hath come to thee 
 to-day. 
 
 Now the poor-wife had stood up with the babe 
 in her arms and was turning to go her ways ; but 
 the alien put forth a hand to her, and said : Stand 
 
4 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 a while and hearken good tidings. And she put 
 her hand to her girdle-pouch, and drew thereout 
 a good golden piece, a noble, and said : When I 
 am sitting down in thine house thou wilt have 
 earned this, and when I take my soles out thereof 
 there will be three more of like countenance, if I 
 be content with thee meanwhile. 
 
 The woman looked on the gold, and tears came 
 into her eyes ; but she laughed and said : House- 
 room may I give thee for an hour truly, and there- 
 withal water of the well, and a mouse's meal of 
 bread. If thou deem that worth three nobles, 
 how may I say thee nay, when they may save the 
 life of my little one. But what else wouldst thou 
 of me ? Little enough, said the alien ; so lead me 
 straight to thine house. 
 
 So went they forth of the market-place, and the 
 woman led them, the alien and the ass, out of the 
 street through the west gate of Utterhay, that, to 
 wit, which looked on Evilshaw, and so into a scat- 
 tering street without the wall, the end of which 
 neared a corner of the wood aforesaid : the houses 
 there were nought so evil_p f fashion, but whereas 
 they were so nigh unto the Devil's Park, rich men 
 might no longer away with them, and they were 
 become wares for poor folk. 
 
 Now the townswoman laid her hand on the latch 
 of the door that was hers, and threw the door open ; 
 then she put forth her palm to the other, and said : 
 Wilt thou give me the first gold now, since rest is 
 made sure for thee, as long as thou wilt ? The 
 ass-leader put it into her hand, and she took it and 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 5 
 
 laid it on her baby's cheek, and then kissed both 
 gold and child together; then she turned to the 
 alien and said: As for thy way-beast, I have nought 
 for him, neither hay nor corn : thou wert best to 
 leave him in the street. The stranger nodded a 
 yea-say, and the three went in together, the mother, 
 the child, and the alien. 
 
 Not right small was the chamber ; but there was 
 little therein ; one stool to wit, a yew-chair, a little 
 table, and a coffer : there was no fire on the hearth, 
 nought save white ashes of small wood ; but it was 
 June, so that was of no account. 
 
 The guest sat down in the yew-chair, and the 
 poor-wife laid her child down gently on the floor 
 and came and stood before the stranger, as if abid- 
 ing her bidding. 
 
 Spake the alien : Nought so uncomely or strait 
 is thy chamber ; and thy child, which I see is a 
 woman, and therefore belike shall long abide with 
 thee, is lovely of shape, and fair of flesh. Now 
 also thou shalt have better days, as I deem, and I 
 pray them on thine head. 
 
 She spake in a kind wheedling voice, and the 
 poor-wife's face grew softer, and presently tears 
 fell down on to the table from her, but she spake 
 no word. The guest now drew forth, not three 
 nobles, but four, and laid them on the table, and 
 said : Lo, my friend, the three nobles which I be- 
 hight thee ! now are they thine ; but this other thou 
 shalt take and spend for me. Go up into the town, 
 and buy for me white bread of the best ; and right 
 good flesh, or poulaine if it may be, already cooked 
 
6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and dight ; and, withal, the best wine that thou 
 mayst get, and sweetmeats for thy baby ; and when 
 thou comest back, we will sit together and dine 
 here. And thereafter, when we be full of meat 
 and drink, we shall devise something more for 
 thy good speed. 
 
 The woman knelt before her weeping, but might 
 speak no word because of the fullness of her heart. 
 She kissed the guest's hands, and took the money, 
 and then arose and caught up her child, and kissed 
 her bare flesh eagerly many times, and then hastened 
 out of the house and up the street and through the 
 gate; and the guest sat hearkening to the sound of 
 her footsteps till it died out, and there was nought 
 to be heard save the far-off murmur of the market, 
 and the chirrup of the little one on the floor. 
 
 Then arose the guest and took up the child from 
 the floor, who kicked and screamed, and craved her 
 mother as her broken speech might ; but the alien 
 spake softly to her, and said : Hush, dear one, and 
 be good, and we will go and find her ; and she gave 
 her therewith a sugar-plum from out of her scrip. 
 Then she came out of doors, and spake sweetly to 
 the little one : See now this pretty way-beast. We 
 will ride merrily on him to find thy mother. 
 
 Then she laid the child in the pannier with a soft 
 cushion under, and a silk cloth over her, so that 
 she lay there happily. Then she took her ass's 
 rein and went her ways over the waste toward Evil- 
 shaw ; for, as ye may deem, where the houses and 
 the street ended, the beaten way ended also. 
 
 Quietly and speedily she went, and met but three 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 7 
 
 men on the way ; and when these saw her, and that 
 she was making for Evilshaw, they turned their 
 heads away, each one, and blessed themselves, and 
 went past swiftly. Not one sought to stay her, or 
 held any converse with her, and no foot she heard 
 following after her. So in scarce more than the 
 saying of a low mass she was in amongst the trees, 
 with her ass and her wares and her prey. 
 
 No stay she made there, but held forward at her 
 best before the night should fall upon her. /And 
 whatsoever might be told concerning the creatures 
 that other folk had met in Evilshaw, of her it must 
 needs be said that therein she happened on nought 
 worser than herself. / 
 
CHAPTER II. NOW SHALL BE TOLD 
 OF THE HOUSE BY THE WATER-SIDE. 
 
 FOUR days they wended the wood, and nought 
 befell to tell of. The witch-wife (for even 
 such was she) fed the stolen child well and 
 duly, and whiles caressed her and spake sweetly 
 unto her; whiles also she would take her out of 
 the pannier, and set her on the ass's back and hold 
 her«thereon heedfully ; or, otherwhiles, when they 
 came upon grassy and flowery places, she would set 
 her down on the ground and let her roam about, 
 and pluck the flowers and the strawberries. And 
 whoso might be sorry, the child was glad, so many 
 things new and fair as she came upon. 
 
 At last, when the fifth day was waning, and they 
 had been a long while wending a wood set thick 
 with trees, it began to grow grey betwixt the dis- 
 tant boles, and then from grey to white, and it was 
 asi£aJiew_wmili-o£iightJ3y_hefore them. Thither- 
 ward went they, and in a little, an3r~before the sun 
 was set, came they to the shore of a great water, and 
 thence was no more land to be seen before them 
 than if it had been the main sea itself, though this 
 was a sweet water. Albeit, less than a half mile 
 from the shore lay two eyots, as it might have been 
 on the salt sea ; but one of these sat low down on 
 the water, and was green and well bushed, but the 
 other, which lay east of it, and was nigher to the 
 shore, was high, rocky, and barren. 
 
 Now the ending of the wood left a fair green 
 plain betwixt it and the water, whiles more than a 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 9 
 
 furlong jLCjCDSSj whiles much less ; and whiles the 
 trees came down close to the water-side. But the 
 place whereas they came from out the wood was of 
 the widest, and there it was a broad bight of green- 
 sward of the fashion of the moon seven nights old, 
 and a close hedge of thicket there was at the back 
 of it ; and the lake lay south, and the wood north. 
 Some deal of this greensward was broken by closes 
 of acre-land, and the tall green wheat stood blos- 
 soming therein ; but the most was sweet meadow, 
 and there as now was a gallant flock of goats feed- 
 ing down it; five kine withal, and a tethered bull. 
 Through the widest of this meadow ran a clear 
 stream winding down to the lake, and on a little 
 knoll beside a lap of the said stream, two bow-shots 
 from the water, was a knoll, whereon stood, amidst 
 of a potherb garden, a little house strongly framed 
 of timber. Before it the steep bank of the lake 
 broke down into a slowly-shelving beach, whose 
 honey-coloured sand thrust up a tongue in amongst 
 the grass of the mead. 
 
 /Went the witch-wife straight to the door of the 
 sard hcrtise as if she were at home, as was sooth 
 indeed. I She threw the door open, and unladed the 
 ass of all his wares, and first of the youngling, whom 
 sheshook awake, and bore into the house, and laid 
 safely on the floor of the chamber ; nor did she wait 
 on her wailing, but set about what was to be done 
 to kindle fire, and milk a she-goat, and get meat 
 upon the board. That did she, and fed both her- 
 self and the child plenteously : neither did she stint 
 her of meat ever, from that time forward, h owever 
 else_she dealt with her. 
 
CHAPTER III. OF SKIN-CHANGING. 
 
 ONE^liiftg-aniist-iiere be-lold : Whenas the 
 said dame stood forth clad amidst of the 
 chamber the next morning, the child ran 
 up to her to greet her or what not, but straightway 
 when she saw her close,- drew aback, and stood 
 gasping with affright ; for verily she deemed this 
 was nowise she who had brought her last night into 
 the fair chamber, and given bread and milk to her 
 and put her to bed, but someone else. For this one 
 had not dark hair, and ho oke^^i ose. and eyen hawk- 
 bright ; stark and tall VaS'^e Indeed, as that other 
 one, and by seeming of the same-like age ; but there 
 came to an end all her likeness to last night's house- 
 wife. This one had golden-red hair flowing down^ 
 from her head ; eyes of hazel colour, long and not, 
 well-opened, but narrow and sly. High of cheek- 
 bones she was, long-chinned and thin-lipped ; her 
 skin was fine and white, but without ruddiness ; i 
 flat-breasted ,slie_wasj-aiidjQa^ow-hipped. 
 ^^^^w she laughed at the ba^e*s^ terrior^ and said, 
 but in her old voice at least : Thou foolish little 
 beast ! I know what scares thee, to wit, that thou 
 deemest me changed : now I tell thee that I am 
 the one who brought thee here last night, and fed 
 thee ; neither is my changing a matter of thine, 
 since at least I am the one who shall keep thee 
 from hunger and weather henceforward ; that is 
 enough for thee to know as now. Now thou hast 
 to eat and sleep and play and cry out, that thou 
 mayest the sooner wax, and grow into the doing of 
 my will. 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY II 
 
 Therewith she led her out into the sunshine, and 
 tethered her to an ash sapling which grew anigh 
 the door, that the child might be safe the while she 
 .^nt about her work in acre and mead. 
 
 But as for that matter of changing of aspect, 
 the maiden came to know thereafter that the witch 
 durst not go into the wood in the same skin as 
 that which she wore at home, wherefore she had 
 changed it for the journey to Utterhay, and changed 
 back again in the night-tide before she arose. 
 
CHAPTER IV. OF THE WAXING OF 
 THE STOLEN CHILD. 
 
 THIS little one, who is henceforth called Bird- 
 alone, though the witch called her but 
 seldom so, nor indeed by any name, dwelt 
 there betwixt the water and the wood, and saw none 
 save the said witch-wife, who, as aforesaid, fed her 
 well, but scarce meddled with her else for a long 
 while ; so she wandered well-nigh as she had will, 
 and much in the wood ; for she had no fear thereof, 
 nor indeed of aught else save of the dame. She 
 learned of the ways and the wont of all the crea- 
 tures round about her, and the very grass and 
 flowers were friends to her, and she made tales of 
 them in her mind ; and the wild things feared her 
 in no wise, and the fowl would come to her hand, 
 and play with her and love her. A lovely child 
 she was, rosy and strong, and as merry as the birds 
 on the bough ; and had she trouble, for whiles she 
 came across some ugly mood of the witch-wife, she 
 bore it all as lightly as they. 
 
 Wore the years thus, till now she was grown 
 tall and thin, and had seen twelve winters, and was 
 far stronger and handier than at first sight she 
 looked to be. That found her mistress, and would 
 not forego the using of her deftness. For indeed 
 the maiden knew all matters of wood and field full 
 well, and somewhat of the water also (though no 
 boat had she ever seen there), for she learned her- 
 self swimming, as the ducks do belike. 
 
 But now her mTs!rc5?-m5ntd^ea«HTer'swinking, 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 1 3 
 
 and hard was the lesson, for with twiggen rods and 
 switches was she learned, and was somewhat stub- 
 born with this woman, who she deemed loved her 
 not ; and, however it were, there began to grow 
 in her an inkling that all was not well with the 
 dame, and howsoever she might fear her, she trusted 
 her not, nor worshipped her ; otherwise she had 
 learned her lesson speedily ; for she was not slack 
 nor a sluggard, and hated not the toil, even when 
 it pained and wearied her, but against the anger 
 and malice she hardened her heart. 
 
 It is to be said, that though there she dwelt 
 alone with the witch-wife, she had ^omdimiLgot to 
 know that they two were not alone in the world, and 
 she knew of male and female, and young and old. 
 Thereof doubtless the witch herself had learned 
 her, would she, would she not ; for though she were 
 mostly few-spoken, yet whiles the tongue of her 
 would loosen, and she would tell Birdalone tales 
 of men and women, and kings and warriors and 
 thralls, and the folk of the world beyond them, if 
 it were but to scare the child. Yea, and when she 
 rated Birdalone, or girded at her, words would come 
 forth which the maiden stored up, and by laying 
 two and two together gat wisdom howso it were. 
 Moreover, she was of^ie race of Adam, and her 
 heart conceived of diverse matters from her mother's 
 milk and her father's blood, and her heart and her 
 mind grew up along with her body. Herein also 
 was she wise, to wit, how to give wrath the go-by, 
 so that she oft found the wood a better home than 
 the house : for now she knew that the witch-wife 
 
14 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 would enter it never ; wherefore she loved it much, 
 and haunted it daily if she might. 
 
 Amidst all this she lived not unmerrily ; for the 
 earth was her friend, and solaced her when she had 
 suffered aught : withal she was soon grown hardy 
 as well as strong ; and evil she could thole, nor let 
 it burden her with misery. 
 
CHAPTER V. OF BIRDALONE, AND 
 HOW SHE IS GROWN INTO MAID- 
 ENHOOD. 
 
 WEAR the years and the years amidst such 
 days as these, and now is Birdalone 
 grown a dear maiden of seventeen sum- 
 mers ; and yet was her Hfe not unhappy ; though 
 the mirth of her childhood was somewhat chastened 
 in her, and she walked the earth soberly and meas- 
 urely, as though deep thoughts were ever in her 
 head : though, forsooth, it is not all so sure that 
 her serious face and solemn eyes were but a part 
 of the beauty which was growing with the coming 
 forth of childhood into youth and maidenhood. 
 But this at least is sure, that about this time those 
 forebodings which had shown her that she had no 
 call to love and honour her mistress took clearer 
 shape, and became a burden on her, which she 
 might never wholly shake off. For this she saw, 
 that she was not her own, but a chattel and a tool 
 of one who not only used her as a thrall in the 
 passing day, but had it in her mind to make of 
 her a thing accursed like to herself, and to bait the 
 trap with her for the taking of the sons of Adam. 
 Forsooth she saw, though dimly, that her mistres&=-.=,^ 
 was indeed wicked, and that in the bonds of that / 
 wickedness was she bound. / 
 
 One thing, moreover, had she noted now this 
 long while, that once and again, it might be once 
 every two moons, the witch-wife would arise in 
 the dead of night and go forth from the house, 
 
1 6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and be away for a day, or two or three, or whiles 
 more, and come back again weary and fordone ; 
 but never said she any word to Birdalone hereof. 
 Yet oft when she arose to go this errand, before 
 she left the chamber would she come to Birdalone's 
 truckle-bed, and stand over her to note if she were 
 asleep or not:; and ever at such times did Birdalone 
 feign slumber amidsT ofsickemng-dread. Forsooth 
 in £hese~ latter days iirwtiires entered the maiden's 
 head that when the dame was gone she would rise 
 and follow her and see whither she went, and what 
 she did ; but^ienus^-constrained her that she went 
 not. 
 
 ^^ Now from amidst all these imaginings arose a 
 hope in her that she might one day escape from 
 her thralldom : and whiles, when she was lonely 
 V and safe in the wood, to this hope she yielded her- 
 self; but thereof came such tumult of her soul for 
 joy of the hope, that she might not master her 
 passion ; the earth would seem to rise beneath her, 
 and the woods to whirl about before her eyes, so 
 that she might not keep her feet, but would sink 
 adown to earth, and lie there weeping. Then most 
 oft would come the cold fit after the hot, and the 
 terror would take her that some day the witch 
 would surprise the joy of that hope in her eyes, 
 and would know what it meant, or that some light 
 word might bewray her ; and therewith came ima- 
 ginings of what would then befall her, nor were 
 that hard to picture, and it would come before her 
 over and over again till she became weary and 
 worn out therewith. 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 17 
 
 But though they abode ever with her, these 
 troubling thoughts pricked not so oft at the keen- 
 est, but were as the_diili_ache-^iittle_^nrpo|t_lhat_ 
 comes after^^p^aiinrovercome : for in sooth busy and 
 toilsofnedays-didisiTe^weary which irked her in no- 
 wise, since it eased her of the torment of those 
 hopes and fears aforesaid, and brought her sound 
 sleep and sweet awaking. The kine and the goats 
 must she milk, and plough and sow and reap the 
 acre-land according to the seasons, and lead the 
 beasts to the woodland pastures when their own 
 were flooded or burned ; she must gather the fruits 
 of the orchard, and the hazel nuts up the wood- 
 lands, and beat the walnut-trees in September. 
 She must make the butter and the cheese, grind 
 the wheat in the quern, make and bake the bread, 
 and in all ways earn her livelihood hard enough. 
 Moreover, the bowman's craft had she learned, and 
 at the dame's bidding must fare alone into the wood 
 now and again to slay big deer and little, and win 
 venison : but neither did that irk her at all, for 
 rest and peace were in the woods for her. 
 
 True it is, that as she wended thicket or glade 
 or wood-lawn, she would at whiles grow timorous, 
 and tread light and heedfully, lest rustling leaves 
 or crackling stick should arouse some strange crea- 
 ture in human shape, de^l, or god now da mne d, 
 or woman of the faery. But if such werethere, -^ 
 either they Were wise and would not be seen, or 4- 
 kind and had no will to scare the simple maiden ; -) 
 or else maybe there were none such in^^those days. / 
 Anyhow, nought evil came to her out ofEvitshaw. ' 
 
CHAPTER VI. HEREIN IS TOLD OF 
 BIRDALONE'S RAIMENT. 
 
 LANK and long is Birdalone the sweet, with 
 legs that come forth bare and browned from 
 under her scant grey coat and scantier smock 
 beneath, which was all her raiment save when the 
 time was bitter, and then, forsooth, it was a cloak 
 of goat-skin that eked her attire : for the dame 
 heeded little the clothing of her ; nor did Birdalone 
 give so much heed thereto that she cared to risk 
 the anger of her mistress by asking her for aught. 
 
 But on a day of this same spring, when the witch- 
 wife was of sweeter temper than her wont was, and 
 the day was very warm and kindly, though it was 
 but one of the last of February days, Birdalone, 
 blushing and shame-faced, craved timidly some 
 more womanly attire. But the dame turned gruffly 
 on her and said : Tush, child ! what needeth it ^ 
 here be no men to behold thee. I shall see to it, 
 that when due time comes thou shalt be whitened 
 and sleeked to the very utmost. But look thou ! 
 thou art a handy wench ; take the deer-skin that 
 hangs up yonder and make thee brogues for thy 
 feet, if so thou wilt. 
 
 Even so did Birdalone, and shaped the skin to 
 her feet ; but as she was sewing them a fancy came 
 into her head ; for she had just come across some 
 threads of silk of divers colours ; so she took them 
 and her shoon and her needle up into the wood, 
 and there sat down happily under a great spreading 
 oak which much she haunted, and fell to broidering 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 19 
 
 the kindly deer-skin. And she got to be long about 
 it, and came back to it the next day and the next, 
 and many days, whenso her servitude would suffer 
 it, and yet the shoon were scarce done. 
 
 So on a morning the dame looked on her feet as 
 she moved about the chamber, and cried out at her : 
 What ! art thou barefoot as an hen yet ? Hast thou 
 spoilt the good deer-skin and art yet but shoeless ? 
 Nay, our lady, said Birdalone, but the shoon are 
 not altogether done. Show them to me, said the 
 dame. 
 
 Birdalone went to her little coffer to fetch them, 
 and brought them somewhat timorously, for she 
 knew not how her mistress would take her working 
 on them so long, if perchance she would blame her, 
 or it might be chastise her, f or even in those day s 
 the witc£j:mfgls_handj^a&-wh^le&-faised agai nst her. 
 But now when the dame took the shoes and looked 
 on them, and saw how there were oak-leaves done 
 into them, and flowers, and coneys, and squirrels, 
 she but smiled somewhat grimly on Birdalone, and 
 said : Well, belike thou art a fool to waste thy time 
 and mine in such toys ; and to give thee thy due 
 would be to give thee stripes. But thou doest herein 
 after the nature of earthly women, to adorn thy body, 
 whatsoever else is toward. And well is that, since 
 I would have thee a woman so soon as may be ; and 
 I will help thy mind for finery, since thou art so 
 deft with thy needle. 
 
 Therewith she went to the big coffer and drew 
 forth thence a piece of fine green cloth, and another 
 of fine linen, and said to Birdalone : This mayest 
 
r^ 
 
 -10 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 thou take, and make thee a gown thereof and a new 
 smock, and make them if thou wilt as gay as thy 
 new shoon are gotten to be ; and here is where- 
 withal. And therewith she gave her two handfuls 
 of silken threads and gold, and said : Now I sup- 
 pose that I must do the more part of thy work, 
 while thou art making thee these gaudy garments. 
 But maybe someone may be coming this way ere 
 long, who will deem the bird the finer for her fine 
 feathers. Now depart from me ; for I would both 
 work for thee and me, and ponder weighty matters. 
 
 Who was glad now but Birdalone ; she grew red 
 with new pleasure, and knelt down and kissed the 
 witch's hand, and then went her ways to the wood 
 with her precious lading, and wrought there under 
 her oak-tree day after day, and all days, either there, 
 or in the house when the weather was foul. That 
 was in the middle of March, when all birds were 
 singing, and the young leaves showing on the haw- 
 thorns, so that there were pale green clouds, as it 
 were, betwixt the great grey boles of oak and sweet- 
 chestnut ; and by the lake the meadow-saffron new- 
 thrust-up was opening its blossom ; and March 
 wore and April, and still she was at work happily 
 when now it was later May, and the' hare-bells were 
 in full bloom down the bent before her. 
 
 All this while the witch had meddled little with 
 Birdalone, and had bidden her to no work afield or 
 in the stead which was anywise grievous, but had 
 done all herself; yet was she few-spoken with her, 
 and would oft behold her gloomily. And one even- 
 ing when Birdalone came in from the wood, the 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 21 
 
 witch came close up to her and stared her in the 
 face, and said suddenly : Is it in thine heart to flee 
 away from me and leave me ? 
 
 A sharp pang of fear shot through Birdalone's 
 heart at that word, and she turned very red, and 
 then pale to the lips, but stammered out : No, 
 lady, it is not in mine heart. The dame looked 
 grimly on her and said : If thou try it and fail, 
 thou shalt rue it once only, to wit, lifelong ; and 
 thou canst but fail. She was silent a while, and 
 then spake in a milder voice : Be content here a 
 while with me, and thereafter thou shalt be more 
 content, and that before long. 
 
 She said no more at that time ; but her word 
 clave to Birdalone's heart, and for some time there- 
 after she was sorely oppressed with a burden of 
 fear, and knew not how to hold herself before the 
 witch-wife. But the days wore, and nought betid, 
 and the maiden's heart grew lighter, and still she 
 wrought on at her gown and her smock, and it 
 was well-nigh done. She had broidered the said 
 gown with roses and lilies, and a tall tree springing 
 up from amidmost the hem of the skirt, and a 
 hart on either side thereof, face to face of each 
 other. And the smock she had sewn daintily at 
 the hems and the bosom with fair knots and buds. 
 It was now past the middle of June, hot and bright 
 weather. 
 
CHAPTER VII. BIRDALONE HATH 
 AN ADVENTURE IN THE WOOD. 
 
 ON a day she went to the wood, and sat down 
 under her oak-tree, and it was far and far 
 out of sight of anyone standing in the 
 meadow by the lake; and in the wood Birdalone 
 looked to see nought at all save the rabbits and 
 squirrels, who were, forsooth, familiar enough with 
 her, and fearless, so that they would come to her 
 hand and sport with her when she hailed them. 
 Wherefore, as the day was exceeding hot, she put 
 off from her her simple raiment, that she might 
 feel all the pleasure of the cool shadow and what 
 air was stirring, and the kindness of the green- 
 sward upon her very body. So she sat sewing, 
 covered but by a lap of the green gown which her 
 needle was painting. 
 
 But as she sat there intent on her work, and her 
 head bent over it, and it was now at the point of 
 high noon, she heard as if some creature were going 
 anigh to her ; she heeded it not, deeming that it 
 would be but some wandering hind. But even 
 therewith she heard one say her name in a soft 
 voice, and she leapt up trembling, deeming at first 
 that it would be the witch come to fetch her : but 
 yet more scared she was, when she saw standing 
 before her the shape of a young woman as naked 
 as herself, save that she had an oak wreath round 
 about her loins. 
 
 The new-comer, who was now close to her, 
 smiled on her, and said in a kind and sweet voice : 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 23 
 
 Fear nought, Birdalone, for I deem thou wilt find 
 me a friend, and it is not unlike that thou wilt need 
 one ere long. And furthermore, I will say it, said 
 she smiling, that si^e I am not afraid of thee, 
 thou needest not be afraid of nie.^ Said Birdalone, 
 she also smiling nrruF^Tt is that thou art nought 
 fearsome to look on. The new-comer laughed 
 outright, and said : Are we not well met then in 
 the wildwood ? and we both as two children whom 
 the earth loveth. So play we at a game. At what 
 game ? said Birdalone. Spake she of the oak- 
 wreath : This ; thou shalt tell me what I am like 
 in thine eyes first, because thou wert afraid of me; 
 and then when thou art done, I will tell thee what 
 thou seemest to me. 
 
 Quoth Birdalone : For me that will be hard ; for 
 1 have nought to liken thee to, whereas save this 
 sight of thee 1 have seen nought save her that 
 dwelleth in the House by the Water, and whom I 
 serve. Nay, said the other, then will I begin, and 
 tell thee first whatlike thou art, so that thou wilt 
 know the better how to frame thy word concern- 
 ing me. But tell me, hast thou ever seen thyself 
 in a mirror ? What thing is that ? said Birdalone. 
 It is a polished round of steel or some other white 
 metal, said the wood-maiden, which giveth back in 
 all truth the image of whatso cometh before it. 
 
 Said Birdalone, and reddened therewith: We have 
 at home a broad latten dish, which it is my work, 
 amongst other things, to brighten and keep bright; 
 yet may I not make it so bright that I may see 
 much of mine image therein ; and yet. What 
 
 m 
 
24 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 wouldst thou ? said the wood-woman. Said Bird- 
 alone : I shall tell thee presently when thy part of 
 the play is done. 
 
 Laughed the new-comer, and said : It is well ; 
 now am I to be thy mirror. Thus it is with thee : 
 thou standest before me a tall and slim maiden, 
 somewhat thin, as befitteth thy seventeen sum- 
 mers ; where thy flesh is bare of wont, as thy 
 throat and thine arms and thy legs from the mid- 
 dle down, it is tanned a beauteous colour, but 
 otherwhere it is even as fair a white, wholesome 
 and clean, and as if the golden sunlight, which 
 fulfilleth the promise of the earth, were playing 
 therein. Fairer and rounder shall be thine arms and 
 thy shoulders when thou hast seen five more sum- 
 mers, yet scarce more lovesome, so strong and fine 
 as now they are. Low are thy breasts, as is meet 
 for so young a maiden, yet is there no lack in 
 them ; nor ever shall they be fairer than now they 
 are. In goodly fashion sits thine head upon thy 
 shoulders, upheld by a long and most well-wrought 
 neck, that the sun hath tanned as aforesaid. The 
 hair of thee is simple brown, yet somewhat more 
 golden than dark; and ah! now thou lettest it 
 loose it waveth softly past thy fair smooth fore- 
 head and on to thy shoulders, and is not stayed 
 by thy girdlestead, but hideth nought of thy knees, 
 and thy legs shapely thin, and thy strong and 
 clean-wrought ankles and feet, which are with thee 
 as full of thine heart and thy soul and as wise and 
 deft as be thy wrists and thine hands, and their 
 very fellows. Now as to thy face : under that 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 25 
 
 smooth forehead is thy nose, which is of measure, 
 neither small nor great, straight, and lovely carven 
 at the nostrils : thine eyen are as grey as a hawk's, 
 but kind and serious, and nothing fierce nor shift- 
 ing. Nay, now thou lettest thine eyelids fall, it 
 is as fair with thy face as if they were open, so 
 smooth and simple are they and with their long 
 full lashes. But well are thine eyen set in thine 
 head, wide apart, well opened, and so as none shall 
 say thou mayst not look in the face of them. 
 Thy cheeks shall one day be a snare for the un- 
 wary, yet are they not fully rounded, as some 
 would have them ; but not I, for most pitiful 
 kind are they forsooth. Delicate and clear-made 
 is the little trench that goeth from thy nose to 
 thy lips, and sweet it is, and there is more might 
 in it than in sweet words spoken. Thy lips, they 
 are of the finest fashion, yet rather thin than full ; 
 and some would not have it so ; but I would, 
 whereas I see therein a sign of thy valiancy and 
 friendliness. Surely he who did thy carven chin 
 had a mind to a master-work and did no less. 
 Great was the deftness of thine imaginer, and he 
 would have all folk that see thee wonder at thy 
 deep thinking and thy carefulness and thy kind- 
 ness. Ah maiden ! is it so that thy thoughts are 
 ever deep and solemn? Yet at least I know it 
 of thee that they be hale and true and sweet. 
 
 My friend, when thou hast a mirror, some of 
 all this shalt thou see, but not all ; and when thou 
 hast a lover some deal wilt thou hear, but not all. 
 But now thy she-friend may tell it tliee all, if she 
 
l6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 have eyes to see it, as have I ; whereas no man 
 could say so much of thee before the mere love 
 should overtake him, and turn his speech into the 
 folly of love and the madness of desire. So now 
 I have played the play, and told thee of thee ; tell 
 me now of me, and play thy play. 
 
 For a while stood Birdalone silent, blushing 
 and confused, but whiles casting shy glances at her 
 own body, what she might see of it. At last she 
 spake : Fair friend, I would do thy will, but I am 
 not deft of speech ; for I speak but little, save 
 with the fowl and wild things, and they may not 
 learn me the speech of man. Yet I will say that 
 I wonder to hear thee call me fair and beauteous ; 
 for my dame tells me that never, nor sayeth aught 
 of my aspect save in her anger, and then it is : 
 Rag ! and bag-of-bones ! and when wilt thou be a 
 woman, thou lank elf thou ? The nev/-comer 
 laughed well-favouredly hereat, and put forth a 
 hand, and stroked her friend's cheek. Birdalone 
 looked giteous kj»^ on her and said : But now I 
 must needs beheve thy words, thou who art so 
 kind to me, and withal thyself so beauteous. And 
 I will tell thee that it fills my heart with joy to 
 know that I am fair like to thee. For this more- 
 over I will tell thee, that I have seen nought in 
 field or woodland that is as lovely to me as thou 
 art ; nay, not the fritillary nodding at our brook's 
 mouth, nor the willow-boughs waving on Green 
 Eyot ; nor the wild-cat sporting on the little wood- 
 lawn, when she saw me not ; nor the white doe 
 rising up from the grass to look to her fawn ; nor 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 27 
 
 aught that moves and grows. Yet there is another 
 thing which I must tell thee, to wit, that what thou 
 hast said about the fashion of any part of me, that 
 same, setting aside thy lovely words, which make 
 the tears come into the eyes of me, would I say 
 of thee. Look thou ! I take thine hair and lay 
 the tress amongst mine, and thou mayst not tell 
 which is which ; and amidst the soft waves of it 
 thy forehead is nestling smooth as thou saidst of 
 mine : hawk-grey and wide apart are thine eyen, 
 and deep thought and all tenderness is in them, as 
 oFlrie thou saycst : fine is thy nose and of due 
 measure ; and thy cheeks a little hollow, and 
 somewhat thin thy lovely lips ; and thy round 
 chin so goodly carven, as it might not he better 
 done. And of thy body else 1 will say as thou 
 sayst of mine, though I deem these hands have 
 done more work than thine. But see thou ! thy 
 leg and mine as they stand together ; and thine 
 arm, as if it were of my body. Slim and slender 
 thou art, or it may be lank ; and I deem our dame 
 would call thee also bag-of-bones. Now is this 
 strange. Who art thou ? Art thou my very own 
 sister ? I would thou wert. 
 
 Spake then to Birdalone that image of her, and 
 said, smiling kindly on her : As to our likeness, 
 thou hast it now; so alike are we, as if we were 
 cast in one mould. But thy sister of blood I am 
 not ; nay, I will tell thee at once that I am not 
 of the children of Adam. As to what I am, that 
 is a long story, and I may not tell it as now ; but 
 thou mayst call me Habundia, as I call thee 
 
28 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Birdalone. Now it Is true that to everyone I 
 show not myself in this fair shape of thee ; but 
 be not aghast thereat, or deem me like unto thy 
 mistress herein, for as now I am, so ever shall I 
 be unto thee. 
 
 Quoth Birdalone, looking on her anxiously : 
 Yea, and I shall see thee again, shall I not ? else 
 should I grieve, and wish that I had never seen 
 thee at all. Yea, forsooth, said Habundia, for I 
 myself were most fain to see thee oft. But now 
 must thou presently get thee back home, for evil 
 as now is the mood of thy mistress, and she is 
 rueing the gift of the green gown, and hath in 
 her mind to seek occasion to chastise thee. 
 
 Now was Birdalone half weeping, as she did 
 on her raiment while her friend looked on her 
 kindly. She said presently : Habundia, thou 
 seest I am hard bestead ; give me some good rede 
 thereto. 
 
 That will I, said the wood-wife. When thou 
 goest home to the house, be glad of countenance, 
 and joyous that thy gown is nigh done; and 
 therewith be exceeding wary. For I deem it 
 most like that she will ask thee what thou hast 
 seen in the wood, and then if thou filter, or thy 
 face change, then she will have an inkling of 
 what hath befallen, to wit, that thou hast seen 
 someone ; and then v/ill she be minded to ques- 
 tion thy skin. But if thou keep countenance 
 valiantly, then presently will her doubt run off 
 her, and she will cease grudging, and will grow 
 mild with thee and meddle not. This is the first 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 29 
 
 rede, and is for to-day ; and now for the second, 
 which is for days yet unborn. Thou hast in thy 
 mind to flee away from her ; and even so shalt 
 thou do one day, though it may be by way of 
 Weeping Cross ; for she is sly and wise and grim, 
 though sooth it is that she hateth thee not utterly. 
 Now thou must note that nowise she hindereth 
 thee from faring in this wood, and that is because 
 she v/otteth, as I do, that by this way there is no 
 outgoing for thee. Wherefore look thou to it 
 that it is by the way of the water that thou shalt 
 fare to the land of men-folk. Belike this may 
 seem marvellous to thee ; but so it is ; and belike 
 I may tell thee more hereof when time serveth. 
 Now Cometh the last word of my rede. Maybe 
 if thou come often to the wood, we shall whiles 
 happen on each other ; but if thou have occasion 
 for me, and wouldst see me at once, come hither, 
 and make fire, and burn a hair of my head therein, ' 
 and I will be with thee : here is for thee a tress of 
 mine hair ; now thou art clad, thou mayst take a 
 knife from thy pouch and shear it from off me. 
 
 Even so did Birdalone, and set the tress in her 
 pouch ; and therewith they kissed and embraced 
 each other, and Birdalone went her ways home to 
 the house, but Habundia went back into the wood 
 as she had come. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. OF BIRDALONE AND 
 THE WITCH-WIFE. 
 
 IT went with Birdalone as Habundia had fore- 
 told, for she came home to the house glad of 
 semblance, flushed and light-foot, so that she 
 was lovely and graceful beyond her wont. The 
 dame looked on her doubtfully and grimly a while, 
 and then she said : What ails thee, my servant, 
 that thou lookest so masterful ? Nought ails me, 
 lady, said Birdalone, save that I am gay because 
 of the summer season, and chiefly because of thy 
 kindness and thy gift, and that I have well-nigh 
 done my work thereon, and that soon now I shall 
 feel these dainty things beating about my ankles. 
 And she held up and spread abroad the skirt with 
 her two hands, and it was indeed goodly to look 
 on. 
 
 The witch-wife snorted scornfully and scowled 
 on her, and said : Thine ankles forsooth ! Bag-o'- 
 bones ! thou wisp ! forsooth, thou art in love with 
 thy looks, though thou knowest not what like a 
 fair woman is. Forsooth, I begin to think that 
 thou wilt never grow into a woman at all, but will 
 abide a skinny elf thy life long. Belike I did my- 
 self wrong to sufler thee to waste these three or 
 four months of thy thrall's work, since for nought 
 but thrall's work shalt thou ever be meet. 
 
 Birdalone hung her head adown, and blushed, 
 but smiled a little, and swayed her body gently, as 
 a willow-bough is sv/ayed when a light air arises in 
 ,the morning. But the witch stood so scowling on 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 31 
 
 her, and with so sour a look, that Birdalone, glan- 
 cing at her, found her heart sink so within her, that 
 she scarce kept countenance ; yet she lost it not. 
 
 Then said the witch sharply : Wert thou in the 
 wood to-day ? Yea, lady, said the maiden. Then 
 said the dame fiercely : And what sawest thou ? 
 Quoth Birdalone, looking up with an innocent face 
 somewhat scared : Lady, I saw a bear, one of the 
 big ones, crossing a glade. And thou without bow 
 and arrow or wood-knife, I warrant me, said the 
 witch. Thou shalt be whipped, to keep thee in 
 mind that thy life is mine and not thine. Nay, 
 nay, I pray thee be not wroth ! said the maid ; he 
 was a long way dov/n the glade, and would not 
 have followed me if he had seen me : there wns 
 no peril therein. Said the witch-wife : Didst thou 
 see aught else ? Yea, said Birdalone, and was weep- 
 ing somewhat now ; which forsooth was not hard 
 for her to do, over-wrought as she was betwixt 
 hope and fear : yea, I saw my v/hite doe and her 
 fawn, and they passed close by me ; and two herons 
 flew over my head toward the water ; and But 
 the witch turned sharply and said : Thrall ! hast 
 thou seen a woman to-day in the wood ? A wo- 
 man ? said Birdalone, and what woman, my lady, 
 said Birdalone. Hath any woman come to the 
 house, and passed forth into the wood ? 
 
 The dame looked on her carefully, and remem- 
 bered how she had faltered and changed counte- 
 nance that other day, when she had charged her 
 with being minded to flee ; and now she saw her 
 with wondering face, and in no wise confused or 
 
32 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 afraid of guilt, as it seemed ; so she believed her 
 tale, and being the more at ease thereby, her wrath- 
 ran off her, and she spake altogether pleasantly to 
 Birdalone, and said : Now I have had my gird at 
 thee, my servant, I must tell thee that in sooth 
 it is not all for nothing that thou hast had these 
 months of rest ; for verily thou hast grown more of 
 a woman thereby, and hast sleekened and rounded 
 much. Albeit, the haysel will wait no longer for 
 us, and the day after to-morrow we must fall 
 to on it. But when that is done, thou shalt be free 
 to do thy green gown, or what thou wilt, till wheat 
 harvest is toward ; and thereafter we shall see to it. 
 Or what sayest thou ? 
 
 Birdalone wondered somewhat at this so gra- 
 cious v/ord, but not much ; for in her heart now was 
 some guile born to meet the witch's guile ; so she 
 knelt down and took the dame's hands and kissed 
 them, and said : I say nought, lady, save that I 
 thank thee over and over again that thou art be- 
 come so good to me ; and that I will full merrily 
 work for thee in the hay-field, or at whatsoever 
 else thou wilt. 
 
 And indeed she was so light-hearted that she 
 had so escaped from the hand of the witch for that 
 time, and above all, that she had gotten a friend so 
 kind and dear as the wood-woman, that her heart 
 went out even toward her mistress, so that she 
 went nigh to loving her. 
 
CHAPTER IX. OF BIRDALONE'S 
 SWIMMING. 
 
 FULL fair was the morrow morn, and Bird- 
 alone arose betimes before the sun was up, 
 and she thought she would make of this a 
 holiday before the swink afield began again, since 
 the witch was grown good toward her. So she did 
 on her fair shoes, and her new raiment, though the 
 green gown was not fully done, and said to herself 
 that she would consider what she would do with 
 her holiday when she was amidst of her bathing. 
 
 So she went down to the water-side, and when 
 she was standing knee-deep in the little sandy bight 
 aforesaid, she looked over to Green Eyot, and was 
 minded to swim over thither, as oft she did. And 
 it was a windless dawn after a hot night, and a light 
 mist lay upon the face of the water, and above it 
 rose the greenery of the eyot. 
 
 She pushed off into the deep and swam strongly 
 through the still water, and the sun rose while she 
 was on the way, and by then she had laid a hand 
 on the willow-twigs of the eyot, was sending a long 
 beam across the waters ; and her wet shoulders rose 
 up into the path of it and were turned into ruddy 
 gold. She hoisted herself up, and climbing the low 
 bank, was standing amongst the meadow-sweet, and 
 dripping on to its fragrance. Then she turned about 
 to the green plain and the house and the hedge of 
 woodland beyond, and sighed, and said softly : A 
 pity of it, to leave it! If it were no better other- 
 where, and not so fair ? 
 
 3 
 
34 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Then she turned inward to the eyot, which had 
 done heiMT^ugluJ)utgood^aja^ shVtoved ; 
 
 andsheUnboundlier hair, and let it fall till the ends 
 of the tresses mingled with the heads of the meadow- 
 sweet, and thereafter walked quietly up into the 
 grassy middle of the isle. 
 
 She was wont to go to a knoll there where the 
 grass was fine, and flowery at this time with white 
 clover and dog violet, and lie down under the shade 
 of a big thorn with a much-twisted bole : but to\ 
 day some thought came across her, and she turned 
 before she came to the thorn, and went straight over 
 the eyot (which was but a furlong over at that place) 
 and down to the southward-looking shore thereof. 
 There she let herself softly down into the water and 
 thrust off without more ado, and swam on and on 
 till she had gone along way. Then she communed 
 with herself, and found that she was thinking : If 
 I might only swim all the water and be free. 
 
 And still she swam on : and now a light wind had 
 been drawn up from the west, and was driving a 
 little ripple athwart the lake, and she swam the swift- 
 lier for it awhile, but then turned over on her back 
 and floated southward still. Till on a sudden, as she 
 lay looking up toward the far-away blue sky, and 
 she so little and low on the face of the waters, and 
 the lake so deep beneath her, and the wind coming 
 ever fresher from the west, and the ripple rising 
 higher against her, a terror fell upon her, and she 
 longed for the green earth and its well-wrought little 
 blossoms and leaves and grass ; then she turned over 
 again and swam straight for the eyot, which now 
 was but a little green heap far away before her. 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY ^^ 
 
 Long she was ere she made land there, and the 
 sun was high in the heavens when she came, all spent 
 and weary, to the shadow of the hawthorn-tree; and 
 she cast herself down there and fell asleep straight- 
 way. Forsooth her swim was about as much as 
 she had might for. 
 
 When she awoke it lacked but an hour of noon- 
 tide, and she felt the life in her and was happy, but 
 had no will to rise up for a while ; for it was a joy 
 to her to turn her head this way and that to the 
 dear and dainty flowers, that made the wide, grey, 
 '^A- empty lake seem so far away, and no more to be 
 ^ i^dt with than the very sky itself. 
 
 At last she arose, and when she had plucked and 
 eaten somehandfuls of the strawberries which grew 
 plenteously on the sweet ground of the eyot, she 
 went down to the landv/ard-looking shore, and took 
 the water, and swam slowly across the warm ripple 
 till she came once more to the strand and her rai- 
 ment. She clad herself, and set her hand to her 
 pouch and drew forth bread, and sat eating it on 
 the bank above the smooth sand. Then she looked 
 around, and stood up with her face toward the house, 
 to see if the dame would call to her. But she saw 
 the witch come out of the porch and stand there 
 looking under the sharp of her hand toward her, 
 and thereafter she went back again into the house 
 without giving any sign. Wherefore Birdalone 
 deemed that she had leave that day, and that she 
 might take yet more holiday; so she stepped lightly 
 down from her place of vantage, turned her face to- 
 ward the east, and went quietly along the very lip 
 of the water. 
 
CHAPTER X. BIRDALONE COMES ON 
 NEW TIDINGS. 
 
 SOON she had covered up the house from her, 
 for on that eastern end, both a tongue of the 
 woodland shoved out west hito the meadow, 
 and, withal, the whole body of the wood there drew 
 down to the water, and presently cut ofFall the green- 
 sward save a narrow strip along by the lake, oft' the 
 narrowest whereof lay the rocky eyot aforesaid, 
 nigher unto the shore than lay Green Eyot. 
 
 Now never had Birdalone gone so far east as to 
 be over against Rock Eyot. In her childish days 
 the witch had let her know that she might go where 
 she would, but therewith had told her a tale of a 
 huge serpent which dwelt in the dark wood over 
 against Rock Eyot, whose wont it was to lap his 
 folds round and round living things that went there, 
 ; and devour them ; and many an evil dream had that 
 \ evil serpent brought to Birdalone. In after days 
 1 belike she scarce trowed in the tale, yet the terror 
 \of it abode with her. Moreover the wildwood 
 \toward that side, as it drew toward the water, was 
 dark and dreary and forbidding, running into black 
 thickets standing amidst quagmires, all unlike to the 
 sweet, clean upland ridges, oak begrown and green- 
 swarded, of the parts which lay toward the north, 
 and which she mostly haunted. 
 
 But this summer day, which was so bright and 
 hot, Birdalone deemed she might harden her heart 
 to try the adventure ; and she had a mind to enter 
 the wood thereby, and win her way up into the 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 37 
 
 Oakland whereas she had met Habundia, and per- 
 chance she might happen on her ; for she would 
 not dare to summon her so soon after their first 
 meeting. And if she met her, there would be the 
 holiday worthily brought to an end ! 
 
 On went Birdalone, and was soon at the nar- 
 rowest of the greensward, and had the wood black 
 on her left hand, for the trees of it were mostly 
 alder. But when she was come just over against 
 Rock Eyot, she found a straight creek or inlet of 
 the water across her way ; and the said creek ran 
 right up into the alder thicket ; and, indeed, was 
 much overhung by huge ancient alders, gnarled, 
 riven, mossy, and falling low over the water. But 
 close on the mouth of the creek, on Birdalone's 
 side thereof, lay a thing floating on the dull water, 
 which she knew not how to call a boat, for such 
 had she never seen, nor heard of, but which was 
 indeed a boat, oarless and sailless. 
 
 She looked on it all about, and wondered ; yet 
 she saw at once that it was for wending the water, 
 and she thought, might she but have a long pole, 
 she might push it about the shallow parts of the 
 lake, and belike take much fish. She tried to shove 
 it somewhat toward the lake, but with her little 
 might could make nothing of the work ; for the 
 craft was heavy, like a barge, if there were nothing 
 else that withstood her. 
 
 About this new thing she hung a long while, 
 wondering that she had never heard thereof, or 
 been set to toil therewith. She noted that it was 
 mostly pale grey of hue, as if it had been bleached 
 
38 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 by sun and water, but at the stem and stern were 
 smears of darker colour, as though someone had 
 been trying the tints of staining there. 
 
 Now so much did this new matter take up all 
 her mind, that she thought no more of going up 
 into the wood ; but though she had fain abided 
 there long to see whatever might be seen, she deemed 
 it would go ill with her did the witch happen on 
 her there; wherefore she turned about, and went 
 back the way she had come, going very slowly and 
 pondering the tidings. And ever she called to mind 
 what Habundia had said to her, that it was by water 
 she must flee, and wondered if she had sent her this 
 thing that she might escape therein ; so difl^erent as 
 her going would be thereby to swimming the lake 
 with her wet body. Then again she thought, that 
 before she might let herself hope this, it were best, 
 if she might, to find out from the witch what was 
 the thing, and if she knew thereof, Yet at last she 
 called to mind how little patient of questions was 
 her mistress, and that if she were unheedful she 
 might come to raise an evil storm about her. 
 Wherefore she took this rede at the last, that she 
 would keep all hidden in her own breast till she 
 should see Habundia again ; and meanwhile she 
 might steal down thither from time to time to see 
 if the thing still abode there ; which she might the 
 easier do by swimming if she chose her time heed- 
 fully, and go thither from Rock Eyot, which now 
 and again she visited. 
 
CHAPTER XI. OF BIRDALONE'S GUILT 
 AND THE CHASTISEMENT THEREOF. 
 
 Y this she was come back to the sandy bight, 
 and the sun was westering; and she looked 
 up toward the Jiouse and saw that it was the 
 time of their evening meal, for the blue smoke of 
 the cooking fire was going up into the air. So she 
 went thither speedily, and entered gay of seeming. 
 The witch looked on her doubtfully, but presently 
 fell to speaking with her graciously as yesterday, 
 and Birdalone was glad and easy of mind, and went 
 about the serving of her ; for always she ate after 
 the dame ; and the mistress asked her of many 
 matters concerning the house, and the gathering 
 of stuff. 
 
 So came the talk on the fishing of the brook 
 that ran before their door, and how the trouts 
 therein were but little, and not seldom none at all; 
 and ev,fiii_therewith came jhese,Jvi^oT^s irrto^-Bird- 
 alnn(^V-TnTm^E-^.^lTe~s(fnrrp kjo^^^w— Irmxr- My lady, 
 why do we not fish the lake, whereas there be shoal 
 places betwixt us and the eyots where lie many and 
 great fish, as I have seen when I have been swim- 
 ming thereover ? And now in that same creek 
 whereas the serpent used to lurk when I was lit- 
 tle, we have a thing come, which is made to swim 
 on the water ; and I, could I have a long pole to 
 shove withal. 
 
 But no time she had to make an end, ere the 
 witch-wife sprang up and turned on her with a snarl 
 as of an evil dog, and her face changed horribly : 
 
40 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 her teeth showed grinning, her eyes goggled in her 
 head, her brow was all to-furrowed, and her hands 
 clenched like iron springs. 
 
 Birdalone shuddered back from her and cringed 
 in mere terror, but had no might to cry out. The 
 witch hauled her up by the hair, and dragged her 
 head back so that her throat lay bare before her all 
 along. Then drew the witch a sharp knife from 
 her girdle, and raised her hand over her, growling 
 and snarling like a wolf But suddenly she dropped 
 the knife, her hand fell to her side, and she fell in a 
 heap on the floor and lay there hushed. 
 
 Birdalone stood gazing on her, and trembling in 
 every limb ; too confused was she to think or do 
 aught, though some image of flight through the open 
 door passed before her: but her feet seemed of lead, 
 and, as in an evil dream, she had no might to move 
 her limbs, and the minutes went by as she stood 
 there half dead with fear. 
 
 At last, (and belike it was no long while) the 
 witch-wife came to herself again, and sat up on the 
 floor, and looked all about the chamber, and when 
 her eyes fell upon Birdalone, she said in a weak 
 voice, yet joyfully ; Hah ! thou art there still, my 
 good servant ! Then she said : A sickness fell 
 upon me suddenly, as whiles it is wont ; but now 
 am I myself again ; and presently I have a word 
 for thee. 
 
 Therewith she rose up slowly, Birdalone helping 
 her, and sat in her big chair silent awhile, and then 
 she spake : My servant, thou hast for the more 
 part served me well : but this time thou hast done 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 41 
 
 ill, whereas thou hast been spying on my ways ; 
 whereof may come heavy trouble but if we look to 
 it. Well is it for thee that thou hast none unto 
 whom thou mightest babble; for then must I needs 
 have slain thee here and now. But for this first 
 time I pardon thee, and thou hast escaped the 
 wrath. 
 
 Her voice was soft and wheedling; but for Bird- 
 alone the terror had entered into her soul, and yet 
 abode with her. 
 
 The witch-wife sat a while, and then arose and 
 went about the chamber, and came to a certain 
 aumbry and opened it, and drew forth a little flasket 
 of lead and a golden cup scored over with strange 
 signs, and laid them on the board beside her chair, 
 wherein she now sat down again, and spake once 
 more, still in the same soft and wheedling voice : 
 Yet, my servant, thy guilt would be required of 
 me, if I let this pass as if to-day were the same as 
 yesterday ; yea, and of thee also would it be re- 
 quired ; therefore it is a part of the pardon that 
 thou be corrected : and the correction must be terri- 
 ble to thee, that thou mayst remember never again 
 to thrust thyself into the jaws of death. And what 
 may I do to correct thee ? It shall be in a strange 
 way, such as thou hast never dreamed of Yet the 
 anguish thereof shall go to thine heart's root ; but 
 this must thou needs bear, for my good and thine, 
 so that both we may live and be merry hereafter. 
 Go now, fill this cup with water from the spring 
 and come back with it. Birdalone took the cup 
 with a sinking heart, and filled it, and brought it 
 
42 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 back, and stood before the witch more dead than 
 aHve. 
 
 Then the witch-wife took up the flasket and 
 pulled out the stopple and betook it to Birdalone, 
 and said : Drink of this now, a little sip, no more. 
 And the maiden did so, and the liquor was no sooner 
 down her gullet than the witch-wife and the cham- 
 ber, and all things about her, became somewhat dim 
 to her ; but yet not so much so as that she could 
 not see them. But when she stretched out her 
 arm she could see it not at all, nor her limbs nor 
 any other part of her which her eyes might fall 
 upon. Then would she have uttered a lamentable 
 wail, but the voice was sealed up in her and no sound 
 came from her voice. Then she heard the witch- 
 wife how she said (and yet she heard it as if her 
 voice came from afar). Nay, thou canst not speak, 
 and thou canst not see thyself, nor may any other, 
 save me, and I but dimly. But this is but part of 
 what I must lay upon thee ; for next I must give 
 thee a new shape, and that both thyself and all 
 other may see. But, before I do that, I must 
 speak a word to thee, which thy new shape would 
 not suffer the sense thereof to reach to thine heart. 
 Hearken ! 
 
CHAPTER XII. THE WORDS OF THE 
 WITCH-WIFE TO BIRDALONE. 
 
 SAID the witch-wife : When thou comest to 
 thyself (for it is not my will that thou should- 
 est never have thine own shape again), doubt- 
 less the first thing which thoushalt do with thy new- 
 gained voice and thy new-gained wit shall be to 
 curse me, and curse me again. Do as thou wilt 
 herein ; but I charge thee, disobey me not, for that 
 shall bring thee to thy bane. For if thou do not 
 my bidding, and if thou pry into my matters, and 
 lay bare that which I will have hidden, then will it 
 be imputed unto thee for guilt, and will I, will I not, 
 I must be avenged on thee even to slaying : and 
 then is undone all the toil and pain I have had in 
 rearing thee into a deft and lovely maiden. Deem 
 thou, then, this present anguish kind to thee, to 
 keep thee that thou come not to nought. 
 
 Now since I have begun speaking, I will go on ; 
 for little heretofore have I spoken to thee what was 
 in mine heart. Well I wot that thou thinkest of 
 me but as of an evil dream, whereof none can aught 
 but long to awake from it. Yet I would have thee 
 look to this at least ; that I took thee from poverty 
 and pinching, and have reared thee as faithfully as 
 ever mother did to child ; clemming thee never, 
 smiting thee not so oft, and but seldom cruelly. 
 Moreover, I have suffered thee to go whereso thou 
 wouldest, and have compelled thee to toil for nought 
 but what was needful for our two livelihoods. And 
 I have not stayed thy swimmings in the lake, nor 
 
44 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 thy wanderings in the wood, and thou hast learned 
 bowshot there, till thou art now a past-master in 
 the craft : and, moreover, thou art swift-foot as the 
 best of the deer, and mayest over-run any one of 
 them whom thou wilt. 
 
 Soothly a merry life hast thou had as a child, 
 and merry now would be thy life, save for thine 
 hatred of me. Into a lovely lily-lass hast thou 
 grown. That I tell thee now, though my wont 
 has been to gird at thee for the fashion of thy 
 body ; that was but the word of the mistress to the 
 thrall. And now what awaiteth thee ? For thou 
 mayst say : I am lonely here, and there is no man 
 to look on me. Of what avail, therefore, is my 
 goodliness and shapeliness ? Child, I answer thee 
 that the time is coming when thou shalt see here 
 a many of the fairest of men, and then shalt thou 
 be rather rose than lily, and fully come to woman- 
 hood ; and all those shall love and worship thee, 
 and thou mayst gladden whom thou wilt, and whom 
 thou wilt mayst sadden ; and no lack soever shalt 
 thou have of the sweetness of love, or the glory of 
 dominion. 
 
 Think of it then ! All this is for thee if thou 
 dwell here quietly with me, doing my will till thy 
 womanhood hath blossomed. Wherefore I be- 
 seech and pray thee put out of thy mind the 
 thought of fleeing from me. For if thou try it, 
 one of two things shall be : either I shall bring 
 thee back and slay thee, or make thee live in mis- 
 ery of torment ; or else thou wilt escape, and then 
 what will it be? Dost thou know how it shall go 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 45 
 
 with thee, coming poor and nameless, an outcast, 
 into the world of men ? Lust shalt thou draw 
 unto thee, but scarce love. I say an outcast shalt 
 thou be, without worship or dominion ; thy body 
 shall be a prey to ribalds, and when the fine flower 
 thereof hath faded, thou shalt find that the words 
 of thy lovers were but mockery. That no man 
 shall love thee, and no woman aid thee. Then 
 shall Eld come to thee and find thee at home with 
 Hell ; and Death shall come and mock thee for 
 thy life cast away for nought, for nought. This is 
 my word to thee : and now I have nought to do 
 to thee save to change thee thy skin, and therein 
 must thou do as thou canst, but it shall be no ugly 
 or evil shape at least. But another time maybe I 
 shall not be so kind as to give thee a new shape, 
 but shall let thee wander about seen by none but 
 me. Then she took the cup and took water in the 
 hollow of her hand and cast it into Birdalone's fact 
 and muttered words withal ; and presently she sav 
 herself indeed, that she was become a milk-whitel 
 hind ; and she heard and saw again, but not as she,l 
 the maiden, was wont to hear and see ; for both 
 her hearing and seeing and her thought was of a 
 beast and not of a maiden. 
 
 Said the witch-wife : It is done now, till I give 
 thee grace again ; and now be off into the field; 
 but if tTToiTSTr^y more than half a bowshot from 
 the brook, it shall be the worse for thee. And 
 now the day was done and night was come. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. BIRDALONE MEET- 
 ETH THE WOOD-WOMAN AGAIN. 
 
 IT was fifteen days thereafter that Birdalone awoke 
 lying in her bed on a bright morning, as if 
 all this had been but a dream. But the witch- 
 wife was standing over her and crying out : Thou 
 art late, slug-a-bed, this fair-weather day, and the 
 grass all spoiling for lack of the scythe. Off! and 
 down to the meadow with thee. 
 
 Birdalone waited not for more words, but sprang 
 out of bed, and had her work-a-day raiment on in 
 a twinkling, and stayed but to wash her in a pool 
 of the brook, and then was amidst the tall grass with 
 the swathe falling before her. As she worked she 
 thought, and could scarce tell whether joy at her 
 present deliverance, or terror of the witch-wife, were 
 the greatest. Sore was her longing to go see her 
 friend in the wood, but the haysel lasted more than 
 a week, and when that was done, whether it were of 
 set purpose or no, the dame forgat her other pro- 
 mise, to give Birdalone more holiday, and kept her 
 close to her work about meadow and acre. Other- 
 wise her mistress nowise mishandled or threatened 
 her, though she had gone back to the surliness and 
 railing which was her wont. At last, on a morning 
 when the dame had bidden her to nought of work, 
 Birdalone took her bow in her hand and cast her 
 quiver on her back, and went her ways into the wood, 
 and forgat not the tress of Habundia's hair ; but 
 she had no need to use it, for when she was come 
 to the Oak of Tryst, straightway came Elabundia 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 47 
 
 forth from the thicket, and now so Hke to Birdalone 
 that it was a wonder, for as her friend she bare bow 
 and quiver, and green gown trussed up till her knees 
 were naked. 
 
 So they kissed and embraced, and Birdalone wept 
 upon her friend's bosom, but was ashamed of the 
 words which would have told her of her case. Then 
 Habundia set her down upon the greensward, and 
 sat down beside her, and caressed her and soothed 
 her ; then she smiled on Birdalone, and said : Thy 
 tale is partly told without words, and I would weep 
 for thee if I might shed tears. But thou mayest 
 tell me wherefore thou didst suffer this ; though 
 forsooth I have an inkling thereof. Hast thou 
 happened on the witch's ferry ? 
 
 Even so it was, sister, quoth Birdalone. And 
 therewith she plucked upneart, and told her all 
 the tale of the vanishing of her body and the skin- 
 changing. And Habundia answered : Well then, 
 there is this to be said, that sooner or later this must 
 have happened, for thereby lieth thy road of escape; 
 wherefore it is better sooner than later. Buttellme 
 again : was she fierce and rough in words with thee ? 
 for what she said to thee thou hast not yet told me. 
 Said Birdalone : In her first fury, when she was like 
 to have slain me, she had no words, nought but 
 wolfish cries. But thereafter she spake unto me 
 strangely, yet neither fiercely nor roughly ; nay, it 
 seemed to me as if almost she loved me. And more 
 than almost she besought me rather than com- 
 manded me not to flee from her. A»d.ivert thou 
 beguiled by.heiLspft speech ? said Habundia?^ No- 
 
48 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 wise to cast aside my hope of escape, nay, not even 
 in that hour, said Birdalone ; but amidst all the 
 confusion and terror somewhat was I moved to 
 compassion on her. 
 
 Spake Habundia, looking anxiously on her : 
 Dost thou deem that thou art somewhat cowed by 
 what she hath done to thee ? Said Birdalone, and 
 flushed very red : Oh no, no ! Nought save death 
 or bonds shall come betwixt me and my utmost 
 striving for escape. That is better than well, said 
 Habundia; but again, canst thou have patience a 
 little, and be wary and wise the while ? So me- 
 seemeth, said the maiden. Said Habundia : Again 
 it is well. Now is the summer beginning to wane, 
 and by my rede thou shalt not try the flight until 
 May is come again and well-nigh worn into June ; 
 for thou wilt be bigger then, little sister, and tidings 
 are waxing that shall get matters ready for thy de- 
 parture : moreover, thou must yet learn what thou 
 hast to do meanwhile, and thereof shall I tell thee 
 somewhat as now. For that boat, the thing which 
 thou didst find, and for which thou didst suffer, is 
 called the Sending Boat, and therein thy mistress 
 fareth time and again, I deem to seek to some other 
 of her kind, but I know not unto whom, or whereto. 
 Hast thou noted of her that whiles she goeth away 
 privily by night and cloud ? Yea, verily, said Bird- 
 alone, and this is one of the things which hereto- 
 fore hath made me most afraid. Said Habundia: 
 Well now, that she wendeth somewhither in this 
 ferry I wot ; but as I wot not whither, so also I 
 know not what she doth with the Sending Boat to 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 49 
 
 make it obey her ; whereas, though I know all 
 things of the wood, I know but little of the lake. 
 Wherefore, though there be peril to thee therein, 
 follow her twice or thrice when she riseth up for 
 this faring, and note closely what is her manner of 
 dealing with the said Sending Boat, so that thou 
 mayst do in like wise. Wilt thou risk the smart 
 and the skin-changing, or even if it were the stroke 
 of the knife, to gather this wisdom ? And there- 
 after thou shalt come hither and tell me how thou 
 hast sped. With a good heart will I, dear sister, 
 said Birdalone. 
 
 Then Habundia kissed her and said : It is a joy 
 to me to see thee so valiant, but herein may I help 
 thee somewhat ; here is a gol^ finger-ring, see thou ! 
 fashioned as a serpent holding his tail ihliis mouth ; 
 whenso thou goest on this quest^se^ thou this same 
 ring on the middle finger of thyTeft hand, and say 
 thou above thy breath at least : 
 
 To left and right. 
 Before, behind. 
 Of me be sight 
 As of the wind ! 
 
 And nought then shall be seen of thee even by one 
 who standeth close beside. But wear not the ring 
 openly save at such times, or let the witch have 
 sight thereof ever, or she will know that thou hast 
 met me. Dost thou understand, and canst thou/ 
 remember ? 
 
 Laughed Birdalone, and took the ring and set it 
 on her finger, and spake aloud even as Habundia 
 
 4 
 
50 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 had given her the vvordr.. Then quoth Habundia, 
 laughing : Now have 1 lost my friend and sister, 
 for thou art gone, Birdalone. Take off the ring, 
 sweetling, and get thee to thine hunting, for if thou 
 come home empty-handed there will be flyting 
 awaiting thee, or worse. 
 
 So Birdalone took off the ring and came back to 
 sight again lautrhino; ; then the wood-v/oman kissed 
 her and turned her heels to her, and was gone ; but 
 Birdalone strung her bow, and got to her wood- 
 craft, and presently had a brace of hares, wherewith 
 she went back home to the dame ; who indeed girded 
 at her for her sloth, and her little catch in so long a 
 while ; but there it ended. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. OF BIRDALONE'S 
 FISHING. 
 
 NOW were the days wearing toward wheat- 
 harvest, and_jaaU^lit^j2efel_Ji>'feeli'of, save 
 that on a morn the witcTi -wife called Bird- 
 alone to her, and said : Now is little to be done till 
 the wheat is ready for the hook, and thy days are 
 idle ; or what is that word that fell from thee that 
 other day, that there be good swims for fish about 
 the eyots ? Canst thou swim across bearing thine 
 angle, and back again therewith, and thy catch 
 withal ? Yea, certes, said Birdalone gaily ; with one 
 hand I may swim gallantly, or with my legs alone, 
 if I stir mine arms ever so little. I will go straight- 
 way if thou wilt, lady ; but give me a length of 
 twine so that I may tie my catch about my middle 
 when I swim back again. 
 
 Therewith she went forth lightly to fetch her 
 angle, which was in a shed without ; but just as she 
 took it in her hand, a sudden thought came to her, 
 so wary as she was grown. She undid the bosom 
 of her gown, and took forth her serpent-ring ; for 
 she bore it next to her skin, made fast to the bosom 
 of her smock ; but now she hid it carefully in the 
 thickest of her brow-hair, which was very thick 
 and soft. Withal the tress of Habundia's hair she 
 bore ever mingled with her own. 
 
 No sooner had she done it, but she was glad ; 
 for she heard the dame calling her, who, when she 
 came to the house-door, spake and said : Now shall I 
 fare with thee down to the water, and look to thy 
 
52 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 garments lest they be fouled by some straying beast. 
 And therewith she looked curiously on Birdalone, 
 and knit her brows when she saw that the maiden 
 changed countenance in nowise. 
 
 Down to the water went they, and the witch sat 
 down close to where Birdalone should take the 
 water, and watched her do off her raiment, and eyed 
 her keenly when she was bare, but said nought. 
 Birdalone turned her head as she stood knee-deep, 
 and said : How long shall I abide, lady, if I have 
 luck ? As long as thou wilt, said the dame : most 
 like I shall be gone by then thou comest back, even 
 if thou be away no long while. 
 
 Fell Birdalone to swimming then, and when she 
 was more than half over, the witch, stirring no more 
 than need was, got hold of her raiment, which was 
 but the old grey coat over a smock, and ransacked 
 it, but found nought, as well ye may wot. And 
 when she had done, she sat down again in heavy 
 mood as it seemed, and watched Birdalone swim- 
 ming, and when she beheld her body come forth out 
 of the water, and pass out of sight amongst the 
 flowers of the eyot, she arose and went her ways 
 home. 
 
 Birdalone looked through the willow-boughs, 
 and saw her turn away ; then she fared to her fish- 
 ing with a smile, and soon had plenteous catch from 
 under the willow-boughs. Then, whereas the day 
 was very calm and fair, and the dame had given 
 her holiday, she wandered about the eyot, and most 
 in a little wood of berry-trees, as quicken and 
 white-beam and dog-wood, and sported with the 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 53 
 
 birds, who feared her not, but came and sat on her 
 shoulders, and crept about her feet. She went 
 also and stood a while on the southern shore, and 
 looked on the wide water dim in the offing under 
 the hot-weather haze, and longed to be gone be- 
 yond it. Then she turned away, and to the other 
 shore, and gat her fish and strung them on the 
 string, and made them fast to her middle, and so 
 took the water back again to the yellow strand, 
 where now was no one awaiting her. But before 
 she did on her garments, she looked on them, and 
 saw that they lay not as she had left them, whereby 
 she knew well that the witch-wife had handled 
 them. 
 
 Amidst all this the day was wearing to an end, 
 and again she saw the smoke of the cooking-fire 
 going up into the air from the chimney of the 
 house ; and she smiled ruefully, thinking that the 
 witch might yet find an occasion for ransacking 
 her raiment. But she plucked up heart, and came 
 home with her catch, and the dame met her with 
 a glum face, and neither praised her nor blamed 
 her, but took the fish silently. Such ending had 
 that day. 
 
CHAPTER XV. BIRDALONE WEAR- 
 ETH HER SERPENT-RING. 
 
 AFTER this she went once and again fishing 
 on to Green Eyot by the bidding of the 
 dame, who went not again to the shore 
 with her. These times she had half a mind to go 
 see the Sending Boat, but durst not, lest the thing 
 itself might have life enough to tell of her. 
 
 And now was come the time of wheat-harvest, 
 and Birdalone must wear her days swinking in the 
 acre-land, clad but in smock and shoes ; and the 
 toil was hard, and browned her skin and hardened 
 her hands, but it irked her not, for the witch let 
 her work all alone, and it was holiday unto the 
 maiden if her mistress were not anigh, despite those 
 words which had somewhat touched her heart that 
 other day. 
 
 But when wheat-getting was done, there was 
 again rest for her body, and swimming withal and 
 fishing from the eyot by the witch's leave. And 
 again by her own leave she went to seek Habun- 
 dia in the wood, and spent a happy hour with her, 
 and came back with a fawn which she had shot, 
 and so but barely saved her skin from the twig- 
 shower. Then yet again she went into the wood 
 on the witch's errand as well as her own, and was 
 paid by her friend's sweet converse, and by nought 
 else save the grudging girding of her mistress. 
 
 But on a night when September was well in, and 
 the sky was moonless and overcast, somewhat be- 
 fore midnight the dame came and hung over Bird- 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 55 
 
 alone as she lay abed, and watched to see if she 
 waked ; forsooth the witch's coming had waked 
 her ; but even so she was wary, and lay still, nor 
 changed her breathing. So the witch turned 
 away, but even therewith Birdalone made a shift 
 to get a glimpse of her, and this she saw thereby, 
 that the semblance of her was changed, and that 
 she bore the self-same skin wherewith she had 
 come to Utterhay, and which she had worn twice 
 or thrice afterwards when she had an errand thither. 
 The witch now glided swiftly to the door, and 
 out into the night. Birdalone lay still a little, lest 
 she should fall into a trap, and then arose very 
 quietly and did on her smock, which lay ever 
 under her pillow with the ring sewn thereto again, 
 and so went out adoors also, and deemed she saw 
 the witch some way on ahead ; but it was noth- 
 ing for her hght feet to overtake her. So she 
 stayed to take the ring from her smock, and set 
 it on her finger ; then in a low voice she said : 
 
 To left and right. 
 Before, behind. 
 Of me be sight 
 As of the wind ! 
 
 Then boldly she sped on, and was soon close on 
 the heels of the witch, who made her way to the 
 edge of the lake, and then turned east, and went 
 even as Birdalone had gone when she came across 
 the Sending Boat. 
 
 So fared the witch-wife straight to the creek-side, 
 and Birdalone must needs stick close to her, or 
 
56 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 she had known nought, so black was the night 
 amongst the alder-boughs. But the witch-wife 
 fumbled about a while when she was stayed by the 
 creek, and presently drew somewhat from under 
 her cloak, and the maiden saw that she was about 
 striking flint upon steel, and quaked somewhat, 
 lest her charm had played her false. Presently 
 the tinder quickened, and the dame had lighted a 
 lantern, which she held up, peering all about ; and 
 full she looked on the place whereas was Birdalone, 
 and made no show of seeing her, though well-nigh 
 the maiden looked for it to see her drop the lan- 
 tern and spring on her. 
 
 Now the witch, holding the lantern aloft, steps 
 / over the gunwale of the boat, and sits down on the 
 thwart ; and it was a near thing but that Birdalone 
 followed her into the boat, but she feared the get- 
 ting forth again, so she but hung over it as close 
 as she might. Then she saw the witch draw out 
 of her girdle that sharp little knife which Birdalone 
 had seen raised against her own throat ; and then 
 the witch bared her arm, and pricked it till the 
 blood sprang from that barren white skin ; thereat 
 she stood up, and went to the bows of the craft 
 and hung over them, and drew her arm to and fro 
 over the stem to bloody it ; and went thereafter 
 to the stern, and took blood into her right hand 
 and passed it over the place of the steerage (for 
 there was no rudder), and came back and sat down 
 on the thwart again ; and, so far as Birdalone 
 might see, busied herself in staunching the little 
 wound on her arm. Then deemed Birdalone that 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 57 
 
 she knew what manner of paint was that which had 
 made the rusty smears which she had seen on the 
 boat by daylight. 
 
 But now as the witch sat there, a haf§tr~voice 
 began to stir in her throat, and then words came 
 out of her, and she sang in a crow's croalTr^ 
 
 The red raven-wine now 
 
 Hast thou drunk, stern and bow ; 
 
 Then wake and awake 
 
 And the wonted way take! 
 
 The way of the Wender forth over the flood. 
 
 For the will of the Sender is blent with the blood. 
 
 Therewithal began the boat to stir, and anon 
 it glided forth out of the creek into the waters of 
 the lake, and the light of the lantern died, and it 
 was but a minute ere Birdalone lost all sight of it. 
 She abode a little longer, lest perchance boat and 
 witch might come back on her hands, and then 
 turned and went swiftly back again. She would 
 have drawn off her ring straightway, but the 
 thought came on her, that she had seen the witch 
 depart in her second semblance ; how if she were 
 abiding her at home in her wonted skin ? So she 
 came to the house even as she was, and opened 
 the door, and looked in, quaking ; but there was 
 no image of a child of Adam therein, and no liv- 
 ing thing, save the cat drowsing before the fire ; 
 wherefore Birdalone took the ring from her finger 
 and went to the hearth, and stirred up the cat with 
 her foot till he arose and fell to rubbing himself 
 against her legs, and she was fain of him. 
 
58 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Thereafter she made her ring fast to her smock 1 
 again, and set the smock under her pillow as her 
 wont was, and betook herself to bed, and fell asleep 
 sweetly, leaving all troublous thoughts for the mor- 
 row ; and that the more as she was free of the 
 witch-wife for that night at least. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. BIRDALONE MEET- 
 ETH HABUNDIA AGAIN; AND LEARN- 
 ETH HER FIRST WISDOM OF HER. 
 
 WHEN morning was, Birdalone arose, and 
 longed sore to go into the wood to seek 
 Habundia again, but durst not, lest the 
 witch-wife should come to hand again earlier than 
 might be looked for. So she abode quiet and did 
 what was toward near about the house. All that 
 day the witch came not back, nor the next ; but 
 the morrow thereafter, when Birdalone arose, she 
 found the wonted aspect of her mistress in the 
 wonted place, who, when she saw the maiden, 
 greeted her, and was somewhat blithe with her ; 
 and Birdalone would have asked her leave to go 
 to the wood, but she trusted little in her unwonted 
 soft mood ; which yet lasted so long that on thfe 
 third day she herself bade Birdalone go take her 
 pleasure in the wood, and bear back with her what 
 of venison she might. 
 
 Forthwith went Birdalone as glad as might be, 
 and met her friend at the Qak_QfJTryst,._and^-told 
 her closely how all had betid ; and Habundia said : 
 Here, then, thou hast learned how to sail the lake. 
 But hast thou learned enough to try the adventure 
 and not to fail ? Even so I deem, said Birdalone ; 
 but this I would say, that meseemeth it better that 
 I follow the witch down to the boat one more time 
 at least ; for this first time it was dark ; and more- 
 over shall I not be surer of the spell if I hear it 
 said oftener, lest it be not ever the same words ? 
 
6o THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 What sayest thou ? She said : Thou art right 
 herein, and, since the adventure may not be tried 
 till next June is at hand, there is time enough and 
 to spare. And now for this hour that is we need 
 talk no more of it. Only, my sweet, I beseech thee 
 be wary ; and above all suffer not the witch-wife 
 to set eye or hand on the ring. Truly mine heart 
 oft aches sorely for thy peril ; for therein the image 
 of thee abideth rather as of my daughter than my 
 friend. Yea, now thou laughest, but kindly, so 
 that the sound of thy laughter is as sweet music. 
 But know that though thou art but a young maiden, 
 and I in all wise like unto thee of aspect, yet have 
 I dwelt many and many a year upon the earth, and 
 much wisdom have learned. Trowest thou me ? 
 
 Yea, yea, said Birdalone, with all my heart. 
 Then she hung her head a while and kept silence, 
 and thereafter looked up and spake : I would ask 
 thee a thing and crave somewhat of thee, as if thou 
 wert verily my mother; wilt thou grant it me? 
 Yea, surely, child, said Habundia. Said Birda- 
 lone : This it is then, that thou wilt learn me of thy 
 wisdom. Habundia smiled full kindly on her, and 
 said : This of all things I would have had thee 
 ask ; and this day and now shall we begin to open 
 the book of the earth before thee. For therein is 
 mine heritage and my dominion. Sit by me, child, 
 and hearken ! 
 
 So the maiden sat down by her likeness under 
 the oak, and began to learn her lesson. Forsooth 
 forgotten is the wisdom, though the tale of its learn- 
 ing abideth, wherefore nought may we tell thereof. 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 6 1 
 
 When it was done, Birdalone kissed her wood- 
 mother and said : This is now the best day of my 
 life, this and the day when first I saw thee. I will 
 come hither now many times before the day of my 
 departure. Yea, but, sweet child, said Habundia, 
 beware of the witch and her cruelty ; I fear me she 
 shall yet be grim toward thee. So will I be wary, 
 said Birdalone, but I will venture some little peril 
 of pain but if thou forbid me, mother. And I pray 
 thee by thy love to forbid me not. And this I pray 
 thee the more, because after one of these grim times 
 then mostly doth she meddle the less with me for a 
 while, wherefore I shall be the freer to come hither. 
 Habundia kissed her and embraced her, and said : 
 Valiant art thou for a young maiden, my child, and 
 I would not refrain thee more than a father would 
 refrain his young son from the strokes of the tilt- 
 yard. But I pray thee to forget not my love, and 
 my sorrow for thy grief 
 
 Therewith they sundsred^-and it was drawing 
 toward evening. Birdalone sought catch, and 
 brought home venison to the dame, who was yet 
 blithe with her, and spake that evening as she eyed 
 her : I cannot tell how it is, but thou seemest 
 changed unto me, and lookest more towards thy 
 womanhood than even yesterday. I mean the face 
 of thee, for wert thou stripped, lean enough I 
 should see thee, doubtless. But now look to it, I 
 beseech thee, to be both deft and obedient, so that 
 I may be as kind to thee as I would be, and kinder 
 than I have been heretofore. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. THE PASSING OF 
 THE YEAR INTO WINTER. 
 
 WORE the days now, till on a night of Oc- 
 tober, toward the end thereof, the witch 
 went a-night-tide to the Sending Boat, 
 and Birdalone followed her as erst. This time the 
 night was wild and windy, but the moon was high 
 aloft and big, and all cloud save a few flecks was 
 blown from oflF the heavens ; so that the night was 
 as light as could be ; and even at the tree-hung 
 creek it was easy to see all that was done. And so 
 it was that the witch did and spake in all wise as 
 she did before. 
 
 Another time, when November was well-nigh 
 
 out, the dame arose for her lake-faring ; but this 
 
 night the snow lay deep betwixt house and water, 
 
 and Birdalone thought that it would scarce do to 
 
 ,^ollow. Forsooth she knew not whether her feet 
 
 / would the less leave their print in the snow because 
 
 / they were not to be seen. When she asked Ha- 
 
 / bundia thereof, she laughed and said : Once more 
 
 ^v thou hast been wise, my child, for though it had 
 
 ,/ been no harder to put this might into thy ring, that 
 
 / whoso wore it should not touch the ground, yet it 
 
 , hath not been done. 
 
 I It must be told, that in this while Birdalone 
 went oft to the Trysting Tree, and called on her 
 mother (as now she called her) to come to her, and 
 ever more and more of wisdom she won thereby. 
 Though the witch was oft surly with her, and spared 
 not her girding, yet, the needful work done, she 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 6^ 
 
 meddled little with her. But on a day she straightly 
 banned her the wood, and Birdalone went notwith- 
 standing, and when she was there with the wood- 
 mother nought she told her thereof, but was blithe 
 and merry beyond her wont. She came back home 
 thereafter empty handed, and stepped into the 
 chamber proudly and with bright eyes and flushed 
 cheeks, though she looked for nought save chas- 
 tisement ; yea, it might be even the skin-changing. 
 Forsooth the witch was sitting crouched in her chair 
 with her hands on the elbows and her head thrust 
 forward, like a wild beast at point to spring ; but 
 when her eye fell on Birdalone, she faltered and 
 drew back into herself again, and muttered some- 
 what unheard ; but to Birdalone spake nought of 
 good or bad. 
 
 Now was winter-tide upon them, when there 
 was nought to do in field and acre, and but a little 
 in the byre. In years bygone, and even in the last 
 one, the witch had not spared Birdalone toil any 
 the more, but had made errands for her amidst the 
 snow and biting winds, or over the lake when it 
 was laid with ice. But now she bade her to nought 
 save what she had a will to ; whereby she lost but 
 little, whereas Birdalone was well willing to strive 
 against wind and weather and the roughness of 
 the winter earth, and overcome if she might, so 
 that all were well done that had to be done about 
 the stead. 
 
 Still did the witch give her hard words and rail 
 at her for the most part, but from the teeth out- 
 ward only, and because she was wont thereto. In- 
 
64 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 wardly indeed she began to fear Birdalone, and 
 deemed that she would one day have the mastery ; 
 and this led her into fierce and restless moods ; so 
 that she would sit staring at the maiden's beauty 
 handling her knife withal, and scarce able to for- 
 bear her. And in such a mood she once made 
 occasion to chastise her as her wont had been erst, 
 and looked to see Birdalone rebel against her ; but 
 it fell out otherwise, for Birdalone submitted her- 
 self to her meekly and with a cheerful counte- 
 nance. And this also was a terror to the witch, 
 who deemed, as indeed it was, that the purpose 
 was growing in her thrall. So from that time she 
 meddled with her no more. All this while, as may 
 be thought, Birdalone went yet oftener to the Oak 
 of Tryst, despite frost and snow and wind, and 
 gat much lore of her wood-mother, and learned 
 wisdom abundantly. And her days were happy. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. OF SPRING-TIDE 
 AND THE MIND OF BIRDALONE. 
 
 NOW was the winter gone and the spring-tide 
 come again, and with the blossoming of the 
 earth blossomed Birdalone also. Nought 
 sweeter of flesh might she be than erst, but there 
 was now a new majesty grown into her beauty ; 
 her Hmbs were rounded, her body fulfilled, her 
 skin sleeked and whitened ; and if any mother's 
 son had beheld her feet as they trod the meadow 
 besprinkled with saffron and daffodil, ill had it 
 gone with him were he gainsaid the kisses of them, 
 though for the kissing had he fared the worse 
 belike. 
 
 That spring-tide, amidst of April, she followed 
 the witch-wife down to the Sending Boat for the 
 third time ; and there went everything as erst, and 
 she deemed now that the lesson was well learned, 
 and that she was well-nigh as wise as the witch 
 herself therein. 
 
 But the day after she went about somewhat pen- 
 sive, as though a troublous thought were on her ; 
 and when, three days thereafter, she met the wood- 
 mother, she spake to her even as they parted, and 
 said : Mother, much wisdom hast thou learned me, 
 and now this at the last withal, that hitherto there 
 has been shame in my life ; and now fain were I 
 to be done with it. Fair child, said Habundia, 
 little is the shame though this woman hath had 
 the upper hand of thee and hath used thee cruelly : 
 how mightest thou, a child, strive with her ? But 
 
 5 
 
66 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 now I see and know that there is an end of that ; 
 that she feareth thee now, and will never again 
 raise a hand against thee save thou fall wholly^into 
 her power ; as t hou sh alt_nQ^tW^flX-5^^^^- ^^ com- 
 forted then for'-whaTls gone by !~Nay, mother, 
 said Birdalone, it is not that which troubleth me ; 
 for, as thou sayest, what else might I do ? But 
 thy wisdom which thou hast set in my heart hath 
 learned me that for these last months I have been 
 meeting guile with guile and lies with lies. And 
 now will I do so no more, lest I become a guileful 
 woman, with nought good in m^ save the fairness 
 of my body. Wherefore hearken, sweet mother ! 
 What is done, is done ; but when it cometh to the 
 day, which is speedily drawing nigh, that I must 
 part from thee, it may be for a long while, then 
 will 1 not fare to the Sending Boat by night and 
 cloud and with hidden head, but will walk thither 
 in broad day, and let that befall which must befall. 
 
 Changed then Habundia's face and became hag- 
 gard and woeful, and she cried out : O if I could 
 but weep, as ye children of Adam ! O my grief 
 and sorrow ! Child, child ! then will betide that 
 falHng into her hands which I spake of e'en now; 
 and then shall this wretch, this servant of evil, as- 
 suredly slay thee there and then, or will keep thee 
 to torment thee till thy life be but a slow death. 
 Nay, nay, do as I should do, and fare with hidden 
 head, and my ring on thy finger. Or else, O child, 
 how wilt thou hurt me ! 
 
 Birdalone wept ; but presently she fell to caress- 
 ing the mother's hand, and said : This is thy doing, 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 67 
 
 wherein thou hast made me wise. Yet fear not: 
 for I deem that the witch-wife will not slay me, 
 whereas she looketh to have some gain of me; 
 moreover, in the evil of her heart is mingled some 
 love toward me, whereof, as erst I told thee, I have 
 a morsel of compassion. Mother, she will not slay 
 me ; and I say that she shall not tonnent me, for I 
 will compel her to slay me else. It is my mind 
 that she will let me go. Said the mother : Yea, may- 
 happen, yet but as a bird with a string to its leg. 
 If it be so, said Birdalone, then let my luck prevail 
 over her guile ; as well it may be, since I have 
 known thee, O wise mother ! 
 
 The wood-wife hung her head and spake nought 
 for a while ; then she said : I see that thou wilt have 
 it so, and that there Is something in thine heart 
 which we, who are not children of Adam, may not 
 understand; yet once wert thou more like unto us. 
 Now all I may say is, that thou must rule in this 
 matter, and that I am sad. 
 
 Then she looked down again and presently raised 
 a brighter face, and said : Belike all shall be better 
 than I thought. Then she kissed Birdalone and 
 they parted for that time. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. THEY BID FARE- 
 WELL, BIRDALONE AND THE WOOD- 
 MOTHER. 
 
 NOW April was gone, and May was come 
 with the thorn a-blossoming, and there 
 was Birdalone waxing still in loveliness. 
 And now the witch had left all girding at her even, 
 and spake to her but little, save when she needs 
 must. But to Birdalone it seemed that she watched 
 her exceeding closely. 
 
 Birdalone went oft to the wood, and learned yet 
 more of lore : but of the matter of the Departure, 
 how it was to be gone about they spake no more, 
 and great was the love betwixt them. 
 
 At last when May was worn nigh to June came 
 Birdalone to the Oak of Tryst, and found the wood- 
 mother there ; and when they had talked a while, 
 but ever from the teeth out, spake Habundia : 
 Though thou be now the wiser of us two maybe, 
 yet have I wisdom to wot that this is the hour of 
 our sundering, and that to-morrow thou wilt try 
 the adventure of the Sending Boat: is it not so? 
 Yea, mother, said Birdalone ; I bid thee farewell 
 now : woe is me therefor ! Said Habundia : And 
 thou wilt deliver thyself into the hands of the witch, 
 wilt thou, as thou saidst that other day .'' Quoth 
 Birdalone : Is it not wisdom, dear mother, if I trust 
 in my goodhap ? Alas, said the mother, it may be 
 so when all is said. But O my sad heart ! and how 
 I fear for thee ! 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 69 
 
 My mother, my mother ! said Birdalone, that I 
 should make the days grievous unto thee ! and thou 
 who hast made my days so joyous ! But now canst 
 thou not say of thy wisdom that we shall meet 
 again ? 
 
 The wood-woman sat down, and let her head 
 fall over her knees, and was silent a long while; 
 then she rose up and stood before Birdalone, and 
 said: Yea, we shall meetagain, howsoever it may be. 
 Let us depart with that sweet word in the air be- 
 tween us. Yet first thou shalt give me a tress of 
 thine hair, as I did to thee when first we met ; for 
 by means of it may I know to-morrow how thou 
 hast sped. 
 
 Even so did Birdalone, and this was the end of 
 their talk, save broken words of lamentation as they 
 said farewell. And therewith for that while they 
 sundered. 
 
CHAPTER XX. OF BIRDALONE AND 
 THE SENDING BOAT. 
 
 BIRDALONE woke up in the morning, and 
 arose and clad herself, and she saw not the 
 witch-wife in the chamber, though her bed 
 looked as if it had been slept in. Birdalone ac- 
 counted little thereof, whereas the dame would oft 
 go on one errand or another much betimes in the 
 morning. Yet was she somewhat glad, for she was 
 nowise wishful for a wrangle with her. Withal, 
 despite her valiancy, as may well be thought, she 
 was all a-flutter with hopes and fears, and must 
 needs refrain her body from overmuch quaking and 
 restlessness if she might. 
 
 Now she mingled the tress of the wood-mother's 
 hair with her own hair, but deemed it nought peril- 
 ous to leave the ring yet sewn to her smock : she 
 set some deal of bread and flesh in her scrip, lest 
 her voyage should be long, and then all simply 
 stepped over the threshold of the House of her 
 Captivity. 
 
 She went straight to the strand aforesaid, seeing 
 nought of the witch-wife by the way ; and when she 
 came there, was about to turn straightway to her 
 left hand down to the creek, when it came into her 
 mind that she would first swim over to Green Eyot 
 for this last of times. For_the _eyot inde ed she 
 lovedjjjidjdeemed it her own, since never had her 
 -gvlLd ream, the witch, set foot tlrcreDT rr — Moreover, 
 she said to herself that the cool lake would allay 
 the fever of her blood, and make her flesh firmer 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 71 
 
 and less timorous for the adventure. And again, 
 that if the witch should see her from afar, as she 
 could scarce fail to do, she would deem the maiden 
 was about her wonted morning swimming, and 
 would be the less like to spy on her. 
 
 So now, when she had let her garments slip from 
 off her on to the sand close to the water's edge, 
 she stood a while, with her feet scarce covered by 
 the little ripple of the bight, to be a token of safety 
 to her mistress. To say sooth, now it was come 
 so nigh to the deed, she shrank aback a little, and 
 was fain to dally with the time, and, if it might be, 
 thrust something of no import betwixt her and the 
 terror of the last moment. 
 
 Now she took the water, and rowed strongly 
 with her lovely limbs till she came to the eyot, and 
 there she went aland, and visited every place which 
 had been kind to her ; and kissed the trees and 
 flowers that had solaced her, and once more drew 
 the birds and rabbits to sport with her ; till sud- 
 denly it came into her head that the time was wear- 
 ing overfast. Then she ran down to the water and 
 plunged in, and swam over to the strand as fast as 
 she might, and came aland there, thinking of noth- 
 ing less than what had befallen. 
 
 For lo ! when she looked around for her rai- 
 ment and her scrip, it was nowhere to be seen ; 
 straightway then it came into her mind, as in one 
 flash, that this was the witch's work ; that she had 
 divined this deed of the flight, and had watched 
 her, and taken the occasion of her nakedness and 
 absence that she might draw her back to the House 
 
72 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 of Captivity. And this the more as the precious 
 ring was sewn to Birdalone's smock, and the witch 
 would have found it there when she handled the 
 raiment. 
 
 Birdalone wasted no time in seeking for the lost ; 
 she looked down on to the smooth sand, and saw 
 there footprints which were not her own, and all 
 those went straight back home to the house. Then 
 she turned, and for one moment of time looked up 
 toward the house, and saw plainly the witch come 
 out adoors, and the sun flashed from something 
 bright in her hand. 
 
 Then indeed she made no stay, but set off run- 
 ning at her swiftest along the water-side toward the 
 creek and the Sending Boat. As is aforesaid she 
 was as fleet-foot as a deer, so but in a little space 
 of time she had come to the creek, and leapt into 
 the boat, panting and breathless. She turned and 
 looked hastily along the path her feet had just worn, 
 and deemed she saw a fluttering and flashing com- 
 ing along it, but some way ofi^; yet was not sure, 
 for her eyes were dizzy with the swiftness of her 
 flight and the hot sun and the hurry of her heart. 
 Then she looked about a moment confusedly, for 
 she called to mind that in her nakedness she had 
 neither knife, nor scissors, nor bodkin to let her 
 blood withal. But even therewith close to hand 
 she saw hanging down a stem of half-dead briar- 
 rose with big thorns upon it; she hastily tore 
 oflF a length thereof and scratched her left arm 
 till the blood flowed, and stepped lightly first to 
 stem and then to stern, and besmeared them there- 
 
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY 73 
 
 with. Tlien she sat down on the thwart and cried 
 aloud : 
 
 The red raven-wine now 
 
 Hast thou drunk, stern and bow ; 
 
 Then wake and awake 
 
 And the wonted way take ! 
 
 The way of the Wender forth over the flood. 
 
 For the will of the Sender is blent with the blood. 
 
 Scarce had she time to wonder if the boat would 
 obey her spell ere it began to stir beneath her, 
 and then glided out into the lake and took its way- 
 over the summer ripple, going betwixt Green Eyot 
 and the mainland, as if to weather the western ness 
 of the eyot : and it went not a stonecast from the 
 shore of the said mainland. 
 
 Hither to meet it now cometh the witch, run- 
 ning along the bank, her skirts flying wild about 
 her, and a heavy short-sword gleaming in her hand. 
 Her furious running she stayed over against the 
 boat, and cried out in a voice broken for lack of 
 breath : 
 
 Back over the flood 
 
 To the house by the wood ! 
 
 Back unto thy rest 
 
 In the alder nest ! 
 
 For the blood of the Sender lies warm on thy bow. 
 
 And the heart of the Wender is weary as now. 
 
 But she saw that the Sending Boat heeded her 
 words nothing, whereas it was not her blood that 
 had awakened it, but Birdalone's. Then cried out 
 the witch : O child, child ! say the spell and come 
 buck to me ! to me, who have reared thee and loved 
 thee and hoped in thee ! O come back ! 
 
74 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 But how should Birdalone heed her prayer ? She 
 saw the sax ; and withal had her heart forgotten, her 
 flesh might well remember. She sat still, nor so 
 much as turned her head toward the witch-wife. 
 
 Then came wild yelling words from the witch's 
 mouth, and she cried : Go then, naked and out- 
 cast ! Go then, naked fool ! and come back hither 
 after thou hast been under the hands of the piti- 
 less ! Ah, it had been better for thee had I slain 
 thee ! And therewith she whirled the sax over her 
 head and cast it at Birdalone. But now had the 
 boat turned its head toward the ness of Green 
 Eyot and was swiftly departing, so that Birdalone 
 but half heard the last words of the witch-wife, and 
 the sax fell flashing into the water far astern. 
 
 There the witch stood tossing her arms and 
 screaming, wordless ; but no more of her saw Bird- 
 alone, for the boat came round about the ness of 
 Green Eyot, and there lay the Great Water under 
 the summer heavens all wide and landless before 
 her. And it was now noon of day. 
 
 Here ends the First Part of the Water of 
 the Wondrous Isles, which is called Of the 
 House of Captivity. And now begins the 
 Second Part, which is called Of the Won- 
 drous Isles. 
 
THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS 
 ISLES. THE SECOND PART: OF 
 THE WONDROUS ISLES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. THE FIRST ISLE. 
 
 SO glided Birdalone over the lake and was come 
 forth from the House of Captivity ; it might 
 well be that she was but swimming unto 
 death ; naked as she was, fireless, foodless, and help- * 
 less, at thejTiercy ofiiiere,SQfcery. Yet she called to 
 mind the word ofthe wood-mother that they should 
 meet again, and took heart thereby ; and she was 
 glad in that she had had her will, and shaken off 
 the guile and thraldom of the witch. Much she 
 thought of the wood-mother, and loved her, and 
 wondered had she yet sought Into and seen her 
 welfare by the burning of a hair of that tress of 
 hers ; and therewith she looked on that tress of 
 Habundia's hair and kissed it. 
 
 All day the Sending Boat sped on, and she saw 
 no land and nought to tell of. It was but wave 
 and sky and the familiar fowl ofthe lake, as coot, 
 and mallard, and heron, and now and then a swift 
 wood-dove going her ways from shore to shore ; 
 two gerfalcons she saw also, an osprey, and a great 
 ern on his errand high up aloft. 
 
 Birdalone waked In her loneliness till the day was 
 spent, and somewhat worn of the night ; then she 
 fell asleep for weariness ; but so it was, that before 
 dusk she had deemed that a blue cloud lay before 
 her in the offing which moved not. 
 
76 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 She slept the short night through, and was awak- 
 ened by the boat smiting against something, and 
 when her eyes opened she saw that she was come 
 aland and that the sun was just risen. She stood 
 up, and for the first minute wondered where she 
 was, and she beheld her nakedness and knew not 
 what it meant ; then she loosened her hair, and 
 shook its abundance all about her, and thereafter 
 she turned her eyes on this new land and saw that 
 it was fair and goodly. The flowery grass came 
 down to the very water, and first was a fair meadow- 
 land besprinkled with big ancient trees ; thence 
 arose slopes of vineyard, and orchard and garden ; 
 and, looking down on all, was a great White House, 
 carven and glorious. A little air of wind had awak- 
 ened with the sunrise, and bore the garden sweet- 
 ness down to her ; and warm it was after the chill 
 of the wide water. No other land could she see 
 when she looked lakeward thence. 
 
 She stepped ashore, and stood ankle-deep in the 
 sweet grass, and looked about her for a while, and 
 saw no shape of man astir. She was yet weary, and 
 stiff with abiding so long amongst the hard ribs of 
 the boat, so she laid herself down on the grass, and 
 its softness solaced her; and presently she fell 
 asleep again. 
 
CHAPTER II. BIRDALONE FALLETH 
 IN WITH NEW FRIENDS. 
 
 WHEN she next awoke, the sun was not 
 yet high, and the morning young, yet she 
 stood upon her feet much refreshed by 
 that short slumber. She turned toward the hill and 
 the gay house, and saw one coming over the meadow 
 to her, a woman to wit, in a shining golden gown, 
 and as she drew nigh Birdalone could see that she 
 was young and fair, tall, white-skinned and hazel- 
 eyed, with lojTgjigdJi air dan cing all about her as she 
 tripped lightly and merrily oveFthu greensward. 
 
 Now she comes up to Birdalone with wonder in 
 her eyes, and greets her kindly, and asked her of 
 her name, and Birdalone told it all simply ; and the 
 new-comer said : What errand hast thou hither, 
 that thou art come thus naked and alone in this 
 ill-omened ferry ? Birdalone trembled at her words, 
 though she spake kindly to her, and she said : It 
 is a long story, but fate drave me thereto, and 
 misery, and I knew not whither I was bound. 
 But is there no welcome for me in this lovely land? 
 I lack not deftness wholly ; and I will be a servant 
 of servants, and ask no better if it must be so. 
 Said the new-comer : Unto that mayst thou come , 
 but sore will be thy servitude. I fear me thy wel- 
 come here may be but evil. Said Birdalone : Wilt 
 thou not tell me how so ? Quoth that lady : We 
 know thy ferry here, that it is the craft wherein 
 Cometh hither now and again the sister of our lady 
 the Queen, into whose realm thou art now come. 
 
78 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and who liveth up in the white palace yonder, and 
 whom we serve. And meseems thou wilt not have 
 come hither by her leave, or thou wouldst be in 
 other guise than this ; so that belike thou wilt be the 
 runaway of thy mistress. Wherefore I fear that 
 thou wilt be sent back to thy said mistress after a 
 while, and that that while will be grievous to thee, 
 body and soul. 
 
 Birdalone's heart sank, and she was pale and 
 trembling ; but she said : O dear lady, might I then 
 depart as I have come hither, without the wotting 
 of this Queen ! after thou hast given me a morsel 
 of bread, for I am hungry. Said the gold-clad one, 
 looking on her pitifully : Nay, maiden, I cannot 
 choose but bring thee before our mispress, whereas 
 most like she hath already seen thee from above 
 there. For she is far-sighted beyond the wont of 
 folk who be more manlike. But as for the bread, see 
 thou ! I have brought a manchet in my pouch, and 
 cheese withal, as I came hurrying ; for I thought, 
 she will be hungry. And she reached the victual 
 out to her. And Birdalone took it and kissed the 
 golden lady's hands, and she might not refrain her 
 tears, but wept as she ate. 
 
 Meanwhile the golden lady spake unto her and 
 said : Nevertheless, thou poor maiden, somewhat 
 may be done for thine helping, and I will presently 
 speak to my sisters thereon, who are, both of them, 
 wiser than I. Sisters by blood are we not, but by 
 love and fellowship. And I doubt not but that as 
 we go up into the house we shall happen upon them 
 in the garden. But now I look upon thee, how fair 
 a woman art thou ! 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 79 
 
 Thou art kind and friendly, said Birdalone, 
 smiling amidst of her tears, might I know by what 
 name to call so dear a woman ? Thou shalt call 
 me Aurea, said the other ; and my next sister is 
 Viridis, and the third, Atra ; for that is according 
 to the hues of our raiment, and other names we have 
 not now. And lo ! here cometh Viridis over the 
 meadow. 
 
 Birdalone looked, and saw a woman coming 
 toward them clad all in green, with a rose-wreath on 
 her head. And she drew nigh, and greeted Bird- 
 alone kindly, and she also was a very beauteous 
 woman ; not great of body, whereas Aurea was tall 
 and big-made, though excellently shapen. Light 
 brown and goodly waved of hair was Viridis, her 
 eyes brown, and rather long than great ; her lips 
 full and ruddy, her cheeks soft and sweet and 
 smooth, and as rosy-tinted pearl ; her hands small 
 and delicate of fashion ; her whole body soft-shapen 
 as an egg ; a kind, wheedling look her face bore. 
 
 When she had looked a while on Birdalone, she 
 kissed her, and said : I would thou wert happier, 
 for thou art beauteous, and all but the evil must 
 love thee. Therewith she drew a cate from her 
 pouch, and said : Eat somewhat, for thou wilt be 
 hungry ; and let us go meet our other sister, who 
 is wiser than we. 
 
 So they went, all three of them, and came from 
 off the meadow on to the garden-slopes, and at the 
 entry thereof was come Atra to meet them ; she 
 was clad all in black, a tall, slim woman, with the 
 grace of the willow-bough in the wind, with dark 
 
8o THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 plenteous hair and grey hawk-eyes; her skin privet- 
 white, with but little red in her cheeks. She also 
 greeted Birdalone kindly, but sadly withal. She 
 gave her strawberries to eat laid on a big kale- 
 blade ; and she said : Sisters, here are we hidden 
 by the trees, and cannot be seen from the house ; 
 therefore we may sit here for a minute or two, 
 while we talk together as to what may perchance 
 be done for the helping of this unhappy maiden, 
 who is so fair and lovely, and hath strayed into so 
 ugly a trap. Then she said to Birdalone : Thou 
 must know, poor wanderer, that this Queen, our 
 mistress, who is sister to the Witch Under the 
 Wood, is big and strong, well-made, and white- 
 skinned, so that she deems herself a Queen of all 
 beauty : keen-eyed is she to see a fly where others 
 would see nought smaller than a coney ; fine-eared 
 withal ; wise in wizardry ; not altogether dull- 
 witted, though she be proud, and crueller than the 
 cruellest. But herein she faileth, that her memory 
 is of the shortest for matters of the passing hour, 
 albeit she remembers her spells and witch-songs 
 over well. But other matters will scarce abide in 
 her head for four and twenty hours. Wherefore, 
 sisters, if we may keep this maiden out of her sight 
 (after she hath seen her and given doom upon her) 
 till the dead of to-morrow night, we may perchance 
 do some good for her; and it is in my mind that 
 then she may do good for us also. 
 
 Now they rejoiced in this word of Atra the wise ; 
 and Atra prayed Birdalone to tell them somewhat 
 more of her story ; and she told them much ; but, 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 8 1 
 
 whyso it were, she said nought concerning the 
 wood-wife, whose outward semblance was the same 
 as hers. Then they pitied her, and caressed her ; 
 but Atra said : We must tarry here no more, but 
 go straight up to the lady, or maybe we shall lose 
 all. 
 
 So they went their ways and came into the pleas- 
 ance, and trod the sweet greensward betwixt the 
 garland flowers and the beauteous trees; which now 
 indeed, though Birdalone saw them all clear and 
 over-clear, were become nought to her. Those 
 three also spake gently to her, and now and then 
 asked her somewhat, as if to show her that she was 
 one of themselves ; but she spake not, or answered 
 at random, and to say sooth scarce heard their 
 words : forsooth she was now become heart-sick, 
 and was half dead for fear ; and her nakedness, 
 which would have troubled her little across the 
 water, was now grown a shame and a terror unto 
 her, and every deal of her body quivered with the 
 anguish thereof. 
 
CHAPTER III. BIRDALONE 
 IS BROUGHT BEFORE THE 
 WITCH-WIFE'S SISTER. 
 
 SO came they at last to the very house, and 
 whereas it stood high on the bent, a great 
 stair or perron of stone went up to it, and 
 was of much majesty. 1 hey went through the 
 porch, which was pillared and lovely, and came 
 into a great hall most nobly builded, and at the 
 other end thereof, on a golden throne raised upon 
 a dais, sat a big woman clad in red scarlet. The 
 three damsels led Birdalone to some four paces of 
 the great lady, and then stood away from her, and 
 left her standing there alone, the scarlet-clad wo- 
 man before her ; on the right and the left the tall 
 pillars going up gleaming toward the roof, and 
 about her feet the dark polished pavement, with 
 the wallowing of strange beasts and great serpents 
 and dragons all done on the coal-blue ground. 
 
 When she was so left alone, at first she tottered, 
 and went nigh to falling ; but then came back 
 some little heart to her, as she said to herself that 
 now she should verily die once for all, and that no 
 long while would be the passing from life into 
 death. She looked up and beheld the lady-witch, 
 that she was somewhat like to her sister, white- 
 skinned and of plenteous golden-hair as was she, 
 but younger of aspect, and nowise so ill-looked as 
 that other had now become ; for somewhat well- 
 shapen of body she was ; but her face forbidding ; 
 her lower lip thrust out, her cheeks flaggy and 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 83 
 
 drooping, her eyes little more than half open; to 
 be short, a face both proud, ^^eltshrT' and cruel ; 
 terrible indeed, sitting in judgment in that place 
 on a shrinking naked creature. 
 
 Now she spake ; and if there were no majesty 
 or solemnity in the voice, there was ugly glee and 
 malice therein ; but she said to those damsels : Is 
 this the woman that my keen eyes beheld come 
 aland from my sister's Sending Boat e'en now ? 
 Aurea knelt on one knee, and said : Yea, so please 
 you, my lady. 
 
 Then said the witch : Ho thou ! Wilt thou plead 
 some errand hither from my sister ? Dost thou 
 deem me so witless as not to know that if she had 
 sent thee hither thou wouldst not have come in 
 this plight ? Nay, I know ; thou hast stolen thy- 
 self from her: thou art a thief, and as a thief shalt 
 thou be dealt with. 
 
 Spake Birdalone in a clear voice : No errand do 
 I feign from thy sister, lady : when I could bear 
 my life there no longer, I took occasion to flee 
 from her: this is all the tale. Yet once and again 
 it hath been in my mind that it was thy sister who 
 stole me from them that loved me. 
 
 Hah, thrall ! said the lady, thou art bold ; thou 
 art over-bold, thou naked wretch, to bandy words 
 with m.e. What heed I thy tale now thou art 
 under my hand ? Her voice was cold rather than 
 fierce, yet was there the poison of malice therein. 
 But Birdalone spake : If I be bold, lady, it is be- 
 cause I see that I have come into the House of 
 Death. The dying may well be bold. 
 
84 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 The House of Death ! cried the sti^jjid lady ; 
 and wilt thou call my noble house thcTHouse of 
 Death ? Now art thou no longer bold, stripped 
 thrall, but impudent. 
 
 Scorn rose into Birdalone's heart at this word, 
 but she refrained her, and spake : I meant that I 
 have stirred the wrath in thee, and that thou wilt 
 slay me therefor ; and that it availeth not to crave 
 mercy of thee. 
 
 Laughed the lady : Thou art a fool, thrall, said 
 she ; if a sparrow fled hither from my sister, I 
 should not wring its neck, but keep it for her. So 
 shall I do with thee. I shall not slay thee, and so 
 destroy my sister's chattel ; nor shall I spoil thee, 
 and spoil her possession. I shall send thee back 
 unto her, the stolen thrall in the stolen boat, when 
 I have learned thee a lesson here. Forsooth it 
 was for that cause meseemeth that she let thee shp 
 through her fingers, for she is wise enough to have 
 stayed thee from this holiday had she willed it. 
 But she is tender-hearted, and kind, and soft, and 
 might well deem that if thy chastisement were done 
 to her hand here, it were better done than by her 
 mercy. Now, thrall, I have spoken enough to 
 thee, or more than enough : get thee back out of 
 earshot ! 
 
CHAPTER IV. OF THE WITCH'S 
 PRISON IN THE WAILING-TOWER. 
 
 BIRD ALONE did as she was bidden, and the 
 witch called unto her Atra, who came and 
 stood humbly on the footpace beside her, 
 and held converse with her mistress a while. Then 
 she went backward from her a little, and then came 
 to Birdalone, and in a somewhat harsh voice bade 
 her come with her. Birdalone followed her, quak- 
 ing, and they came out of the hall and into a long 
 passage, which led to a wide stair winding round 
 a newel ; and all was builded exceeding fair, had 
 Birdalone's heart suffered her eyes to see it ; but 
 her flesh was weak, and quaked before the torment 
 to come, so that her knees well-nigh failed her. 
 
 But now Atra lays a hand kindly on her shoulder 
 and stays her, and says : Now meseems the walls of 
 the Wailing-Tower, for so it hight, have no ears 
 to hear, and we may talk together. Wottest thou 
 why I have brought thee hither .? Said Birdalone 
 in a faint voice : Hast thou been bidden to whip 
 me ? And if I had been so bidden, dear maiden, 
 said Atra laughing, nowise would I do it. Hold 
 up thine heart ! For all hath gone well so far, and 
 now meseems betwixt us three we shall save thee. 
 
 Birdalone's spirit came back to her at that word, 
 and she put her hands to her face and fell a-weep- 
 ing. But Atra was kind to her and made much 
 of her ; and she kissed her and wiped her tears, 
 and Birdalone smiled again amidst her sobs, and 
 she thanked Atra ; who said to her : First of all I 
 
86 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 must tell thee that I am taknig thee to prison by 
 the witch's bidding. Yea, said Birdalone, and what 
 is prison ? Said Atra : A prison is a grim place 
 where poor folk who have done that which pleas- 
 eth not rich folk are shut up, that they may be 
 grieved and tormented by not being able to fare 
 abroad, or go where they wo lid ; and by suffering 
 whatsoever their masters may lay upon them, as 
 darkness, and cold, and hunger, and stripes. Some- 
 what so, or worse, our lady would have it for thee ; 
 but so would not we. Therefore for thee shall this 
 prison be a place where thou shalt be safe till we 
 may bring thee forth when the night hath worn 
 towards its ending. For she will have forgotten 
 thee by to-morrow ; and this she knoweth ; where- 
 fore just now, when thou stoodest out of earshot, 
 she was bidding me, amongst other matters, to bring 
 thee before her to-morrow morning, and tell her 
 the tale of thee, that she might call it to mind then 
 what she had will to this morning. 
 
 Yea, said Birdalone, but will she not remember 
 that she hath given thee a charge concerning me ^ 
 But little thereof, said Atra, and with a few words I 
 may easily confuse her memory so that speech there- 
 on will fail her. Keep up thine heart, sweetling; 
 but let us up this stair now forthwith, for I were 
 fain to have thee hid away in this prison, and then 
 will I down to her and tell her that thou art lying 
 therein in all misery and terror, lest it come into her 
 head to send for thee ere her memory is grown dim. 
 
 Again did Birdalone take heart, and they has- 
 tened a long way up the stair, till Atra stayed at 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 87 
 
 last at a door all done with iron, endlong and over- 
 thwart. Then she took a leash of keys from her 
 girdle, one big and two little, and set the big one 
 in the lock and turned it, and shoved the heavy 
 door and entered thereby a chamber four-square 
 and vaulted ; and the vault was upheld by a pillar 
 of red marble, wherein, somewhat higher than a 
 man's head, were set stanchions of latten, that could 
 be clasped and unclasped. This chamber was in 
 a way goodly, but yet grim to look on ; for the 
 walls were all of black ashlar stone close-jointed, 
 and the floor black also, but of marble polished so 
 wholly that it was as dark water, and gave back 
 the image of Birdalone's dear feet and legs as she 
 went thereon. The windows were not small, and 
 the chamber was light in every corner because of 
 them, but they were so high up under the vaulting 
 that none might see thereout aught save the heavens. 
 There was nought in the chamber save a narrow 
 bench of oak and three stools of the same, a great 
 and stately carven chair dight with cushions of pur- 
 ple and gold, and in one corner a big oaken coffer. 
 Now spake Atra : This is our lady's prison, and 
 I fear me we cannot make it soft for thee, dear 
 stranger. Yea, I must tell thee (and she reddened 
 therewith) that it is part of my charge to set thee 
 in irons. Birdalone smiled on her, and was over 
 weary to ask what that meant, though she knew 
 not. But Atra went to the big coffer and opened 
 it and thrust in her hands, and there was a jangling 
 therewith, and when she turned about to Birdalone 
 again she had iron chains in her hands, and she 
 
88 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 said : This shameth me, dear friend ; yet if thou 
 wouldst wear them it might be well, for she may 
 have a mind to go visit her prison, and if she find 
 thee there unshackled she shall be wroth, and often- 
 est her wrath hath a whip in its hand. And these 
 are the lightest that I might find. 
 
 Birdalone smiled again, and spake not, for she 
 was very v/eary, and Atra did the irons on her 
 wrists and her ankles ; and said thereafter : Yet 
 bear in mind that it is a friend that hath the key of 
 these things. And now 1 will go away for a little, 
 but I shall be on thine errands; for first I shall 
 tell the mistress that thou art lying here shackled 
 and in all wanhope ; and next, by the will and com- 
 mand of her, I am to see that thou be well fed and 
 nourished to-day that thou mayst be the stronger 
 for to-morrow, ij^ow if I may give thee rede, it 
 is that thou forbear to open the coffer yonder ; for 
 ugly things shalt thou find there, and that may 
 dishearten thee again^ 
 
 Therewith she kissed her kindly on the cheek 
 and went her ways, and the great key turned in the 
 lock behind her. 
 
 There then was Birdalone left to herself; and 
 she was over weary even to weep ; true it is that 
 she made a step or two towards the coffer, but re- 
 frained her, and took two of the pillows from the 
 great chair and turned aside into the other corner, 
 her chains jingling as she went. . There she laid 
 herself down, and nestled into the very wall-nook, 
 and presently fell asleep, and slumbered dream- 
 lessly and sweetly a long while. 
 
CHAPTER V. THEY FEAST IN THE 
 WITCH'S PRISON. 
 
 BIRD ALONE was awakened by the sound of 
 the key in the lock, and the door opened, 
 and there was Atra bearing dishes and plat- 
 ters, and behind her Viridis with the like gear, and 
 beakers and a flagon to boot, and both they were 
 smiling and merry. 
 
 Birdalone's heart leapt up to meet them, and in 
 especial was she gladdened by the coming of Viri- 
 dis, who had seemed to be the kindest of them all. 
 
 Viridis spake : Now is come the meat for the dear 
 sister, and it is time, for surely thou art famished, 
 andit is now long past high noon. Do off her irons, 
 Atra. Said Atra : Maybe it were well to let the 
 fetters abide on her ankles, lest the mistress should 
 come ; but for the wrists, reach out thine hands, 
 wayfarer. So did Birdalone, and Atra laid her things 
 on the grou nd, and unlocked the hand-shackles, and 
 did them off: and meanwhile Viridis spread forth 
 the banquet, partly on the floor, and partly on that 
 ill-omened coffer. Then she went up to Birdalone 
 and kissed her, and said : Now shalt thou sit in 
 our lady's throne, and we shall serve thee, and thou 
 shalt deem thee a great one. 
 
 Nought else would they have, and Birdalone laid 
 her nakedness on the purple cushions, and then they 
 fell all three to. the feast. The victual was both 
 plenteous and dainty, of venison and fowl, and cream 
 and fruits and sweetmeats, and good wine they had 
 withal : never had Birdalone feasted in like manner. 
 
90 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and the heart came back unto her, and her cheeks 
 grew rosy and her eyes glittered. But she said : 
 How if your lady were to come upon us here, and 
 we so merry ? Said Atra : Out of the chair must 
 thou when thou hearest the key in the lock, and 
 then is all well, and she would have nought against 
 us ; for she herself bade us, and me in special, to 
 keep thee company here, and talk with thee ; and 
 Aurea also would have been here, but that she is 
 serving the lady as now. Hath she then some pity 
 on me, said Birdalone, that she hath bidden thee 
 do by me what is most to my pleasure ? 
 
 Laughed Viridis thereat, and Atra said: She hath 
 no pity, nor ever shall have ; but so hard of heart 
 is she, that she may not deem that we could love 
 thee, a stranger, and unhappy, who can serve us 
 in nowise ; so she feareth not the abatement of thy 
 grief from any compassion of us. Rather she 
 hath sent us, and me in especial, not to comfort 
 thee, but to grieve thee by words ; for she biddeth 
 me tell thee fair tales, forsooth, of what to-morrow 
 shall be to thee, and the day after ; and of how she 
 shall begin on thee, and what shall follow the be- 
 ginning, and what thou mayst look for after that. 
 For by all this she deemeth to lower thy pride and 
 abate thy valour, and to make every moment of 
 to-day a terror to thy flesh and thy soul, so that 
 thereby thou mayest thole the bitterness twice over. 
 Such is her pity for thee ! And yet belike this 
 cruelty hath saved thee, for but for that she had 
 not refrained her from thee to-day, and to-morrow 
 thou shalt be far away from her. 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 9I 
 
 Meanwhile, said Viridis, in her soft sweet voice, 
 none of all these things will we talk over with thee, 
 but things comfortable and kind ; and we will tell 
 each to each of our story. Will we not, Atra? Yea, 
 verily, said she. 
 
 Birdalone looked upon them and said : Won- 
 drous is your compassion and loving-kindness unto 
 me, and scarce do I know how to bear the burden 
 thereof. But tell me one thing truly ; will ye not 
 suffer in my place when this witch cometh to know 
 that ye have stolen me away from her ? 
 
 Nay, said Atra, I have told thee that by to- 
 morrow she will have altogether, or at least almost, 
 forgotten thee and thy coming hither. Moreover, 
 she is foreseeing, and hath come to know that if she 
 raise a hand against any of us three, it will lead her 
 to her bane, save it be for heavy guilt clearly proven 
 against us. Forsooth, in the earlier days of our cap- 
 tivity such a guilt we fell into, and did not wholly 
 escape, as Viridis can bear me witness. But we are 
 now grown wiser, and know our mistress better, and 
 will give her no such joy. 
 
 Viridis cast her eyes down at those words and 
 Atra's smile, and turned red and then pale, and 
 Birdalone looked on her wondering what ailed her; 
 then she said : Do ye sisters work in the field 
 and the garden? I mean at milking the kine and 
 the goats, and digging the earth, and sowing and 
 reaping, and the like. Nay, said Atra ; either our 
 mistress, or someone else who is of marvellous 
 mio-ht, hath so ordained, that here everything wax- 
 eth of itself without tillage, or sowing or reaping, 
 
92 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 or any kind of tending ; and whatso we need of 
 other matters the mistress taketh it for us from out 
 of her Wonder-coffer, or suffereth us to take it for 
 ourselves. For thou must know that this land is 
 one of the Isles of the Lake, and is called the Isle 
 of Increase Unsought. 
 
 Meseemeth then, said Birdalone, were the mis- 
 tress of you to gainsay you the gifts of the Won- 
 der-coffer, ye were undone. Yea, verily, said 
 Atra ; then would be but the fruits of the earth 
 and the wild creatures for our avail, and these, we 
 have not learned how to turn them into dinner and 
 supper. And they all laughed thereat ; but Bird- 
 alone said : See ye then how I was right to offer 
 myself unto you as a servant, for in all matters of 
 the house and the byre and the field have I skill. 
 But since ye would not or could not have me, I 
 wonder not that ye be ill at ease here, and long to 
 be gone, for as plenteous and lovely as the isle is, 
 and though ye live here without present mishand- 
 ling or pining. For, sooth to say, ye have over 
 you a tyrant and a fool. 
 
 Viridis answered : Yet is there something else, 
 dear friend, that whets our longing to depart. 
 Tell her thereof, Atra. 
 
 Atra smiled and said : Simple it is : there are 
 they who long for us and for whom we long, and 
 we would be together. Said Birdalone : Be these 
 kinsfolk of yours, as fathers, mothers, sisters, 
 brothers, or the like ? 
 
 Reddened Viridis again ; but Atra spake, and 
 she also blushed somewhat, though she smiled : 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 93 
 
 Those whom we love, and who love us, be not 
 queans, but carles ; neither be they of our blood, 
 but aliens, till love overcometh them and causeth 
 them to long to be of one flesh with us ; and their 
 longing is beyond measure, and they desire our 
 bodies, which they deem far fairer than belike they 
 be. And they would bed us, and beget children 
 on us. And all this we let them do with a good 
 will, because we love them for their might, and 
 their truth, and the hotness of their love toward 
 us. 
 
 Looked up Viridis thereat, and her eyes gleamed 
 amidst the flushing of her cheeks, and she said : 
 Sister, sister ! even in such wise, and no other, as 
 they desire us do we desire them ; it is no mere 
 good will toward them from us, but longing and 
 hot love. 
 
 Now must Atra blush no less than Viridis ; yet 
 she but said : I have told thee hereof, Birdalone, 
 because I deem that thou hast lived simply and 
 without the sight of men ; but it is what all know 
 in the world of the sons of Adam. Said Bird- 
 alone : Thou sayest sooth concerning me. Yet 
 about this love have I learned somewhat even ere 
 to-day, and now, as ye speak and I, meseems the 
 lore of it comes pouring in on me and fills my 
 heart with its sweetness. And O, to have such 
 love from any, and with such love to be loved 
 withal ! 
 
 Dear sister, said little Viridis, fear not ; such as 
 thou shall not fail of the love of some man whom 
 thou must needs love. Is it not so, sister Atra ? 
 
94 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Said Atra : Yea ; such love shall come unto her 
 as surely as death. 
 
 They were silent now a little, and it was as if 
 some sweet incense had been burned within the 
 chamber. For Birdalone the colour came and went 
 in her cheeks, her flesh quaked, her heart beat 
 quick, and she was oppressed by the sweetness of 
 longing. More daintily she moved her limbs, and 
 laid foot to foot and felt the sleekness of her sides ; 
 and tender she was of her body as of that which 
 should one day be so sorely loved. 
 
 Now she spake timidly to the others, and said : 
 Each one of you then has a man who loves her, 
 and longs for her and for none else ? So it is, 
 said Viridis. How sweet that shall be ! said Bird- 
 alone ; and now all the more I wonder that ye 
 could trouble yourselves over me, or think of me 
 once; and the kinder I think it of you. 
 
 Said Atra smiling on her : Nay, now must the 
 cat be out of the bag, and I must tell thee that 
 thou art to think of us as chapmen who with our 
 kindness would buy something of thee, to wit, 
 that thou wouldst do an errand for us to those 
 three lovers of ours. Surely, said Birdalone, it 
 were a little payment to set against your saving of 
 my life and my soul ; and had I to go barefoot 
 over red gleeds I would do it. And yet, if I may 
 go hence to your lovers, why not all three of you 
 along with me ? 
 
 Said Atra : For this reason ; thy ferry, the Send- 
 ing Boat, wherein ye came hither, is even somewhat 
 akin to thy mistress and ours ; and the mistress 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 95 
 
 here hath banned it against bearing us ; and now, 
 were we so much as to touch it, such sore turmoil 
 would arise, and such hideous noise as if earth and 
 heaven were falling together ; and the lady would 
 be on us straightway, and we should be undone ; 
 and, as thou shalt hear presently, this hath been 
 proved. But thou, thou art free of the said ferry. 
 Forsooth I wot not why thy mistress banned it 
 not against thee ; maybe because she deemed not 
 that thou wouldst dare to use it or even go anigh 
 it. 
 
 Birdalone considered, and thought that even so 
 it was ; that the witch deemed that she would not 
 dare use the Sending Boat, nor know how to, even 
 if she came upon it, and that if she did so find it, 
 she would sicken her of the road thereto. So now 
 she told her friends the whole tale thereof more 
 closely than she had afore, save again what per- 
 tained to Habundia ; withal she told every word 
 of what her mistress had said to her at that time 
 when she changed her into a hind. And Viridis 
 heard and wondered, and pitied her. But Atra sat 
 somewhat downcast a while. Then she said : How- 
 ever this may be, we will send thee forth to-mor- 
 row in the dawn, and take the risk of what may 
 befall thereafter ; and thou shalt bear a token for 
 each of those three that love us. For we deem that 
 they have not forgotten aught, but are still seek- 
 ing us. 
 
 Birdalone said : Whatsoever ye bid me, that will 
 I do, and deem me your debtor still. But now I 
 pray you, pleasure a poor captive somewhat more. 
 
96 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Wherein ? said they both ; we be all ready thereto. 
 Said the maiden : Would ye do so much as to tell 
 me the tale of how ye came hither, and then how it 
 hath been with you from your first coming until 
 now ? With a good will, said Atra ; hearken ! 
 
CHAPTER VI. ATRA TELLS OF HOW 
 THEY THREE CAME UNTO THE ISLE 
 OF INCREASE UNSOUGHT. 
 
 WE were born and bred in the land that lies 
 southwest along this Great Water, and we 
 waxed happily, and became fellows when 
 we were yet but children, and thus grew up dear 
 friends into maidenhood and womanhood. We 
 were wooed by many men, but our hearts turned 
 to none of them save unto three, who were goodly, 
 .kind, and valiant ; and thou mayst call them the 
 Golden Knight, who is Aurea's man; the Green 
 
 f night, who is man of Viridis ; and my man, the 
 lack Squire. But in this was unhap, that be- 
 cause of certain feuds which had endured from old 
 time, this love was perilous unto them and us ; so 
 that we lived in doubt and unrest. 
 
 Came a day, now three years ago, when the king 
 of the whole land brought his folk into our lake- 
 side country, and there held a court and a mote in 
 a fair great meadow anigh to the water. But even 
 as the mote was hallowed, and the Peace of God 
 proclaimed at the blast of the war-horn, came we 
 three woeful ladies clad in black and knelt before 
 the lord king, and prayed him hearken us. And 
 he deemed that we were fair, so he had compassion 
 on us, and raised us up, and bade us speak. 
 
 So we told our tale, how that strife and wounds 
 and death stood betwixt us and love ; and we wept, 
 and bewailed it, that our love must be slain because 
 men were wroth with each other and not with us. 
 
98 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 The king looked on us kindly, and said : Who 
 be the swains for whom these lovely damsels make 
 such a piece of work ? So we named them, and 
 said that they were there in the mote ; and the king 
 knew them for valiant men who had done him good 
 service ; and he cried out their names, and bade 
 them stand forth out of the throng. So forth they 
 stood, the Golden Knight, the Green Knight, and 
 the Black Squire (and he also was now a knight) ; 
 but now were they all three clad in black, and they 
 were unarmed, save for their swords girt to their 
 sides, without which no man amongst us may come 
 to the mote, be he baron or earl or duke, or the 
 very lord king himself 
 
 So the king looked upon us and them, and 
 laughed and said : Fair ladies, ye have got me by 
 the nose, so needs must my body follow. Do ye 
 three knights, whom I know for valiant men and 
 true, take each his love by the hand, and let the 
 weddings be to-morrow. Who then were joyful 
 but us ? But even at the word the king spake arose 
 great turmoil in the mote, for they smote the feud 
 and contention awake, and men thronged forward 
 against each other, and swords were drawn and 
 brandished. But the king arose in his place and 
 spake long and deftly, and waxed exceeding wroth, 
 while none heeded him nor hearkened. And there 
 stood our three men, who laid no hand to hilt, but 
 abode heart-whole by seeming amid the tumult. 
 And lovely they were to look on. At last the wise 
 men and old barons went between, and by fair words 
 appeased the trouble, and the mote grew hushed. 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 99 
 
 Then spake the king : What is this, my thanes ? 
 1 had deemed that my foemen were far away, and 
 that ye that here are were all friends unto me and 
 unto each other. But now must we try another 
 rede. Therewith he turned unto our men and said : 
 Ye champions, are ye so much in love with Love 
 that ye will fight for him .'' They all yeasaid that, 
 and then the king said : Then do I declare that 
 these three will hold the field against all comers 
 from matins till high noon, and that he who van- 
 quisheth any one of them shall have his lady and 
 wed her if he will, and, if he will, shall ransom her. 
 And this field shall be foughten after two months' 
 frist in these fair meadows, when I return from the 
 outermost marches of the south, whereto I am now 
 wending. But when the battle is done, then let all 
 men bow to the judgment of God, whether he be 
 well content or not, and this on peril of life and 
 limb. And now let there be deep peace between 
 all men meanwhile ; and if any break the peace, be 
 he high or low, rich or unrich, churl or earl, I swear 
 it by the souls of my fathers that he shall lose 
 nought save his life therefor. 
 
 At these words was there a rumour of yeasay, 
 and all men were content, save we three poor maid- 
 ens, into whose hearts had now entered fear of loss 
 and death. 
 
 But our kindreds on both sides were glad and 
 proud, and they were not so bitter against us as 
 they had been ; they put hand to pouch, and let 
 rear for us a fair pavilion of painted timber, all 
 hung with silk and pictured cloths and Saracen 
 
lOO THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 tapestry, by the very lake-side ; and gay boats gaily 
 bedight lay off the said pavilion for our pleasure ; 
 and when all was done, it yet lacked a half month 
 of the day of battle, and thither were we brought 
 in triumph by the kindreds on a fair day of May, 
 and there was not a sword or a spear amongst the 
 whole company, and peaceful and merry was all by 
 seeming. But we were not suffered to meet our 
 lovers all this while, from the time when the mote 
 was. 
 
 Now on a day came a messenger on the spur, 
 and did us to wit that the king would be with us 
 on the morrow, and that the day after, the fateful 
 field should be foughten. Then, though the com- 
 ing of this day had been so longed for by us, yet 
 now it was at hand it cast us into all unrest and 
 trouble, so that we scarce knew whether to go, or 
 stand, or sit, or what to do with our bodies. Our 
 folk, and all other men withal, were so busy 
 making ready for the morrow of to-morrow, that 
 they left us alone to wear through the day as we 
 might. 
 
 Now it was afternoon, and the day hot and hazy, 
 and we stood on the very lip of the land wearied 
 with hope and fear, and striving to keep good 
 countenance to each other ; and there came a boat 
 unto the shore gaily painted and gilded, and be- 
 dight with silken cloths and cushions ; and the 
 steerer thereof was a woman, not young, by seeming 
 of fifty winters ; red-haired she was, thin-lipped and 
 narrow-eyed, flat-breasted and strait-hipped ; an 
 ungoodly woman, though her skin was white and 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES ici 
 
 smooth as for her age. Hast thou ever seen such 
 an one, guest ? Said Birdalone, smiHng : Forsooth 
 that have I ; for such an one is my mistress to 
 behold. 
 
 Well, said Atra, this dame stretched out her 
 hands to us, and said : Will not the pretty ladies, 
 the dear ladies, who have nought on hand this 
 afternoon, come into my boat and look on the face 
 of the water, so calm and fair as it is, and let their 
 lovely hands go over the gunwale and play with 
 the ripple, and so beguile this heavy time for a 
 two hours ; and then give a little gift of a piece or 
 two of silver to a poor carline, who loveth all fair 
 ladies and bright warriors, and who needeth a little 
 livelihood ? 
 
 Now the woman seemed nought lovely unto us, 
 and to me forsooth she seemed hateful ; but we 
 looked on each other, and we found that we were 
 utterly weary of going up and down on the meadow, 
 and lying about in the pavilion, and it seemed as 
 if this would give us a little rest ; withal we saw 
 not that the woman could do us any hurt, whereas 
 we were three, and strong enough as women go ; 
 nor were we mariners so evil but that we might 
 sail or steer a boat at a pinch. So we stepped into 
 the boat straightway, and the woman sat aft and 
 paddled deftly with the steering oar, and we glided 
 away from the land. 
 
 Soon we were come so far that we could but just 
 see our pavilion through the haze, which had some- 
 what thickened, and we said to the woman that 
 she should go about and make for the shore, and 
 
I02 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 that then we would go to and fro a while along by 
 our stead. She nodded yeasay, and began by seem- 
 ing to dight the craft for return. But therewith 
 the haze was grown suddenly into a low cloud, 
 which came down upon us from the south-west in 
 the arms of a cold breeze, that grew stronger every 
 minute, so no wonder it was though the steerer 
 might not keep head to wind ; and then who was 
 afraid and ashamed save ourselves ? 
 
 But the woman said, and there seemed to be a 
 mock in her voice : 111 luck, pretty ladies ! Now 
 is there nought for it but to drive, if we would not 
 drown. But belike this duskiness will clear pres- 
 ently, and then at least we shall know whither we 
 be going ; and we may either turn back, or seek 
 some other shelter, for I know the lake well ; I 
 know, I know. 
 
 We were too terror-stricken to speak, for we felt 
 that still the wind grew stronger, and the lake be- 
 gan to rise into waves, and the craft to wallow ; 
 but well-nigh therewith was the dusk and the mist 
 gone ; the sky was bright blue overhead, and the 
 westering sun shone cloudless ; but on no land it 
 shone, or on aught save the blue waters and the 
 white wave-crests. 
 
 Then wept Aurea, and this Viridis here, but as 
 to me, I grew wroth and cried out to the steerer : 
 Accursed carline ! thou hast betrayed us ; never 
 now may we get back to our pavilion till the fight 
 is foughten, and our lovers will deem that we have 
 forsaken them, and we are shamed for ever. Well, 
 well, said the carline, what remedy save patience 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 103 
 
 for the winds and waves ? And she laughed 
 mockingly. Quoth I : There is this remedy, 
 that we three arise and lay hands on thee, and 
 cast thee outboard, save thou straightway turn 
 the boat's head and back to the main. Forsooth 
 I doubt not but that as thou hast raised this 
 foul wind against us, thou canst raise a fair wind 
 for us. 
 
 Hearken to the lovely lady ! quoth the carline, 
 how she deemeth me to be none other than the great 
 God himself, to hold the winds in the hollow of 
 my hand, and still the waves with a word ! What ! 
 am I wrought somewhat after his image, kind 
 ladies? And she grinned horribly therewith. Then 
 she said again : As to thy remedy, sweetling, me- 
 seemeth it nought. For how shall ye sail this 
 stormy water when your captain is gone, and ye 
 but holiday sailors belike ? 
 
 As she spake, a great wave came up from the 
 windward, and brake over us, and half filled the 
 craft, and lifted her bows up towering, and then 
 down we went into the trough ; and I sat cowed 
 and quaking, and spake never another word. 
 
 Now began the sun to sink, and the wind abated, 
 and the sea went down, but the boat sped on as 
 swift as ever over the landless waters. 
 
 Now the sun was down, and dusk was at hand, 
 and the carline spake, and drew a bright-gleaming 
 sax from under her raiment : Damsels, I warn you 
 that now it were best that ye obey me in all things ; 
 for though ye be three and I one, yet whereas I 
 have here an edge-friend, I may take the life of 
 
I04 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 any one of you, or of all three, as simply as I could 
 cut a lamb's throat. Moreover it will serve you 
 better in the house whereto ye are wending, that 
 I make a good tale of you rather than a bad. For 
 the mistress of that house is of all might ; and I 
 must say it of her, though she is my very sister, 
 yet she is not so sweet-tempered and kind of heart 
 as I am, but somewhat rough and unyielding of 
 mood, so that it is best to please her. Wherefore, 
 maidens, I rede you be sage. 
 
 Our unhappy hearts were now so sunken in wan- 
 hope, that we had no word wherewith to answer 
 her, and she spake : Now obey ye my bidding 
 and eat and drink, that ye may come hale and 
 sound to your journey's end, for I would not give 
 starvelings to my dear sister. Therewith she 
 brought forth victual for us, and that nought evil, 
 of flesh and bread, and cheese and cakes, and good 
 wine withal ; and we were hunger-weary as well as 
 sorrow-weary ; and hunger did at that moment 
 overcome sorrow, so we ate and drank, and, would 
 we, would we not, something of heart came back 
 to us thereby. Then again spake the carline : 
 Now my will is that ye sleep ; and ye have cush- 
 ions and cloths enough to dight you a fair bed ; 
 and this bidding is easy for you to obey. Forsooth, 
 so weary were we with sorrow, and our hunger 
 was now quenched, that we laid us down and slept 
 at once, and forgat our troubles. 
 
 When we awoke it was after the first dawn, 
 and we were come aland even where thou didst 
 this morning, guest. And thou mayst deem it 
 
 1 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 105 
 
 wondrous, but so it was, that close to where our 
 boat took land lay the ferry which brought thee 
 hither. 
 
 Now the carline bade us get ashore, and we did 
 so, and found the land wondrous fair, little as that 
 solaced us then. But she said unto us : Hearken ! 
 now are ye come home ; and long shall ye dwell 
 here, for never shall ye depart hence save by the will 
 of my sister and me, wherefore, once more, I rede 
 you be good, for it will be better for you. Go forth 
 now unto yonder house, and on the way ye shall 
 meet the Oueen of this land, and ye have nought to 
 do but to say to her that ye are the Gift ; and then 
 shall she see to your matter. 
 
 Therewith she gat into her own craft, the Send- 
 ing Boat, and therein did the deed and spake the 
 words ye wot of, and was gone north-away ; and 
 when we turned to seek for our boat wherein we 
 had come hither, it was gone. 
 
 We stood miserably for a while on the lip of the 
 land, and then I said that we might as well go meet 
 our fate as die there of grief and hunger. So we 
 went, and came into those fair gardens, and as we 
 went slowly up toward the house came on us a 
 woman clad in red scarlet and grandly dight. A 
 big woman she was, and like to her that beguiled 
 us, but far younger and fairer of favour, foolish and 
 proud of visage. She stared on us, and seemed 
 half afeard of us at first, but asked us what we 
 were, and I answered that we were the Gift. The 
 Gift ? said she, what meaneth that ? Will ye obey 
 me in all things ? If ye gainsay it, ye will perish, 
 
Io6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 unless ye can eat grass ; for on this isle everything 
 Cometh from my hand. 
 
 What might we do ? We all knelt down before 
 her, and swore to do her will. Then she said, after 
 she had stared on us a while : Now I know : ye are 
 they of whom my sister spake, that she would fetch 
 me a gift of a leash of damsels for my service. 
 Now I take the Gift and thank her good heart. 
 But if ye would do my will, then . . . But she 
 broke off here and stared at us a long while, and 
 then she said : Now I know ; she bade me treat 
 you well, and hold my hand from you, or evil would 
 come of it, belike at last my bane. So go ye home 
 to the house, and I will give you meat and drink, 
 and show you my stores and the Wonder-coffer, 
 and ye shall serve me in honour. 
 
 Even so did we ; and we ate and drank and 
 rested, and nought we lacked, save leave to depart 
 home to our lovers, and some mistress better than 
 this stupid and proud lump of flesh. But the next 
 '\ morning when we came before the lady, she knew 
 nought of what we were ; and again we had to tell 
 her that we were the Gift, and again she glared at 
 us balefully, and again she called to mind her sis- 
 ter and her rede concerning us. And this went on 
 for many days, till at last she got to know what we 
 were ; and she followed her sister's rede in that she 
 never mishandled us, though we could see that it 
 irked her to forbear, nor did she speak to us more 
 roughly than her fool's wont was ; and we had in 
 our hands all that was needed for our sustenance, 
 and lived easily enough. 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 107 
 
 Now our coming hither betid three years ago, 
 and a month thereafter comes thy witch hither in 
 her ferry, and she greeted us when we met, and 
 asked us, grinning, had she not been kind to win 
 us such good days ? Yea, and over kind, said she, 
 ye would deem me, knew ye what would have betid 
 you save for my good word. Forsooth we deemed 
 it no kind deed to steal us from our lovers ; but we 
 kept good tongues in our heads, for thralls must 
 needs kiss the rod. 
 
 She went away in two days, but came again many 
 times thereafter, till we won the secret of the Send- 
 ing Boat, and her spell therewith ; but we knew 
 not that was banned against us. Wherefore on a 
 day in the grey of the morning, when we had been 
 on this isle somewhat less than a year, we went 
 down to it and stepped in, and reddened stem and 
 stern and said the spell-words. But straightway 
 arose an hideous braying and clatter, and thunder 
 came therewith, and trembling of the earth, and 
 the waters of the lake arose in huge waves ; nor 
 might we move from our seats in the boat till the 
 two witches came running down to us, and haled 
 us out ashore, and had us up into the house, and 
 into this very prison-chamber, wherein we are now 
 sitting so merry. And here we bore what was 
 laid upon us, whereof, dear guest, we shall tell thee 
 nought. But this came of it, that never thereafter 
 durst we try the adventure of the Sending Boat, 
 but have lived on in lazy sorrow and shameful ease, 
 till thou, dear guest and sister, wert sent hither by 
 heaven for our helping. 
 
lo8 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Now what became of the king's court, and the 
 hazelled field of our champions, we wot not, or 
 whether they be yet alive we cannot tell thee ; but 
 if they be alive, it is to them that we would have 
 thee do our errand, and thereof will we tell thee 
 closely to-morrow. And so, sweetling, an end of 
 my tale. 
 
CHAPTER VII. THE THREE DAM- 
 SELS TAKE BIRDALONE OUT OF THE 
 WITCH'S PRISON. 
 
 BIRDALONE thanked Atra much for her tale, 
 and strange it was to her to hear of such new 
 things and the deeds of folk ; but the dealing 
 of the witches with those three was familiar to her 
 and was of her world. 
 
 Now they talked merrily, till there came a foot- 
 step to the door and one without knocked. Viridis 
 paled thereat, and a pang of fear smote Birdalone, 
 and she swiftly got from out the chair and sat down 
 on a stool ; but when Atra opened, it was but Aurea 
 come from her service to bid Atra take her place. 
 So she went, and again was there pleasant converse 
 betwixt Aurea and the other twain; and certain 
 matters did Aurea tell Birdalone which had been 
 left untold by Atra. And chiefly, when Birdalone 
 asked if any other folk had come into the isle while 
 they dwelt there, she said yea ; once had come a 
 knight with a lady, his love, fleeing from war and 
 mishap, and these had the witch overcome by wiz- 
 ardry, and destroyed them miserably : and that 
 again another had strayed thither, and him also the 
 witch undid, because he would not do her will and 
 lie in her bed. Withal had come drifting there a 
 young damsel, a castaway of the winds and waves ; 
 her the witch kept as a thrall, and after a while took 
 to mishandling her so sorely, that at last, what for 
 shame and what for weariness of life, she cast her- 
 self into the water and was drowned. None of these 
 
no THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 folk might the damsels help so as to do them any 
 good, though they tried it, and went nigh to suffer 
 therefor themselves. 
 
 Now the day wore, and in a while Atra came 
 back, and Viridis must serve. At last the dusk and 
 the dark was come. Then said Atra : Now must 
 we twain begone to wait upon our lady, as the wont 
 is : and that is now for our good hap, for if we be 
 with her all three, and especially, to say sooth, if 
 I be with her, we may well keep her from visiting 
 thee here ; since belike she shall yet dimly remem- 
 ber that thou art in her prison. Therefore thou 
 must forgive it if I shackle thy wrists again. And 
 now if thou wilt follow my rede, thou shalt try to 
 sleep some deal, and it were well if thou might'st 
 sleep till we come for thee in the grey dawn. 
 
 Therewith they left her there, and she nestled 
 in the corner once more, and there did verily fall 
 asleep, and slept till the key in the lock and the 
 opening door awakened her, and Atra came stealing 
 soft-footed into the prison. Eager she was and 
 panting, and she kneeled before Birdalone and 
 unlocked her leg-shackles, and then stood up and 
 did the like by the irons on her wrists. Then she 
 said : Look up, dear friend, to thy prison windows, 
 and behold the dawn beginning to break on the day 
 of thy deliverance, and ours maybe. But come now 
 at once : and again, wilt thou pardon me, that we 
 clothe thee not here for thy journey ? For from 
 our own bodies must we clothe thee, and if by any 
 hap our lady were to see any one of us more or 
 less unclad, it might draw her on to see what was 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES III 
 
 toward, and we might yet be found out, for our 
 undoing. 
 
 Therewith she took her hand, and led her forth 
 of the prison, and locked the door behind her ; 
 and then downstairs they went, and out-a-doors by 
 a little wicket at the stair-end. The dawn drew on 
 apace now, and Birdalone saw at once the other 
 twain lurking in the wall-nook hard by. No word 
 was spoken between them, and with noiseless feet 
 they went forth into the orchard, where the black- 
 birds and thrushes were beginning their first morn- 
 ing song, and ere they came out on to the meadow 
 the full choir of them was a-singing. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. IN WHAT WISE 
 BIRDALONE WAS CLAD, AND HOW 
 SHE WENT HER WAYS FROM THE 
 ISLE OF INCREASE UNSOUGHT. 
 
 WHEN they were all clear of the orchard 
 trees the three damsels kept Birdalone be- 
 tween them closely, so that her white body 
 should not be seen if the lady were awake and look- 
 ing forth. Thus they brought her to where a few 
 thorn-bushes made a cover for them close to the 
 water's edge, some twenty yards from the Sending 
 Boat. There they stood together, and Atra said : 
 Now, dear guest, and dearest messenger, it is our 
 matter to clothe thee from our very bodies ; and 
 do thou, Viridis, begin. 
 
 Viridis came forward blushing, as her wont was, 
 and took off her green gown and laid it on the grass ; 
 then she set her hand to her smock, and did it off, 
 and stood naked, knee set to knee, and swaying 
 like the willow branch ; and then was seen all the 
 dainty fashion of her body, and how lovely of hue 
 and sweet of flesh she was. 
 
 But she said: Dear sister Birdalone, here is my 
 smock, which I lend thee, but as to my love, I give 
 it thee therewith ; therefore grudge it not, though 
 thou give me back the linen, for happy will be the 
 day to me when I have it again ; for now none may 
 do it on me save the Green Knight, my own love. 
 Therewith she gave her the smock, and kissed her, 
 and Birdalone did it on, and felt the valianter and 
 mightier when she had a garment upon her. 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 113 
 
 Then Aurea did off her golden gown, and stood 
 in smock alone, so that her naked arms shone more 
 precious than the golden sleeves that had covered 
 them. And she spake : Birdalone, dear messen- 
 ger, take now my golden gown, and send it back 
 to me when thou hast found the man unto whom 
 it is due ; and think meanwhile that, when thou 
 wearest it, thou wearest my love, and that when 
 thou pullest it off, thou art clad with my love in- 
 stead of it. 
 
 So Birdalone did on the gown, and became to 
 look on as the daintiest of the queens of the earth ; 
 and she turned her head about to look on her gold- 
 clad flanks, and wondered. 
 
 Thereafter Atra knit up her skirts into her girdle, 
 and then did off her shoon, so that her slim feet 
 shone like pearls on the green grass ; and she said : 
 Birdalone, sweet friend ! wilt thou be my messen- 
 ger to bear these shoon to my Black Squire, and 
 meanwhile put my love for thee under thy feet, to 
 speed thee and to bear thee up ? Wherefore be good 
 to me. 
 
 Birdalone then shod herself, and though pity it 
 were to hide her feet from the eyes of Earth, yet 
 felt she the stouter-hearted thereby, and her cheeks 
 flushed and her eyes brightened. 
 
 Thereafter Aurea gave her withal a golden col- 
 lar for the neck, and Viridis a girdle of silver well- 
 wrought, and Atra a gold finger-ring set with a 
 sapphire stone ; and all these she did on her ; but 
 yet she knew that they were tokens to be delivered 
 to the three lovers according as was due. 
 
114 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Then spake Atra : Lo, sister, we pray thee to 
 bear these lendings on thy body in such wise that 
 when thou comest to the mainland they may be 
 seen by knights seeking adventures, and that thou 
 mayst answer to any who may challenge thee there- 
 of, and say that thou bearest this raiment and these 
 jewels from Aurea and Viridis and Atra to Bau- 
 doin the Golden Knight, and to Hugh the Green 
 Knight, and to Arthur the Black Squire. And if 
 thou deem that thou hast found these, then shall 
 they tell thee a token, such as we shall tell thee, 
 that they be truly these and none other ; and there- 
 after, when thou art made sure, they shall take of 
 thee the raiment, the gems, and the Sending Boat, 
 and come hither if they may. And God look to 
 the rest ! But as for the token to be told afore- 
 said, we have determined that each of us shall tell 
 thee privily what question thou shalt ask for her, 
 and what answer thou must look for. 
 
 When she had done speaking, each came up to 
 Birdalone and spake something into her ear amidst 
 blushes enough forsooth. And what they said will 
 be seen hereafter. Then again said Atra : Now 
 by this errand shall we be well paid for the care we 
 have had of thee. It may be, forsooth, that thou 
 shalt not find our speech-friends ; for they may be 
 dead, or they may deem us untrue, and may have 
 forsaken us and their land ; and in any such case 
 thou art free of our errand ; but whatsoever may 
 betide us, God speed thee ! 
 
 Then Viridis drew forth a basket from under a 
 bush, and said : We know not how long thy voy- 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 1 15 
 
 age may be, but some little provision for the way 
 we may at least give thee: now wilt thou bear this 
 aboard thyself, for we dare not touch thy craft, nay, 
 nor come nigh it, no one of us. And she set down 
 the basket and cast her arms about her, and kissed 
 her and wept over her ; and the other twain, they 
 also kissed her lovingly. Birdalone wept even as 
 Viridis, and said : May ye do well, who have been 
 so kind to me ; but now am I both so glad and so 
 sorry, that the voice of me will not make due words 
 for me. O farewell ! 
 
 Therewith she took up her basket, and turned 
 and went speedily to the Sending Boat ; and they 
 beheld her how she stepped aboard and bared her 
 arm, and drew blood from it with the pin of her 
 girdle-buckle, and therewith reddened stem and 
 stern ; and a pang of fear smote into their hearts 
 lest their lady had banned it for Birdalone as for 
 them. But Birdalone sat down on the thwart, and 
 turned her face south, and spake : 
 
 The red raven-wine now 
 
 Hast thou drunk, stern and bow ; 
 
 Awake then, awake ! 
 
 And the southward way take : 
 
 The way of the Wender forth over the flood. 
 
 For the will of the Sender is blent with the blood. 
 
 No cloud barred the gateway of the sun as she 
 spoke ; no wave rose upon the bosom of the lake ; 
 no clatter nor tumult was there ; but the Sending 
 Boat stirred, and then shot out swiftly into the 
 wide water ; and the sun arose as they looked, 
 and his path of light flashed on Birdalone's golden 
 
Il6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 gown for a moment, and then it grew grey again, 
 and presently she was gone from before their eyes. 
 So they turned up into the orchard : and now 
 was Viridis of good cheer, and Aurea no less ; but 
 Atra lagged behind, and as she went, some passion 
 took her, she knew not wherefore ; her bosom 
 swelled, her shoulders heaved therewith, and she 
 wept. 
 
CHAPTER IX. HOW BIRDALONE 
 CAME TO THE ISLE OF THE YOUNG 
 AND THE OLD. 
 
 ALL went well with Birdalone when she had 
 left the Isle of Increase Unsought, much 
 as it had on her first voyage, save that now 
 she was both clad and victualled, and her heart, 
 if yet it harboured fear, was also full of new and 
 strange hope ; and oft, even as she sat there amidst 
 the waste of waters, she wondered what new long- 
 ing this was which wrought so sweet a pain in her, 
 that it made her cheeks burn, and her eyes dim, 
 and her hands and her limbs restless. And then 
 would she set her mind to her friends and their 
 errand, and would hope and pray for them ; but 
 again would she fall to picture to herself what 
 manner of men they were who were so sore longed 
 for by those three beauteous women ; and she 
 deemed that since they were thus desired, they 
 must be fairer even than her friends of the isle ; 
 and again the nameless longing overtook her, and 
 held her till it wearied her into sleep. 
 
 When she awoke again the boat had stayed, and 
 she was come aland ; but the dawn was not yet 
 come, and the night was moonless, yet was there 
 light enough to see, from the water and the stars, 
 that the bows of the boat were lying safe on a 
 little sandy beach. So she stepped out and looked 
 around, and deemed she could see great trees be- 
 fore her, and imagined also dark masses of she 
 knew not what. So she walked warily up the 
 
Il8 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 said strand till she came on to soft grass, and 
 smelled the scent of the clover as her foot-soles 
 crushed it. There she sat down, and presently- 
 lay along and went to sleep. 
 
 After a while she awoke, and felt happy and well 
 at ease, and had no will to move : the sun was 
 shining brightly, but had not been up long : the 
 song of birds was all about her, but amidst it she 
 deemed she heard some speech of man, though it 
 were not like to what she had heard in her life be- 
 fore. So she raised herself on her elbow, and 
 looked up and saw a new thing, and sat up now, 
 and beheld and wondered. 
 
 For there stood before her, gazing wide-eyed 
 on her, two little children, some three winters of 
 age, a man and a woman as it seemed. The man- 
 child with light and fine white-golden hair, falling 
 straight down and square over his brow, and blue- 
 grey eyes which were both kind and merry, and 
 shyly seeking as it were. Plump and rosy he was, 
 sturdy and stout-limbed. No less fair was the 
 woman ; her hair golden-brown, as oft it is with 
 children who grow up dark-haired, and curling in 
 fair little rings all over her head ; her eyes were 
 big and dark grey ; she was thinner than the lad, 
 and somewhat taller. 
 
 These two babes had between them a milk-white 
 she-goat, and had been playing with her, and now 
 she turned her head to this and that one of them, 
 bleating, as if to crave more of the game ; but they 
 had no eyes for her, but stood staring with might 
 and main on the new-comer and her shining golden 
 gown. 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 1 19 
 
 Birdalone laughed with joy when she saw the 
 Httle ones, and a dim memory of the days of Ut- 
 terhay passed before her : she stretched out a hand 
 to them, and spake softly and caressingly, and the 
 little lad came forward smiling, and took her hand, 
 and made as if he would help her up for courtesy's 
 sake. She laughed on him, and arose ; and when 
 she stood up, tall and golden, he seemed somewhat 
 afeard of so big a creature, but stood his ground 
 valiantly. Then she stooped down to him and 
 kissed him, and he naysaid her not, but seemed 
 rather glad when it was over ; but when Birdalone 
 went to the little maid, and kissed her, the child 
 clung to her as if she were her mother, and babbled 
 to her. 
 
 Then comes the lad to her, and takes her hand, 
 and would draw her away, and speaks to her in 
 his prattle, and she understood him to mean that 
 she should come with him to see the father. So 
 she went, wondering what should next betide ; 
 and the little maiden went on the other side of her, 
 holding by a fold of her skirt. Forsooth the goat 
 followed bleating, not well pleased to be forgotten. 
 
 Now had Birdalone time to look about her, 
 though the two babes fell to prattling with her in 
 their way, and she thought it sweet to look down on 
 the two little faces that looked up to her so pleased 
 and merry. 
 
 She was in a grassy plain, somewhat over rough 
 and broken to be called a meadow, and not enough 
 be-timbered to be called a wood ; it rose up a little 
 and slowly as they left the water, but scarce so much 
 
I20 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 as one might call it a hill. Straight before her on 
 the way that they were going went up into the air 
 great masses of grey stone buiided by man's hand, 
 but looking, even from this way off, ragged and 
 ruinous. It may well be thought that Birdalone 
 wondered what things might lie betwixt the trees 
 and the towers. 
 
 Now as they went they came on other goats, who 
 seemed tame, and these joined them to their fellow, 
 and suffered the younglings to play with them. 
 Moreover there were rabbits great plenty scuttling 
 in and out of the brakes and the rough ground upon 
 the way, and the younglings beheld them, and the 
 little lad said, after his fashion : Why do the rab- 
 bits run away from us, and the goats follow us ? 
 Now, sooth to say, Birdalone scarce knew why, and 
 had no word ready for the child ; but she said at 
 last : Mayhappen they will come to me ; so it was 
 once when I dwelt away from here. Shall I go fetch 
 thee one ? The little ones yeasaid that, though 
 somewhat shyly and doubtfully. Then said Bird- 
 alone : Do ye, sweetlings, abide me here, and go 
 not away. They nodded their heads thereat, and 
 Birdalone kilted her skirts and went her ways to 
 some broken bushed ground, where was a many 
 rabbits playing about ; but she went not out of eye- 
 shot of the babes. Before she was well-nigh to the 
 little beasts, she fell to talking to them in a low 
 sweet voice, as had been her wont when she was 
 little ; and when they heard it, those who had not 
 scuttled away at first glance of her, fell to creep- 
 ing little short creeps one to the other, as their 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES I2I 
 
 manner is when they be alone together and merry ; 
 and they suffered her to come quite amongst them, 
 and crept about her feet while she stood, still talk- 
 ing unto them. Then she stooped down and took 
 up one in her arms and caressed it, and then laid 
 him down and took up another, and so with three 
 or four of them ; and she fell to pushing them, and 
 rolling them over with her foot; then she turned 
 a little away from them toward the children, and 
 then a little more, and the rabbits fell to following 
 her, and she turned and took up one in her arms, 
 and went straight on toward the children, but turn- 
 ing and talking to the rabbits now and again. 
 
 As to the babes, she saw the goats, of whom were 
 now a dozen, or thereabouts, standing together in 
 a kind of ring, and the little ones going from one 
 to the other playing with them happily. But pres- 
 ently the lad turned and saw her coming with her 
 tail of little beasts, and he cried out a great Oh ! 
 and ran toward her straightway, and the maiden 
 after him ; and he held out his arms to have the 
 rabbit she bore, and she gave it to him smiling, and 
 said : Lo now ! here be pretty playmates ; but look 
 to it that ye be soft and kind with them, for they 
 are but feeble people. So the younglings fell to 
 sporting with their new friends, and for a little for- 
 gat both goats and golden lady ; but the goats drew 
 nigh, and stood about them bleating, nor durst they 
 run at the rabbits to butt them, because of Bird- 
 alone and the little ones. 
 
 There then stood the slim maiden, tall and gleam- 
 ing above her little flock ; and her heart was full of 
 
122 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 mirth and rest, and the fear was all forgotten. But 
 as she looked up toward the grey walls, lo, new 
 tidings to hand ! For she saw an old man with a 
 long white beard slowly coming toward them : she 
 started not, but abode his coming quietly, and as 
 he drew nigh she could see of him that he was big 
 and stark, and, old as he was, not yet bowed with 
 his many years. He stood looking on this Queen 
 and her court silently a while, and then he spake : 
 Such a sight I looked not to see on this Isle of the 
 Young and the Old. She said : But meseemeth 
 it is full meet that these younglings should sport 
 with the creatures. He smiled and said : Such a 
 voice I looked not to hear on the Isle of the Young 
 and the Old. 
 
 Birdalone became somewhat troubled, and said : 
 Am I welcome here ? for if I be not, I will pray 
 thy leave to depart. He said : Thou art as wel- 
 come as the very spring, my child ; and if thou have 
 a mind to abide here, who shall naysay thee ^ For 
 surely thou art young; nay, in regard to me thou 
 art scarce older than babes. All blessings be with 
 thee. But though thou art true and kind, as is 
 clear to be seen by thy playing with these children 
 and the landward beasts in peace and love, yet 
 it may be so that thou hast brought hither some- 
 what less than peace. And he smiled upon her 
 strangely. 
 
 She looked somewhat scared at his last words, 
 and said : But how so ? If I might I would bear 
 nought but peace and happiness to any place. The 
 old carle laughed outright now, and said : How 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 123 
 
 so, dear child ? because ladies so sweet and love- 
 some as thou be sent by love, and love rendeth 
 apart that which was joined together. 
 
 She wondered at his word, and was bewildered 
 by it, but she held her peace ; and he said : Now 
 we may talk hereof later on ; but the matter to 
 hand now is the quenching of thine hunger ; for 
 I will not ask thee whereby thou earnest, since by 
 water thou needs must have come. Wherefore 
 now I bid thee to our house, and these little ones 
 shall go with us, and the three of these horned 
 folk whom we are wont to tether amidst the wrack 
 and ruin of what once was fair ; the rest have our 
 leave to depart, and these nibblers also ; for we 
 have a potherb garden by our house, and are fain 
 to keep the increase of the same for ourselves. 
 Birdalone laughed, and shook her skirts at the 
 coneys, and they all scuttled away after the man- 
 ner of their kind. Thereat the little lad looked 
 downcast and well-nigh tearful, but the maid 
 stamped her foot, and roared well-favouredly. 
 
 Birdalone did her best to solace her, and plucked 
 a bough from a hawthorn bush far above the 
 little ones' reach whereon was yet some belated 
 blossom, and gave it to her and stilled her. But 
 the old man picked out his milch-goats from the 
 flock (whereof was the white), and drave them 
 before him, while the two babes went on still be- 
 side Birdalone, the little carle holding her hand 
 and playing with the fingers thereof, the maiden 
 sometimes hanging on to her gown, sometimes 
 going loose and sporting about beside her. 
 
124 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 So came they to where the ground became 
 smoother, and there was a fair piece of greensward 
 in a nook made by those great walls and towers, 
 which sheltered it from the north. The said walls 
 seemed to be the remnant of what had once been 
 a great house and castle ; and up aloft, where was 
 now no stair to come at them, were chimneys and 
 hearths here and there, and windows with fair seats 
 in them, and arched doors and carven pillars, and 
 many things beautiful , but now was all ruined 
 and broken, and the house was roofless and floor- 
 less : withal it was overgrown with ash -trees and 
 quicken-beam, and other berry-trees and key- 
 trees, which had many years ago seeded in the 
 rent walls, and now grew there great and flourish- 
 ing. But in the innermost nook of this mighty 
 remnant, and using for its lowly walls two sides 
 of the ancient ashlar ones, stood a cot builded not 
 over trimly of small wood, and now much over- 
 grown with roses and woodbine. In front of it 
 was a piece of garden ground, wherein waxed pot- 
 herbs, and a little deal of wheat ; and therein was 
 a goodly row of bee-skeps ; and all without it was 
 the pleasant greensward aforesaid, wherein stood 
 three great ancient oaks, and divers thorns, which 
 also were ancient after their kind. 
 
 The elder led his guest into the cot, which had 
 but simple plenishing of stools and benches, and 
 a table unartful, and then went to tether his goats 
 in the ruined hall of the house, and the children 
 must needs with him, though Birdalone had been 
 glad of one of them at least ; but there was no 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 125 
 
 nay, but that they must go see their dear white 
 goat in her stall. Howsoever all three came back 
 again presently, the old carle with a courteous 
 word in his mouth, and he took Birdalone's hand, 
 and kissed it and bade her welcome to his house, 
 as though he had been a great lord at home in his 
 own castle. Therewith must the little ones also 
 kiss her hand and be courteous ; and Birdalone 
 suffered it, laughing, and then caught them up in 
 her arms, and clipped and kissed them well-favour- 
 edly ; wherewith belike they were not over-well 
 pleased, though the boy endured it kindly. There- 
 after the elder set forth his banquet, which was 
 simple enough : upland cheer of cream and honey, 
 and rough bread ; but sweet it was to Birdalone to 
 eat it with good welcome, and the courtesy of the 
 old man. 
 
 When they were done, they went out-a-doors, 
 and Birdalone and the old man laid them down 
 under an oak-tree, and the children sported about 
 anigh them. Then spake Birdalone: Old man, 
 thou hast been kind unto me ; but now wouldest 
 thou tell me about thee, what thou art, and what 
 are these walls about us here ? Said he : I doubt 
 if I may do so, this day at least. But belike thou 
 shalt abide with us, and then some day the word 
 may come into my mouth. She held her peace, 
 and into her mind it came that it would be sweet 
 to dwell there, and watch those fair children wax- 
 ing, and the lad growing up and loving her ; yea, 
 even she fell to telling up the years which would 
 make him a man, and tried to see herself, how she 
 
126 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 would look, when the years were worn thereto. 
 Then she reddened at the untold thought, and 
 looked down and was silent. But the elder looked 
 on her anxiously, and said: It will be no such 
 hard life for thee, for I have still some work in 
 me, and thou mayst do something in spite of thy 
 slender and delicate fashion. She laughed mer- 
 rily, and said : Forsooth, good sire, I might do 
 somewhat more than something ; for I am deft in 
 all such work as here ye need ; so fear not but I 
 should earn my livelihood, and that with joy. 
 Merry days shall we have then, said he. 
 
 But therewith her eye caught the gleam of her 
 golden sleeve, and she thought of Aurea, and her 
 heart smote her for her errand ; then she laid 
 her hand on her girdle and called to mind little 
 Viridis, and the glitter of the ring on her finger 
 brought the image of Atra before her ; then she 
 rose up and said : Thou art kind, father, but I may 
 not ; I have an errand ; this day must I depart from 
 thee. He said : Thou hast broken my heart ; if 
 I were not so old, I would weep. And he hung 
 adown his head. 
 
 She stood before him abashed, as if she had done 
 him a wrong. At last he looked up and said : 
 Must it be to-day .'' Wilt thou not abide with us 
 night-long, and go thy ways in the early morning ? 
 
 Now she scarce knew how to gainsay him, so 
 wretched as the old carle looked ; so it came to this, 
 that she yeasaid the abiding till to-morrow. Then 
 suddenly he became gay and merry, and he kissed 
 her hand, and fell to much speaking, telling tales of 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 127 
 
 little import concerning his earlier days. But when 
 she asked him again of how he came there, and 
 what meant the great ruined house, then he became 
 foolish and wandering, and might scarce answer 
 her ; whereas otherwise he was a well-spoken old 
 carle of many words, and those of the grandest. 
 
 Then changed his mood again, and he fell to 
 bewailing her departure, and how that henceforth 
 he should have none to speak to him with un- 
 derstanding. Then she smiled on him and said: 
 But yonder babes will grow up ; month by month 
 they will be better fellows unto thee. Fair child, 
 he said, thou dost not know. My days to come 
 are but few, so that I should see but little of their 
 waxing in any case. But furthermore, wax they 
 will not ; such as they be now, such shall they be 
 till I at least see the last of them and the earth. 
 
 Birdalone wondered at this word, and the place 
 seemed changed to her, yea, was grown somewhat 
 dreary ; but she said to the carle : And thou, dost 
 thou change in any wise, since these change not? 
 He laughed somewhat grimly, and said : The old 
 that be here change from old to dead; how could 
 I change to better ^ Yea, the first thing I had 
 to do here was to bury an old man. Quoth she : 
 And were there any children here then ? Yea, 
 said he ; these same, or I can see no difference in 
 them. Said Birdalone : And how long ago is that ? 
 And how camest thou hither? His face became 
 foolish, and he gibbered rather than spake : No, I 
 wot not ; no, no, no, not a whit, a whit. But pres- 
 ently after was he himself again, and telling her a 
 
128 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 tale of a great lady of the earl-folk, a baron's dame, 
 and how dear he was unto her. He lay yet on the 
 grass, and she stood before him, and presently he 
 put forth a hand to her gown-hem and drew her 
 to him thereby, and fell to caressing her feet ; and 
 Birdalone was ashamed thereat, and a little angry. 
 He was nought abashed, but sat up and said : Well, 
 since thou must needs depart to-morrow, be we 
 merry to-day. And I pray thee talk much with 
 me, fair child, for sweet and sweet is thy voice to 
 hearken. Then he arose and said : Now will I fetch 
 thee somewhat to eke the joy of us both. And he 
 turned therewith and went into the house. 
 
 Birdalone stood there, and was now perplexed 
 and down-hearted ; for now the look of the elder 
 scarce liked her, and the children began to seem 
 to her as images, or at the best not more to her 
 than the rabbits or the goats ; and she rued her 
 word that she would abide there the night through. 
 For she said to herself: I fear some trap or guile ; 
 is the witch behind this also .'' for the old man is 
 yet stark, and though he be foolish at whiles, yet 
 may wizardry have learned him some guile. 
 
 With that Cometh out the carle again, bearing a 
 little keg and a mazer roughly wrought; and he 
 came to Birdalone, and sat down, and bade her sit 
 by him, and said to her : Maybe I shall hear more 
 of thy sweet voice when thy sweet lips have been 
 in the cup. Therewith he poured forth into the 
 mazer, and handed it to Birdalone, and lo ! it was 
 clear and good mead. She sipped thereof daintily, 
 and, to say sooth, was well-pleased therewith, and it 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 129 
 
 stirred the heart in her. But then she gave back 
 the cup to the elder, and would no more of it. As 
 for him, he drank what was left in the cup, look- 
 ing over the rim thereof meanwhile ; and then filled 
 himself another, and another, and yet more. But 
 whereas it might have been looked for that his 
 tongue should be loosened by the good mead into 
 foolishness and gibbering, he became rather few- 
 spoken, and more courteous and stately even than 
 he had been at the first. But in the end, forsooth, 
 he was forgetting Birdalone, what she was, and he 
 fell a-talking, always with much pomp and state, as 
 if to barons and earls, and great ladies ; till suddenly 
 his head fell back, he turned over on his face, and 
 all wit was gone from him. 
 
 At first, then, Birdalone was afraid that he was 
 dead, or nigh unto death, and she knelt down and 
 raised his head, and fetched water and cast it over 
 his face. But when she saw that he was breathing 
 not so ill, and that the colour was little changed in 
 his lips and cheeks, she knew that it was but the 
 might of the mead that had overcome him. Where- 
 fore she laid him so that he was easy, and then 
 stood up and looked about her, and saw the chil- 
 dren playing together a little way off, and nought 
 else anigh her, save the birds in the brake, or fly- 
 ing on their errands eagerly from place to place. 
 Then, as it were, without her will being told them, 
 her limbs and her feet turned her about to the shore 
 where lay the Sending Boat, and she went speedily 
 but quietly thitherward, her heart beating quick, for 
 fear lest somethingshould yet stay her, and hereyes 
 
 9 
 
IJO THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 glancing from brake to bush, as if she looked to see 
 some enemy, old or new, come out thence. 
 
 So now her will was clear enough to her feet, and 
 they brought her down to the water-side and the 
 long strand, past which the wide water lay windless 
 and gleaming in the hot afternoon. Then lightly 
 she stepped aboard, and awoke the Sending Boat 
 with blood-offering, and it obeyed her, and sped 
 swiftly on the way to the southward. 
 
CHAPTER X. BIRDALONE COMES TO 
 THE ISLE OF THE QUEENS. 
 
 BIRDALONE awoke the next morning while 
 the boat was yet speeding over the water, and 
 the sun was up : but she was hard on the 
 land, which sat low and green, like a meadow ex- 
 ceeding fair, on the bosom of the water, and many 
 goodly trees were sprinkled about the greenland. 
 But from amidst the trees, no great way from the 
 water's edge, rose a great house, white and fair, as 
 if it were new-builded, and all glorious with pin- 
 nacles, and tabernacles set with imagery. 
 
 Presently the boat's bows ran into the reed and 
 rush at the brim of the water, andBirdalone stepped 
 ashore without more ado, and the scent of the 
 meadow-sweet amongst which she landed brought 
 back unto her the image of Green Eyot that while 
 agone. 
 
 But now when she was ashore the dread took 
 hold of her again, and her knees trembled under her, 
 so that she might scarce stand, so fearful was she 
 of walking into some trap ; especially when she be- 
 held that goodly house, lest therein awaited her 
 some proud and cruel lady, and no kind damsels 
 to deliver her. 
 
 She looked about her, and saw in all the fair 
 meadow neither man nor woman, nor draught-beast 
 nor milch-beast, nought but the little creatures of 
 the brake and the bent-grass, which were but as the 
 blossoms thereof, and the birds running in the herb- 
 age or singing amidst the tree-boughs. 
 
132 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Then she thought that she must needs go for- 
 ward, or belike her errand would not speed ; that 
 the Sending Boat might not obey her, unless she 
 saw through the adventure to the end ; so she went 
 on toward the house quaking. 
 
 Soon was she at the porch of the white palace, and 
 had seen no man nor heard any voice of men ; 
 much she marvelled, despite her dread, at the beauty 
 of the said house, and the newness thereof; for it 
 was as one flower arisen out of the earth, and every 
 part of it made the beauty of the other parts more 
 excellent ; and so new it was, that it would have 
 seemed as if the masons thereof had but struck 
 their scaffold yesterday, save that under the very 
 feet of the walls the sweet garden flowers grew all 
 uncrushed. 
 
 Now comes Birdalone through the porch unto 
 the screens of the great hall ; and she stopped a 
 little to recover her breath, that she might be the 
 quieter and calmer amongst the great folk and 
 mighty whom she looked to find therein. So she 
 gathered heart ; but one thing daunted her, to wit, 
 that she heard no sound come from that great and 
 goodly hall, so that she doubted if it were perchance 
 left desert by them who had been its lords. 
 
 She raised her hand to the door of the screen, 
 and it opened easily before her, and she entered, 
 and there indeed she saw new tidings. For the 
 boards endlong and overthwart were set, and 
 thereat were sitting a many folk, and their hands 
 were reached out to knife and to dish, and to plat- 
 ter and cup ; but such a hush there was within, that 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 133 
 
 the song of the garden birds without sounded to 
 her as loud as they were the voices of the children 
 of Adam. 
 
 Next she saw that all that company, from the 
 great folk on the dais down to those who stood 
 about the hall to do the service, were women, one 
 and all ; not one carle might she see from where 
 she stood : lovely were they many of them, and 
 none less than comely ; their cheeks were bright, 
 and their eyes gleamed, and their hair flowed down 
 fair of fashion. And she stood, and durst not move 
 a long while, but expected when someone would 
 speak a word, and all should turn their heads to- 
 ward the new-comer. But none moved nor spake. 
 And the fear increased in her amidst that hush, and 
 weighed so heavy on her heart, that at last she might 
 endure it no longer, but fell swooning to the floor. 
 
 When she came to herself, and the swoon-dreams 
 had left her, she saw by the changing of the sun 
 through the hall-windows, that she had lain there 
 long, more nearly two hours than one ; and at first 
 she covered her face with her hands as she crouched 
 there, that she might not see the sight of the silent 
 hall, for yet was it as hushed as before. Then 
 slowly she arose, and the sound of her raiment and 
 her stirring feet was loud in her ears. But when 
 she was upright on her feet, she hardened her heart, 
 and went forth into the hall, and no less was her 
 wonder than erst. For when she came close to those 
 ladies as they sat at table, and her raiment brushed 
 the raiment of the serving-women as she passed by, 
 then saw she how no breath came from any of these, 
 
IJ4 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and that they neither spake nor moved, because 
 they were dead. 
 
 At first, then, she thought to flee away at once, 
 but again she had mind of her errand, and so went 
 up the hall, and so forth on to the dais ; and there 
 again, close by the high table, she saw new tidings. 
 For there was set a bier, covered with gold and pall, 
 and on it was laid a tall man, a king, belted and 
 crowned ; and beside the said bier, by the head of 
 the king, knelt a queen of exceeding goodly body, 
 clad all in raiment of pearl and bawdekin ; and her 
 hands were clasped together, and her mouth was 
 drawn, and her brow knit with the anguish of her 
 grief But athwart the king's breast lay a naked 
 sword all bloody ; and this Birdalone noted, that 
 whereas the lady was of skin and hue as if she were 
 alive, the king was yellow as wax, and his cheeks 
 were shrunken, and his eyes had been closed by 
 the wakers of the dead. 
 
 Long Birdalone looked and wondered; and now 
 if her fear were less, her sorrow was more for all 
 that folk sitting there dead in their ancient state 
 and pomp. And was not the thought clean out 
 of her head, that yet they might awake and chal- 
 lenge her, and that she might be made one of that 
 silent company. Withal she felt her head begin- 
 nmg to fail her, and she feared that she might 
 swoon again and never waken more, but lie for ever 
 beside that image of the dead king. 
 
 So then she refrained her both of fear and sor- 
 row, and walked speedily down the hall, looking 
 neither to the right nor left : and she came forth 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 135 
 
 into the pleasance, but stayed there nought, so nigh 
 it seemed to that hushed company. Thence came 
 she forth into the open meadow, and sweet and 
 dear seemed its hot sunshine and noisy birds and 
 rusthng leaves. Nevertheless, so great was the tu- 
 mult of her spirits, that once more she grew faint, 
 and felt that she might scarce go further. So she 
 dragged herself into the shade of a thorn-tree, and 
 let her body sink unto the ground, and lay there 
 long unwitting. 
 
CHAPTER XI. AND NOW SHE COMES 
 TO THE ISLE OF THE KINGS. 
 
 WHEN Birdalone came to herself it was 
 drawing toward the glooming, and she 
 rose up hastily, and went down to the 
 Sending Boat, for she would not for aught abide 
 the night in that fearful isle, lest the flock of the 
 hall should come alive and walk in the dusk and 
 the dark. She stepped aboard lightly, and yielded 
 her blood to the pride of that ferry, and it awoke 
 and bore her forth, and she went through the night 
 till she fell asleep. 
 
 When she awoke it was broad day and the sun 
 just arising, and lo ! before her, some half mile off, 
 an isle rugged and rocky, and going up steep from 
 the shore ; and then, held as it were by the fangs 
 of the rocks and pikes of the higher land, was a 
 castle, white, high, and hugely builded, though, 
 because of the rock-land belike, it spread not much 
 abroad. Like to the lovely house of yesterday, 
 it seemed new-builded ; and, little as Birdalone 
 knew of such matters, her heart told her that this 
 new house was fashioned for battle. 
 
 She was downcast when she saw the isle so 
 rugged and forbidding, but when the boat came 
 aland in a stony bight, whence the ground went 
 up somewhat steeply toward the heights, she went 
 ashore straightway, and toiled up toward the white 
 battlement. Presently she found herself in a strait 
 and rugged path betwixt two walls of rock, so that 
 she lost sight of the castle a while, till she came 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 137 
 
 out on to a level place which looked down from 
 aloft on to the blue water, but all over against her 
 close at hand were the great towers and walls. She 
 was worn by the rough road, and over helpless 
 she felt her, and all too little to deal with that 
 huge morsel of the world; and her valiancy gave 
 way, and her trust in her errand. She sat down 
 on a stone and wept abundantly. 
 
 After a while she was amended, and she looked 
 up and saw the huge hold, and said : Yea, but if 
 it were less by the half than it is, it would still 
 be big enough to cow me. Yet she stood not 
 up. Then she put forth a foot of her, and said 
 aloud : Sorely hath this rough road tried Atra's 
 shoon and their goodly window-work ; if they are 
 to be known I must be speedy on my journey or 
 go barefoot. 
 
 As she spoke she stood up, and the sound of 
 her own voice frighted her, though nought noise- 
 less was the place ; for the wind was there, and 
 beat to and fro the castle and the rock, and ran 
 baffled into every corner of that market-place of 
 nothing. For in that garth was neither knight 
 nor squire nor sergeant ; no spear-head glittered 
 from the wall, no gleam of helm showed from the 
 war-swales ; no porter was at the gate ; the draw- 
 bridge over the deep ghyll was down, the portcullis 
 was up, and the great door cast wide open. 
 
 Birdalone steeled her heart and went forward 
 swiftly, and over the bridge, and entered the base- 
 court, and came without more ado to the door of 
 the great hall, and opened it easily, as with the 
 
138 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 door of yesterday, looking to find another show 
 like unto that one ; and even so it fell out. 
 
 Forsooth the hall was nought light and lovely, 
 and gay with gold and bright colours, as that other, 
 but beset with huge round pillars that bore aloft a 
 wide vault of stone, and of stone were the tables ; 
 and the ballings that hung on the wall were ter- 
 rible pictures of battle and death, and the fall of 
 cities, and towers a-tumbling and houses a-flaming. 
 
 None the less there also were the shapes of folk 
 that moved not nor spake, though not so thronged 
 was that hall as the other one ; and it seemed as if 
 men were sitting there at a council rather than a 
 feast. Close by Birdalone's right hand as she en- 
 tered were standing in a row along the screen big 
 men-at-arms all weaponed, and their faces hidden 
 by their sallets ; and down below the dais on either 
 side of the high table was again a throng of all- 
 armed men ; and at the high-table itself, and look- 
 ing down the hall, sat three crowned kings, each 
 with his drawn sword lying across his knees, and 
 three long-hoary wise men stood before them at 
 the nether side of the board. 
 
 Birdalone looked on it all, striving with her fear : 
 but yet more there was, for she deemed that needs 
 must she go through the hall up to the dais, lest 
 the Sending Boat deny its obedience. Up toward 
 the dais she went then, passing by weaponed men 
 who sat as if abiding the council's end at the end- 
 long tables. And now, though no shape of man 
 there spake or breathed, yet sound lacked not; for 
 within the hall went the wind as without, and beat 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 139 
 
 about from wall to wall, and drave clang and clash 
 from the weapons hung up, and waved the arras, 
 and fared moaning in the nooks, and hummed in 
 the vault above. 
 
 Came she up to the dais then, and stood be- 
 side one of the wise men, and looked on the kings, 
 and saw the mightiness which had been in them, 
 and quaked before them. Then she turned from 
 them and looked down to the floor, and lo ! there, 
 just below the dais, lay a woman on a golden bier ; 
 exceeding fair had she been, with long yellow hair 
 streaming down from her head ; but now waxen 
 white she was, with ashen lips and sunken cheeks. 
 Clad was she in raiment of purple and pall, but 
 the bosom of her was bared on one side, and therein 
 was the road whereby the steel had fared which had 
 been her bane. 
 
 Now when Birdalone had gazed thereon a while, 
 she deemed that if she tarried there long amidst 
 those fierce men by the dead woman, she should 
 lose her wit full soon, so sore the fear, held back, 
 beset her now. Wherefore she turned and went 
 hastily down the hall, and out-a-doors, and over 
 the bridge, and ran fleet-foot down the rocky way 
 whereby she had come, till she could run no further, 
 and lay down under a great stone breathless and 
 fordone ; yet her heart upheld her and suffered her 
 not to swoon, belike because she had given her 
 limbs such hard work to do. 
 
 There she lay awake and troubled for an hour 
 or more, and then she fell asleep, and slept till the 
 day was worn toward sunset, and nought med- 
 
I40 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 died with her. She arose and went to her ship 
 somewhat downhearted, wondering how many such 
 terrors should befall her ; nay, whether the Sending 
 Boat would so lead her that henceforth she should 
 happen on no children of Adam but such as were 
 dead images of the living. Had all the world died 
 since she left the Isle of the Young and the Old? 
 
 Howsoever, she had nought to do save to board 
 her ferry, and content its greedy soul with her 
 blood, and drive it with the spell-words. And 
 thereafter, when it was speeding on, and the twi- 
 light dusking apace, she looked aback, and seemed 
 to see the far-off woodland in the northern ort, and 
 the oak-clad ridge, where she had met her wood- 
 mother ; and then it was as if Habundia were say- 
 ing to her : Meet again we shall. And therewith 
 straightway became life sweeter unto her._ 
 
 Deepened then the dusk, and became night, and 
 she floated on through it, and was asleep alone on 
 the bosom of the water. 
 
CHAPTER XII. OF BIRDALONE, 
 HOW SHE CAME UNTO THE 
 ISLE OF NOTHING. 
 
 LONG before sunrise, in the very morn-dusk, 
 she awoke and found that her ferry had taken 
 land again. Little might she see what the 
 said land was like ; so she sat patiently and abode 
 the day in the boat ; but when day was come, little 
 more was to see than erst. For flat was the isle, 
 and scarce raised above the wash of the leeward 
 ripple on a fair day ; nor was it either timbered or 
 bushed or grassed, and, so far as Birdalone might 
 see, no one foot of it differed in aught from another. 
 Natheless she deemed that she was bound to go 
 ashore and seek out the adventure, or spoil her 
 errand else. 
 
 Out of the boat she stepped then, and found the 
 earth all paved of a middling gravel, and nought at 
 all growing there, not even the smallest of herbs ; 
 and she stooped down and searched the gravel, and 
 found neither worm nor beetle therein, nay nor any 
 one of the sharp and slimy creatures which are wont 
 in such ground. 
 
 A little further she went, and yet a little further, 
 and no change there was in the land ; and yet she 
 went on and found nothing ; and she wended her 
 ways southward by the sun, and the day was 
 windless. 
 
 At last she had gone a long way and had no 
 sight of water south of the isle, nor had she seen 
 any hill, nay, not so much as an ant-heap, whence 
 
142 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 she might look further around ; and it seemed to 
 her that she might go on for ever, and reach the 
 heart of Nowhitherat last. Wherefore she thought 
 she would turn back and depart this ugly isle, and 
 that no other adventure abided her therein. And 
 by now it was high noon ; and she turned about 
 and took a few steps on the backward road. 
 
 But even therewith it seemed as if the sun, which 
 heretofore had been shining brightly in the heavens, 
 went out as a burnt-down candle, and all was be- 
 come dull grey over head, as all under foot was a 
 dull dun. But Birdalone deemed she could fol- 
 low a straight course back again, and so walked on 
 sturdily. Hour after hour she went and stayed 
 not, but saw before her no glimpse of the north- 
 ern shore, and no change in the aspect of the 
 ground about her. 
 
 It had so happened that a little before she had 
 turned to go back, she had eaten her dinner of a 
 piece of bread and a morsel of cheese, and now as 
 she stooped and peered on the ground, looking for 
 some sign of the way, as her foot-prints going south, 
 and had her eyes low anigh the earth, she saw some- 
 thing white at her feet in the gathering dusk (for 
 the day was wearing), and she put her hand to it 
 and lifted it, and found it a crumb of bread, and 
 knew that it must have come from her dinner of 
 seven hours ago, whereas till that time her bread 
 had lain unbroken in her scrip. Fear and an- 
 guish smote her therewith, for she saw that in that 
 dull land, every piece whereof was like every other 
 piece, she must have gone about in a ring, and come 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 143 
 
 back again to where she first turned to make for 
 the northern shore. 
 
 Yet would she not cast aside all hope, but clad 
 herself in her valiancy. Forsooth she knew it 
 availed nought to try to move on in the twilight ; 
 so she laid herself down on that waste, and made 
 up her mind to sleep if she might, and abide the 
 new day there, and then to strive with the way once 
 more, for belike, she thought, it may be fair to- 
 morrow, and the sun shining. And as she was very 
 weary with tramping the waste all day, she fell asleep 
 at once, and slept the short night through. 
 
 But when she awoke, and saw what the new day 
 was, her heart fell indeed, for now was she encom- 
 passed and shut in with a thick dark mist (though 
 it seemed to be broad day), so that had there been 
 aught to see she would not have seen it her own 
 length away from her. So there she stood, hanging 
 her head, and striving to think ; but the master- 
 thought of death drawing nigh scattered all other 
 thoughts, or made them dim and feeble. 
 
 Long she stood there ; but suddenly something 
 came into her mind. She set her hand to the fair- 
 broidered pouch which hung from Viridis' loin- 
 girdle, and drew outthenceflint and steel and tinder, 
 which matters, forsooth, had served her before in 
 the boat to make fire withal. Then she set her 
 hand to her head, and drew forth the tress of hair 
 which Habundia had given her, and which was coiled 
 up in the crown of her own abundant locks which 
 decked her so gloriously ; she drew two hairs from 
 the said tress, and held them between her lips while 
 
144 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 she did up the tress in its place again, and then, 
 pale and trembling, fell to striking a light, and 
 when she had the tinder burning, she cried out : 
 O wood-mother, wood-mother ! How then may 
 we meet again as thou didst promise me, if I die 
 here in this empty waste ? O wood-mother, if thou 
 mightest but come hither for my deliverance ! 
 
 Then she burned the hairs one after another, 
 and stood waiting, but nought befell a great while, 
 and her heart sickened, and there she stood like a 
 stone. 
 
 But in awhile, lo ! there came as it were a shadow 
 amidst the mist, or rather lying thereon, faint and 
 colourless, and it was of the shape of the wood- 
 mother, with girt-up gown and bow in hand. Bird- 
 alone cried aloud with joy, and hastened toward the 
 semblance, but came to it no nigher, and still she 
 went, and the semblance still escaped her, and she 
 followed on and on ; and this lasted long, and faster 
 and faster must she follow lest it vanish, and she 
 gathered her skirts into her girdle, and fell to 
 running fleet-foot after the fleeing shadow, which 
 she loved dearly even amidst the jaws of death ; 
 and all her fleetness of foot had Birdalone to put 
 forth in following up the chase ; but even to die 
 in the pain would she not miss that dear shadow. 
 
 But suddenly, as she ran, the mist was all gone 
 from before her, the sun shone hot and cloudless ; 
 there was no shadow or shape of Habundia there, 
 nought but the blue lake and the ugly lip of that 
 hideous desert, with the Sending Boat lying a half 
 score yards from her feet ; and behind her stood 
 
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 145 
 
 up, as it were a wall, the mist from out of which 
 she had come. 
 
 Forsooth Birdalone was too breathless to cry out 
 her joy, but her heart went nigh to breaking there- 
 with, and lovely indeed to her was the rippled water 
 and the blue sky ; and she knew that her wood- 
 mother had sped a sending to her help, and she 
 fell a-weeping where she stood, for love of her wise 
 mother, and for longing to behold her : she stretched 
 out her arms to the north quarter, and said bless- 
 ings on her in a voice faint for weariness. Then 
 she laid her down on the desert, and rested her 
 with sleep, despite the hot sun, and when she awoke, 
 some three hours thereafter, all was as before, save 
 that the sky had now some light-flying clouds, and 
 still was the wall of mist behind her. Wherefore 
 she deemed she had yet time, and the blue rippling 
 water wooed her much-besweated limbs ; so she 
 did off her raiment and took the water, and became 
 happy and unweary therein. Then she landed and 
 stood in the sun to dry her, and so, strengthened 
 with that refreshing, clad her, and went aboard and 
 did the due rites, and sped over the waters, and 
 had soon lost sight of that ugly blotch on the fair 
 face of the Great Water. 
 
 Here ends the Second Part of the Water 
 of the Wondrous Isles, which is called Of the 
 Wondrous Isles, and begins the Third Part of 
 the said tale, which is called Of the Castle 
 of the Quest. 
 
 
THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS 
 ISLES. THE THIRD PART : OF THE 
 CASTLE OF THE QUEST. 
 
 CHAPTER I. BIRDALONE COMES TO 
 THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST. 
 
 EMPTY was the day to Birdalone save for 
 her thoughts, and she slept not a good while 
 of the night. When she awoke in the morn- 
 ing there was no land before her, and she began 
 to fear somewhat that so it might be many days, 
 and that she might have to fare the water landless, 
 and perchance till she starved for hunger ; for now 
 was there but little victual left of that which the 
 kind Viridis had given her. So she wore the day 
 somewhat uneasily, and by then night fell had eaten 
 but little ; yet was that little the last crumb and 
 gobbet of her store. Wherefore it is no wonder 
 though she were dismayed when she awoke early 
 on the morrow, and beheld nought before her save 
 the landless water. 
 
 But about noon she deemed she saw a little 
 cloud in the offing that moved not as the other 
 clouds, and she watched it closely at first, and it 
 changed not any the more, and she grew weary of 
 watching it and strove to sleep, turning her head 
 to the after part of her ferry ; and thus betwixt 
 sleeping and waking she wore away three hours : 
 then she stood up and looked ahead, and lo, the 
 white cloud had taken shape, and was a white castle 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 147 
 
 far away (for the day was exceeding clear), sitting, 
 as it seemed, on the very face of the water. The 
 boat sped on swiftly thitherward, so that it was not 
 right long ere Birdalone beheld the green shore on 
 either side of the said castle, and at last, three hours 
 before sunset, she was drawing nigh thereto, and 
 beheld it all clearly, what it was. 
 
 It was brand-new, and was fair enough, builded 
 part of stone and lime, part of framed work, but 
 was but middling big. As she drew nigher yet, 
 she saw that there were folk on the walls of it, and 
 they seemed to see her, for a horn was winded from 
 the battlement, and folk were running together to 
 somewhither. And now was Birdalone come so 
 near, that she saw the water-gate of the castle, and 
 folk coming out thereby on to the landing-place ; 
 and she saw presently, that a very tall man with 
 grizzled hair stood foremost of them, and he waved 
 his hand to her, and spake something, but the wind 
 bore the words away from her ; yet she seemed to 
 know that this folk would do her to wit that they 
 would have none of her ; and her heart died within 
 her, so faint and hungry as she was. 
 
 Howsoever the ferry sped on its way swiftly, 
 and in a minute or two had stayed itself at the 
 landing-stair, whereabout were gathered a score of 
 men, some armed some unarmed, and they seemed 
 for the more part to be grey-headed and past middle- 
 age. _ 
 
 Birdalone stood up in her craft, and the afore- 
 said tall grey man, who was unarmed, but clad in 
 knightly raiment, stood on the stair and spake unto 
 
148 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 her, and said : Lady, this is an house where women 
 enter never since first the roof was done thereon, 
 which forsooth was but a year ago. We will pray 
 thee therefore to turn thy boat's head away, and 
 seek some other lodging by the water, either east- 
 ward or westward. 
 
 Little knew Birdalone of worldly courtesy, or 
 she had made him a sharp answer belike ; but she 
 only looked on him ruefully, and said : Good war- 
 rior, I am come a long way, and may not turn back 
 from mine errand ; and I am now lacking victual 
 and hungry, and if ye help me not, it is like that 
 I shall die. Much lieth on mine errand, if ye 
 knew it. She was weeping-ripe, but refrained her 
 tears, though her lip quivered. She stretched out 
 her hands to the greybeard, and he looked on her 
 and found her exceeding fair ; and he deemed her 
 to be guileless, both because of her simple speech 
 and sweet voice, and the goodliness of her face and 
 eyes. But he said : Lady, thine errand hath nought 
 to do with it, it is thy womanhood that bars our 
 door. For all we are bound by oath not to suffer 
 a woman to abide in this castle till our lords take 
 the bann off, and bid us open to women. She 
 smiled faintly, and said : If I might but see thy 
 lords then, since thou art not master here. He 
 said : They are away, and will not be back till to- 
 morrow morning ; and I wot not the hour of their 
 return. And yet, said he, I would we might help 
 thee somewhat. O I pray thee, I pray thee ! she 
 said, or mine errand will come to nought after all. 
 
 Therewith came another man down the stair, 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 149 
 
 and stood by the old knight and plucked his sleeve, 
 and fell to talk with him softly. This man was by 
 his habit a religious, and was a younger man than 
 the others. It might be of five and thirty winters, 
 and he was fair of favour. While they spake to- 
 gether Birdalone sat her down again, and was well- 
 nigh spent. 
 
 At last the old man spake : Damsel, he said, we 
 deem we may suffer thee to enter the castle since 
 thy need is so great, and have a meal's meat at 
 our hands, and yet save our oath, if thou depart 
 thence by the landward gate before sunset. Will 
 this serve thee ? Fair sir, said Birdalone, it will 
 save my life and mine errand ; I may say no more 
 words for my faintness, else would I thank thee. 
 
 She stood up on her feet, and the old man-at- 
 arms reached out his hand to her, and she took It 
 and came her ways up the stair, but found herself 
 but feeble. But the priest (forsooth he was chap- 
 lain of the castle) helped her on the other side. 
 But when she stood on the level stones by the 
 water-gate, she turned to the old man and said : 
 One thing I will ask of thee. Is this place one of 
 the Wondrous Isles ? The elder shook his head. 
 We know not the Wondrous Isles, said he ; this 
 castle Is builded on the mainland. Her face flushed 
 for joy at the word, and she said : One thing I will 
 crave of thee, to wit, that thou wilt leave my barge 
 lying here untouched till thy masters come back, 
 and wilt give command that none meddle therewith. 
 
 He would have answered, but the priest brake 
 in, and said : This will he do, lady, and he is the 
 
150 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 castellan, and moreover he will swear to obey thee 
 herein. And therewith he drew forth a cross with 
 God nailed thereon, and the castellan swore on it 
 with a good will. 
 
 Then the priest drew Birdalone on, and between 
 them they brought her into the great hall, and set 
 her down in a chair and propped her with cushions. 
 And when she was thus at rest, she began to weep 
 somewhat, and the castellan and the priest stood 
 by and comforted her; for themseemed, despite 
 her grief, that she had brought the sun into their 
 house. 
 
 Next were victual brought unto her of broth 
 and venison, and good wine and cates and straw- 
 berries ; and she was not so famished but she 
 might eat and drink with a good will. But when 
 she was done, and had rested a little, the castellan 
 stood up and said : Lady, the sun is gone off the 
 western windows now, and I must save mine oath ; 
 but ere thou depart, I were fain to hear thy voice 
 giving me pardon for my evil cheer and the thrust- 
 ing of thee forth. And therewith he put one knee 
 to the ground, and took her hand and kissed it. 
 But Birdalone was grown merry again, and she 
 laughed and said : What pardon thou canst have 
 of me, kind knight, thou hast ; but now methinks 
 thou makest overmuch of me, because I am the 
 only woman who hath come into thy. castle. I 
 am but a simple maiden, though mine errand be 
 not little. 
 
 Forsooth she wondered that the stark and gruff 
 old man was so changed to her in little space ; for 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 15 1 
 
 nought she knew as yet how the sight of her cast 
 a hot gleed of love into the hearts of them who 
 beheld her. 
 
 Now Birdalone arose ; but the castellan knelt 
 at her feet, and kissed her hand again, and again, 
 and yet again. Then he said : Thou art gracious 
 indeed. But methinks the father here will lead 
 thee out-a-gates ; for he may show thee a lair, 
 wherein thou shalt be safe enough to-night ; and 
 to-morrow may bring new tidings. 
 
 So the priest made obeisance to her and led her 
 down the hall, and the castellan's eyes were follow- 
 ing them till the screen hid them. The priest 
 left her in the hall-porch a while, and went into 
 the buttery, and came back with a basket of meat 
 and drink, and they went forth at the great gate 
 together, and there was the last of the sun before 
 them. 
 
CHAPTER II. OF BIRDALONE, AND 
 HOW SHE RESTED THE NIGHT 
 THROUGH IN A BOWER WITHOUT 
 THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST. 
 
 ON a fair smooth road went they amidst of 
 a goodly meadow-land, wherein were little 
 copses here and there. When they were 
 fairly out of the gate, the priest reached for Bird- 
 alone's hand, and she let him take it and lead her 
 along thereby, thinking no evil ; but he might 
 scarce speak for a while, so great was the stir in 
 his heart at the touch of her bare flesh. But 
 Birdalone spake and said : Thou art kind, father, 
 to lead me on my way thus. 
 
 He answered in a husky voice with his eyes 
 cast down, and forsooth set on the feet of her : It 
 is not far that I am leading thee ; there is a broken 
 cot by the copse at the turn of the road yonder, 
 where thou mayst abide to-night ; it is better 
 lodging than none, evil as it is for such an one as 
 thou. Birdalone laughed : Worse have I had, 
 said she, than would be the copse without the cot. 
 And she thought withal of the prison in the Isle 
 of Increase Unsought. 
 
 Her voice seemed so cheery and friendly to the 
 priest, that he shook oflF somewhat the moodiness 
 of his desire, and looked up and said : I shall tell 
 thee, lady, that I suppose thou hast more errand 
 with my lords than to crave lodging of them de- 
 spite the custom of the castle. Nay, I have an 
 inkling of what thine errand may be, whereof more 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 153 
 
 anon ; but now shall I tell thee what is best for 
 thee to do so as to have speech of them the soon- 
 est. They have gone forth with some of our lads 
 to gather venison, or it may be beeves and mut- 
 tons for our victualling, and somewhat of battle 
 may they have had on the way, for ill neighbours 
 have we. But if they come back unfoughten they 
 will be wending this road, and must needs pass by 
 thy copse-side ; and if thou be sleeping the noise 
 of them will full surely awaken thee. Then all 
 thou hast to do is to come forth and stand in the 
 way before them, that they may see thee ; and 
 when once they have seen thee, how may they 
 pass thee by unspoken with ? 
 
 I thank thee heartily for thy rede, said Birda- 
 lone ; but I would ask thee two things : first, what 
 is the name of the castle behind us ? and second, 
 why have ye the custom of shutting the door 
 upon women ? Said the priest : The castle is 
 called in this country-side, the White Ward by 
 the Water ; but within there we call it the Castle 
 of the Quest ; and thus is it called because my 
 lords are seeking their loves whom they have lost ; 
 and they have sworn an oath that no woman shall 
 enter therein till their own loves have trodden its 
 floors. 
 
 Rose the heart of Birdalone at that word, and 
 she deemed indeed that she was come thither 
 whereas her she-friends would have had her. The 
 priest beheld her and saw how her beauty was 
 eked by that gladness, and he scarce knew how to 
 contain himself, and might speak no word awhile ; 
 
1^4 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 then he said : Hearken further concerning thy mat- 
 ter ; if my lords be tarried, and come not by matin- 
 song, then I doubt not but the castellan will send 
 folk to see to thee. He looked down therewith 
 and said : I will come to thee myself, and will 
 bring thee men-at-arms, if need be. But sometime 
 to-morrow morning my lords will come, save mis- 
 chief hath betid, which God forbid. And he 
 crossed himself; then he looked up and full in 
 her face, and said : But keep thine heart up ; for 
 whatsoever may betide, thou shalt not be left 
 uncared for. 
 
 Said Birdalone : I see of thee that thou art be- 
 come my good friend, and it rejoiceth my heart ; 
 I shall be well at ease to-night in thy cot, and to- 
 morrow morn I shall be valiant to do thy bidding. 
 
 The sweetness of her speech so overcame him, 
 that he but looked confusedly on her, as if he 
 scarce heard her ; and they went on together with- 
 out more words, till he said : Here are we at the 
 cot, and I will show thee thy chamber. So he 
 led her to a little thatched bower, built with walls 
 of wattle-work daubed with clay, which stood 
 without the remnant of the cot : it was clean and 
 dry, for the roof was weather-tight ; but there was 
 nought in it at all save a heap of bracken in a 
 corner. 
 
 There stood the priest, still holding Birdalone's 
 hand, and spake not, but looked about, yet always 
 covertly on Birdalone ; but in a while he let go 
 her hand, and seemed to wake up, and said : This 
 it is ; a sorry place enough, were it even for a 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 155 
 
 gangrel body. Even so am I, quoth she laugh- 
 ing ; and thou mayest look to it, that herein I 
 shall rest full happily. Then he gave her a horn, 
 drawing it from out of the basket of victual, which 
 he now set down on the ground ; and he said : If 
 thou shouldst deem thee hard bestead, then wind 
 this horn, and we shall know its voice up there and 
 come to help thee. Now I give thee good-night. 
 
 She thanked him sweetly, and he went slowly 
 out of the bower, but was scarce gone ere he came 
 back again, and said : One thing I may perchance 
 tell thee without dravv'ing thine anger on my head ; 
 to wit, that I it was who said to the castellan that 
 he should take thee in. Wilt thou say aught to 
 this ? She said : I will thank thee again and 
 again ; for it was the saving of my life and mine 
 errand. And clearer is it now than ever that thou 
 art a good friend unto me. 
 
 As she looked on him and caressed him with 
 kind eyes, she saw that his brow was knit, and his 
 face troubled, and she said to him : What ails 
 thee ? art thou wroth with me in any wise ? O 
 no, said he ; how should I be wroth with thee ! 
 But there is a thing I would ask of thee. Yea, 
 and what? said she. He said: Nay, I may not, 
 I may not. It shall be for to-morrow, or another 
 day. He spake it looking down, and in a broken 
 voice ; and she wondered somewhat at him, but 
 not much, deeming that he was troubled by some- 
 thing which had nought to do with her, and which 
 he might refrain from thinking of, even before a 
 stranger. 
 
156 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 But presently he caught her hand and kissed it, 
 and bade her good-night again, and then went 
 hastily out of the bower ; and when he was well 
 without, he muttered, but not so as she might 
 hear him : Durst I have asked her, she would 
 have suffered me to kiss her cheek. Alas 1 fool 
 that I was ! 
 
 Birdalone turned then to her bracken bed, and 
 found it sweet and clean ; and she was at rest and 
 peace in her mind, albeit her body was exceeding 
 weary. She felt happy in the little lonely cot, and 
 her heart had gone out to the sweet meadow-land, 
 and she loved it after all the trouble of the water; 
 and herseemed that even now, in the dusk a-grow- 
 ing into dark, it loved and caressed her. So she 
 laid her down, nor unclad herself at all, lest she 
 should have to arise on a sudden, and show those 
 tokens of the three damsels on her body. 
 
 A little while she lay there happily, hearkening 
 the voices of the nightingales in the brake, and 
 then she fell into a dreamless sleep, unbroken till 
 the short night passed into day. 
 
 
CHAPTER III. HOW BIRDALONE 
 DIGHT HER FOR MEETING THE 
 CHAMPIONS OF THE QUEST. 
 
 IT was the birds beginning their first song once 
 more that awakened Birdalone before the sun 
 was up ; but she had no will to stir a while, 
 whereas she felt so happy and restful ; and that all 
 the more when she remembered where she was, 
 and told herself that her errand was now like to 
 be accomplished ; and she thought of her friends 
 whom she had left on the Isle of Increase Un- 
 sought, and blessed them for their kindness, and 
 the love of them was sweet to her heart, and 
 amidst such thoughts she fell asleep again. 
 
 When she awoke thereafter there was a flood of 
 sunshine lying on the meadows, and she sprang up 
 in haste lest she had overslept herself, but when 
 she was come out of the bower, she soon saw that 
 the sunbeams lay low on the land, and that it was 
 yet the first hour of the sun ; so she turned about, 
 and went through the copse to the other side, and 
 lo ! a little clear stream running before her. So 
 she spake to herself softly and said : Fie on it ! I 
 was weary with the boat and my hunger last night, 
 and I went to bed unwashen ; and this morn I am 
 weary for the foulness of my unwashen body. Un- 
 seemly it were to me to show myself sluttish before 
 these lords ; let me find time for a bath at least. 
 
 Therewith she went swiftly down to the water, 
 undoing her girdle and laces by the way. She came 
 to the stream and found it running between blue- 
 
158 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 flowering mouse-ear and rushes, into a pool which 
 deepened from a sandy shallow : so anon her bor- 
 rowed raiment was lying on the grassy lip of the 
 water, and she was swimming and disporting her 
 in the pool, with her hair loose and wavering over 
 her white back like some tress of the water-weed. 
 Therein she durst not tarry long, but came hurry- 
 ing out on to the grass, and clad herself in haste. 
 But she covered not her shoulders with the golden 
 gown, nor laced it over her bosom, so that Viridis' 
 smock might be the plainer to see : which smock 
 was noteworthy, for the breast thereof was broi- 
 dered with green boughs, whence brake forth little 
 flames of fire, and all so dainty-wrought as if the 
 faery had done it. 
 
 Withal she gathered up the gown into her girdle, 
 and let the skirt-hem clear her ankles, so that 
 Atra's shoon might be seen at once ; and they were 
 daintily dight with window-work and broidery of 
 gold and green stones, and blue. And forsooth 
 it was little likely that any man should stand be- 
 fore her a minute ere his eyes would seek to her 
 feet and ankles, so clean and kindly as they were 
 fashioned. 
 
 Therewith she set her hands to her head, and 
 trussed up her hair, and bound it closely to her 
 head, so that it might hide no whit of her bor- 
 rowed attire. 
 
 There she stood, with Aurea's collar lying on 
 her dear neck, and Viridis' girdle about her shapen 
 loins, and Atra's ring on her lovesome finger. And 
 she hearkened a while and heard no sound of com- 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 159 
 
 ing men ; and there came into her heart a gentle 
 fear, which grieved her not. Over the water before 
 her hung an eglantine bush, with its many roses 
 either budding or but just out. Birdalone stole 
 thither softly, and said, smiling : Nay, if I have 
 nothing that is mine on my body, I will take this 
 of the maiden's bath and make it mine. And 
 therewith she plucked a spray of the bush and 
 turned it into a garland for her head ; and then when 
 she had stood shyly a while in that same place, she 
 turned and went swiftly to her place beside her 
 night-harbour, and stood there hearkening with 
 that sweet fear growing upon her, her colour com- 
 ing and going, and her heart beating fast. 
 
 Now the thought of that kind priest who had 
 led her to the bower last night came into her mind, 
 and she wondered why he had been so troubled. 
 And she thought, would those others be so kind 
 to her, or would they deem her an impudent wench 
 or a foolish, or pass her by ? 
 
 Forsooth if any had passed her by it had been 
 not that he should miss seeing her beauty, but that 
 he should fear it, and deem her some goddess of 
 the Gentiles of old time come before him for his 
 ensnaring. 
 
CHAPTER IV. AND NOW SHE MEETS 
 THE CHAMPIONS. 
 
 NOW, as she stood hearkening, she deemed 
 she heard something that was not so loud 
 as the song of the blackbird in the brake, 
 but further off and longer voiced : and again she 
 hearkened heedfully, and the sound came again, 
 and she deemed now that it was the voice of an 
 horn. But the third time of her hearing it she 
 knew that it was nought less ; and at last it grew 
 nigher, and there was mingled with it the sound 
 of men shouting and the lowing of neat. 
 
 Then she stepped down to the very edge of the 
 way, and now she saw the riding-reek go up into 
 the clear air, and she said : Now are they coming 
 without fail, and I must pluck up a heart ; for 
 surely these dear friends of my friends shall neither 
 harm a poor maiden nor scorn her. 
 
 Soon came the leading beasts from out of the 
 dust-cloud, and behind them was the glitter of 
 spear-heads ; and then presently was a herd of neat 
 shambling and jostling along the road, and after- 
 them a score or so of spearmen in jack and sallet, 
 who, forsopth, turned to look on Birdalone as they 
 passed by, and spake here and there a word or two, 
 laughing and pointing to her, but stayed not ; and 
 all went on straight to the castle. 
 
 Thereafter was a void, and then came riding 
 leisurely another score of weaponed men, whereof 
 some in white armour; and amongst them were five 
 sumpter horses laden with carcasses of venison. 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST i6l 
 
 And all these also went by and stayed not, though 
 the most of them gazed on Birdalone hard enough. 
 
 Last of all came three knights riding, one with 
 a gold surcoat over his armour, and thereon a cleft 
 heart of red ; the second with a green surcoat, and 
 on the same a chief of silver with green boughs 
 thereon, their ends a-flaming ; but the third bore 
 a black surcoat besprinkled with silver tears. And 
 all these three rode bare-headed, save that the Black 
 Knight bore an oak-wreath on the head. 
 
 Now did Birdalone take to her valiancy, and she 
 stepped out into the road till she was but a ten paces 
 from those men, who reined up when they beheld 
 her ; and she said in a clear voice : Abide, warriors ! 
 for if ye be what I deem you, I have an errand unto 
 you. 
 
 Scarce were the words out of her mouth, ere all 
 three had leapt off their horses, and the Golden 
 Knight came up to her, and laid his hand upon 
 her side, and spake eagerly and said : Where is 
 she, whence thou gattest this gown of good web ? 
 And thou, said she, art thou Baudoin the Golden 
 Knight? But he set his hand to the collar on her 
 neck, and touched her skin withal, and said : This, 
 was she alive when thou camest by it? She said: 
 If thou be Baudoin the Golden Knight, I have an 
 errand to thee. I am he, said the knight ; O tell 
 me, tell me, is she dead ? Said Birdalone : Aurea 
 was alive when last I saw her, and mine errand is 
 from her to thee, if thou be verily her lover. Now 
 with this word I pray thee to be content a while, 
 said she, smiling kindly upon him, for needs must 
 
1 62 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 1 do mine errand in such wise as I was bidden. 
 And thou seest also that thy friends would have a 
 word of me. 
 
 Forsooth, they were thrusting in on her, and the 
 Green Knight gat a hold of her left wrist in his left 
 hand, and his right was on her shoulder, and his 
 bright face close to her bosom whereon lay Viridis' 
 smock ; and thereat she shrank aback somewhat, 
 but said : Sir, it is sooth that the smock is for thee 
 when thou hast answered me a question or two. 
 Meanwhile I pray thee forbear a Httle ; for, as I 
 trow, all is well, and thou shalt see my dear friend 
 Viridis again. 
 
 He withdrew him a little, flushed and shamefaced. 
 He was a young man exceeding beauteous, clear- 
 skinned and grey-eyed, with curly golden hair, and 
 he bore his armour as though it were silken cloth. 
 Birdalone looked upon him kindly though shyly, 
 and was glad to the heart's root that Viridis had so 
 lovely a man to her darling. As for the Golden 
 Knight, as Birdalone might see now, he stood a little 
 aloof; he was a very goodly man of some five and 
 thirty winters ; tall he was, broad-shouldered and 
 thin-flanked, black-haired, with somewhat heavy 
 eyebrows, and fierce hawk-eyes ; a man terrible of 
 aspect, when one first beheld him. 
 
 Now when the Black Squire had hearkened 
 Birdalone's word concerning Viridis, he threw him- 
 self down on the ground before her, and fell to 
 kissing her feet ; or, if you will, Atra's shoon which 
 covered them. When she drew back a little, he rose 
 on one knee and looked up at her with an eager 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 163 
 
 face, and she said : To thee also I have an errand 
 from Atra, thy speech-friend, if thou be Arthur the 
 Black Squire. He spake not, but still gazed on 
 her till she reddened. She knew not whether to 
 deem him less goodly than the other twain. He 
 also was a young man of not over five and twenty 
 years, slim and lithe, with much brown hair ; his 
 face tanned so dark that his eyes gleamed light 
 from amidst it ; his chin was round and cloven, his 
 mouth and nose excellently fashioned ; little hair 
 he had upon his face, his cheeks were somewhat 
 more hollow than round. Birdalone noted of his 
 bare hands, which were as brown as his face, that 
 they were very trim and shapely. 
 
 Now he rose to his feet, and the three stood to- 
 gether and gazed on her ; as how might they do 
 otherwise ? Birdalone hung her head, and knew 
 not what next to do or say. But she thought 
 within herself, would these three men have been as 
 kind to her as her three friends of the Isle, had she 
 happened on them in like case as she was that time ? 
 And she settled with herself that they would have 
 been no less kind. 
 
 Now spake the Golden Knight, and said : Will 
 the kind maiden do her errand to us here and now ? 
 for we be eager and worn with trouble. Birdalone 
 looked adown and was somewhat confused. Fair 
 sirs, said she, I will do your will herein. 
 
 But the Black Squire looked on her and saw that 
 she was troubled, and he said : Your pardon, fair 
 fellows, but is it not so that we have an house some- 
 what anigh, not ill purveyed of many things .'' By 
 
164 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 your leave I would entreat this kind and dear lady 
 to honour us so much as to enter the Castle of the 
 Quest with us, and abide there so long as she will ; 
 and therein may she tell us all her errand at her 
 leisure ; and already we may see and know, that it 
 may not be aught save a joyous one. 
 
 Then spake the Golden Knight, and said : I will 
 ask the lady to pardon me, and will now join my 
 prayer to thine, brother, that she come home with 
 us. Lady, he said, wilt thou not pardon me, that 
 in the eager desire to hear tidings of my speech- 
 friend I forgat all else. 
 
 And therewithal he knelt before her, and took 
 her hand and kissed it ; and for all his fierce eyes 
 and his warrior's mien, she deemed him kind and 
 friendly. Then needs must the Green Knight kneel 
 and kiss also, though he had no pardon to crave ; 
 but a fair sweet lad she thought him, and again her 
 heart swelled with joy to think that her friend Viri- 
 dis had so dear a speech-friend to long for her. 
 
 Then came the turn of the Black Squire, and by 
 then were the two others turned away a little toward 
 their horses ; and he knelt down on both knees 
 before Birdalone and took her right arm above the 
 wrist, and looked at the hand and kissed it as if it 
 were a relic, but stood not up ; and she stood bend- 
 ing over him, and a new sweetness entered into her, 
 the like of which she had never felt. But as for the 
 Black Squire, it seemed that one hand would not 
 suffice him, and he took her left hand and fell to 
 kissing it, and then both the hands together all over 
 the backs of them, and then the palms thereof, and 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 165 
 
 he buried his face in the two palms, and held them 
 to his cheeks ; and the dear hands suffered it all, and 
 consented to the embracing of his cheeks. But 
 Birdalone deemed that this was the kindest and 
 sweetest of the three kind warriors, and sorry she 
 was when he let go her hands and stood up. 
 
 His face was flushed, but his speech calm, as he 
 spake so that the other knights might hear him : 
 Now will we straight to the castle, lady, and we will 
 ask thee which of us three thou wilt honour by rid- 
 ing his horse there ; shall it be Baudoin's bright 
 bay, or Hugh's dapple-grey, or my red roan ? And 
 therewith he took her by the hand and led her 
 toward the horses. But she laughed, and turning 
 a little, pointed to the castle, and said : Nay, sweet 
 lords, but I will fare afoot, such a little way as it is, 
 and I all unwont to the saddle. 
 
 Spake the Green Knight : If that be so, lady, 
 then shall we three walk afoot with thee. Nay, 
 nay, she said ; I have nought to carry but myself, 
 but ye have your byrnies and your other armour, 
 which were heavy for you to drag on afoot, even a 
 little way. Moreover, I were fain to see you mount 
 your horses, and ride and run about the meadow 
 with tossing manes and flashing swords, while I 
 trudge quietly toward the gate ; for such things, and 
 so beauteous, are all new unto me, as ye shall learn 
 presently when I tell you my story. Do so much 
 to pleasure me, kind knights. 
 
 The tall Baudoin nodded to her, smiling kindly, 
 as much as to say that he thought well of her desire. 
 But the Green Knight ran to his horse with a glad 
 
1 66 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 shout, and anon was in the saddle with his bright 
 sword in his fist ; then he spurred, and went a- 
 gallop hither and thither over the mead, making 
 his horse turn short and bound, and playing many 
 tricks of the tilt-yard, and crying, A Hugh, A 
 Hugh, for the Green Gown ! The Golden Knight 
 was slower and more staid, but in manywise he 
 showed his war-deftness, riding after Hugh as if he 
 would fall on him, and staying his way just as it 
 became perilous ; and he cried, Baudoin, Baudoin, 
 for Gold-sleeves ! And all this seemed to Birdalone 
 both terrible and lovely. 
 
 But for the Black Squire, he was slow to let loose 
 Birdalone's hand ; but thereafter he was speedy to 
 vault into his saddle, and he made courses over the 
 meadow, but ever came back to Birdalone as she 
 went her ways, riding round and round her, and 
 tossing his sword into the air the while and catch- 
 ing it as it fell. And no less lovely did this seem 
 to Birdalone, and she smiled on him and waved her 
 hand to him. 
 
 Going slowly in this wise, she came at last to the 
 castle gate ; and now had all those three out-gone 
 her and stood afoot in the wicket to welcome her, 
 and the Golden Knight, who was the oldest of the 
 three, was the speaker of the welcome. 
 
 Over the threshold of the Castle of the Quest 
 went Birdalone's feet then, and she was grown so 
 happy as she had never deemed she should be all 
 her life long. 
 
CHAPTER V. BIRDALONE HAS TRUE 
 TOKENS FROM THE CHAMPIONS OF 
 THE QUEST. 
 
 NOW they brought Birdalone into a very fair 
 chamber, where was presently everything 
 she might need, save a tiring woman, which, 
 forsooth, was no lack unto her, since never had she 
 had any to help her array her body. So she did 
 what she might to make herself the trimmer ; and 
 in a while came two fair swains of service, who 
 brought her in all honour into the great hall, where 
 were the three lords abiding her. There were they 
 served well and plenteously, and fair was the con- 
 verse between them ; and in especial was the talk 
 of Arthur the Black Squire goodly and wise and 
 cheery, and well-measured ; and the Green Knight's 
 speech merry and kind, as of an happy child ; and 
 the Golden Knight spake ever free and kindly, 
 though not of many words was he. And who was 
 happy if Birdalone were not ? 
 
 But when they had eaten and washed their hands, 
 then spake the Golden Knight : Dear maiden, now 
 are we ready to hear the innermost of thine errand, 
 all we together, if thou wilt. 
 
 Birdalone smiled and reddened withal, as she 
 said : Fair lords, I doubt not but ye are even they 
 unto whom I was sent, but they who sent me, and 
 who saved me from death and worse, bade me do 
 mine errand in such a way, that I should speak 
 with each one of you privily, and that for a token 
 each should tell me a thing known but to him and 
 
l68 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 his love, and to me unto whom she hath told it. 
 Now am I all ready to do mine errand thus, and 
 no other wise. 
 
 Laughed they now, and were merry, and the 
 Green Knight blushed like a maiden ; forsooth like 
 to his very speech-friend Viridis. But the Black 
 Squire said : Fair fellows, get we all into the plea- 
 sance this fair morn, and sit there on the grass, and 
 our sweet lady shall take us one after other into 
 the plashed alley, and have the tokens of us. 
 
 Even so they did, and went into the pleasance, 
 which was a goodly little garth south of the castle, 
 grassed, and set thick with roses and lilies and gilly- 
 flowers, and other fragrant flowers. There then 
 they sat on the daisied greensward, the three lords 
 together, and Birdalone over against them, and 
 they three watched her beauty and loveliness and 
 wondered thereat. 
 
 But she said : Now it comes to the very point 
 of mine errand ; wherefore I bid thee, Baudoin the 
 Golden Knight, to come apart with me and an- 
 swer to my questions, so that I may know surely 
 that I am doing mine errand aright. 
 
 Therewith she arose to her feet, and he also, and 
 he led her into the plashed alley, out of earshot of 
 the other twain, who lay upon the grass biding their 
 turn with but little patience. 
 
 But when those two were in the deep shade of 
 the alley, Birdalone said : Thou must know. Sir 
 Golden Knight, that the three lovers of you three 
 were good to me in my need, and clad my naked- 
 ness from their very bodies, but this raiment they 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 169 
 
 lent me, and gave it not ; for they bade me give it 
 up piece by piece each unto the one who had given 
 it to his love, whom I should know by the token 
 that he should tell truly the tale of its giving. 
 Now, fair sir, I know well, for I have been told, 
 what was the tale of thy giving this golden gown 
 to Aurea, and that same tale shalt thou now tell me, 
 and if thou tell it aright, then is the gown thine. 
 Begin, then, without more tarrying. 
 
 Lady, said the knight, thus it was : Aurea, my 
 sweetling, abode with an ancient dame, a kinswoman 
 of hers, who was but scantly kind to her ; and on 
 a day when we had met privily, and were talking 
 together, my love lamented the niggard ways of her 
 said kinswoman, and told how she had no goodly 
 gown to make her fair when feasts were toward ; 
 but I laughed at her, and told her that so clad as 
 she was (and her attire was verily but simple) she 
 was fairer than any other ; and then, as ye may wot, 
 there was kissing and clipping between us ; but at 
 last, as from the first I meant it, I promised her I 
 would purvey her such a gown as no lady should 
 go with a better in all the country-side ; but I said 
 that in return I must have the gown she went in 
 then, which had so long embraced her body and 
 been strained so close to her body and her sides, and 
 was as it were a part of her. That she promised 
 me with kisses, and I went away as merry as a bird. 
 Straightway thereafter I did do make this very 
 gown, which thou bearest, dear maiden, and on the 
 appointed day she came out to me unto the same 
 place clad as she was before ; but the new gown I 
 
lyo THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 had with me. Hard by our trysting-place was a 
 hazel-copse thick enow, for it was midsummer, and 
 she said she would go thereinto and shift gowns, 
 and bear me out thence the gift of the old clout 
 (so she called it, laughing merrily). But I said : 
 Nay, I would go into the copse with her to guard 
 her from evil things, beasts or men ; and withal to 
 see her do off the old gown, that I might know be- 
 fore I wedded her whatlike stuffing and padding 
 went to make the grace of her flanks and her hips. 
 And again was she merry, and she said : Come, 
 then, thou Thomas unbelieving, and see the side 
 of me. So we went into that cover together, and 
 she did off her gown before mine eyes, and stood 
 there in her white coat with her arms bare, and her 
 shoulders and bosom little covered, and she was 
 as lovely as a woman of the faery. Then I made 
 no prayer unto her for leave, but took my arms 
 about her, and kissed her arms and shoulders and 
 bosom all she would suffer me, for I was mad with 
 love of her naked flesh. Then she did on this 
 golden gown, and departed when she had given me 
 the old clout aforesaid, and I went away with it, 
 scarce feeling the ground beneath my feet ; and I 
 set the dear gown in a fair little coffer, and here in 
 this castle I have it now, and many times I take it 
 forth and kiss it and lay my head upon it. Now 
 this is a simple tale, lady, and I am ashamed that I 
 have made it so long for thee. And yet I know 
 not; for thou seemest to me so kind and loving and 
 true, that I am fain that thou shouldest know how 
 sorely I love thy friend and mine. 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 17 1 
 
 Birdalone deemed Baudoin a good man indeed, 
 and the tears came into her eyes as she answered 
 and said : True is thy tale, dear friend, and I have 
 deemed it rather short than long. I see well that 
 thou art Aurea's very lover ; and it joys me to 
 think that thou, O terrible champion, art yet so 
 tender and true. Now is the golden gown thine, 
 but I will pray thee to lend it me a little longer. 
 But this jewel shalt thou have from my neck here 
 and now ; and thou knowest whence it came, thine 
 Aurea's neck forsooth. 
 
 Therewith she betook it him, and he held it in 
 his hand doubtfully a while, and then he said : 
 Dear maiden, I thank thee, but I will^ take this 
 collar, and lay it in my casket, and be glad thereof; 
 and that the more, as, now I look on thee, I see 
 nought missing from the loveliness of thine own 
 neck. 
 
 Go to thy fellows now, said Birdalone, and send 
 me the Green Knight, the goodly lad. So went 
 he, and presently came Hugh thither merry and 
 smiling, and said : Thou hast been long about the 
 first token, sweet mistress ; I fear me I shall make 
 no such goodly story as hath Baudoin. And yet, 
 said she, Viridis' tale was the longest of all. I 
 doubt thou mayst fail in the token. And she 
 laughed ; and he no less, and took her by the 
 shoulders, and kissed her cheek frankly, and in 
 such wise that she feared him nought, and said : 
 Now that is to pay thee for thy gibe ; what wouldst 
 thou have of me ? Said Birdalone : I would have 
 thee tell me how it was that Viridis came by the 
 
172 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 smock with the green boughs aflame, which now 
 I bear upon me. 
 
 Hearken, darling lady, said he : On a day Viri- 
 dis and I were alone in the meadow, and so happy, 
 that we might find nought to do save to fall into 
 strife together ; and I said it to her, that she loved 
 me not as well as I loved her ; which, by the way, 
 was no less than a lie, for of all things living she 
 is the most loving, and when we be together she 
 knoweth not how to make enough of me. Well, 
 we fell to wrangling after the manner of lovers, till 
 I, having nothing else to say, bade her remember 
 that since we had first come to love each other, I 
 had given her many things, and she had given me 
 nothing. Lo, then ! my dear, what an ill-condi- 
 tioned lad was I. But, little as I meant it, she 
 took it all amiss, and leapt up, and fell to running 
 back home over the meadow ; thou mayst think 
 how easily I caught up with her, and how little 
 loth she was to be dragged back by the shoulders. 
 So when we were sitting again under the thorn- 
 bush, we had well-nigh done our wrangle ; but she 
 unlaced her gown and drew down a corner thereof, 
 to show me her shoulder, how I had hurt it e'en 
 now; and forsooth some little mark there was on 
 the rose-leaf skin ; and that made good time for 
 kissing again, as ye may well wot. Then she said 
 unto me: And how may I, a poor damsel, give 
 thee gifts, and my kindred all greedy about me ? 
 Yet would I give thee a gift, such as I may, if I 
 but knew what thou wouldst take. Now my heart 
 was afire with that kissing of her shoulder, and 1 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 173 
 
 said that I would have that very same smock from 
 her body, which then she bore, and that thereof I 
 should deem that I had a rich gift indeed. What ! 
 said she, and wouldst thou have it here and now ? 
 And indeed I think she would have done it off 
 her that minute had I pressed her, but I lacked 
 the boldness thereto ; and I said : Nay, but would 
 she bring it unto me the next time we met ; and 
 forsooth she brought it folded in a piece of green 
 silk, and dearly have I loved it and kissed it sith- 
 ence. But as for thy smock, I had it fairly wrought 
 and embroidered with the flaming green branches, 
 as thou seest it, and I gave it to her ; but not on 
 the day when she gave me the gift ; for the new 
 one was long about doing. Now this is all the 
 tale, and how Viridis might eke it into a long one, 
 I wot not. But let it be, and tell me, have I won 
 thy smock, or lost it ? 
 
 Birdalone laughed on him and said : Well, at 
 least thou shalt have it as a gift ; and thou mayst 
 call it given either by Viridis or me, which thou 
 wilt. But with it goes another gift, which thou 
 mayst have at once since thou must lend me the 
 smock a little longer. And therewith she betook 
 him her girdle, and he kissed it, but said : Nay, 
 fair lady, this befitteth well the loveliness of thy 
 body that thou shouldst wear it ; and well it be- 
 fitteth the truth and love of thy soul to ward it for 
 me ; I pray thee to keep it. Nevertheless, she 
 said, I will not have it, for it goeth with mine errand 
 that thou take it of me. Now I bid thee depart, 
 and send hither thy fellow, the Black Squire. 
 
174 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Went he then, and anon comes the Black Squire, 
 and now that he was alone with Birdalone this first 
 time, he seemed moody and downcast, all unlike 
 the two others. He stood a little aloof from Bird- 
 alone, and said : What wouldst thou ask of me ? 
 Her heart was somewhat chilled by his moodiness, 
 for erst had she deemed him the kindest of the 
 three ; but she said : It is of mine errand to ask of 
 thee concerning this foot-gear which Atra lent me 
 until I give it unto thee, if thou be verily her lover. 
 Said he : I was verily her lover. Birdalone said : 
 Then canst thou tell me the manner of thy giving 
 these fair shoon unto Atra ? 
 
 He said : Even so ; we were walking together 
 in this country-side and came to a ford of the river, 
 and it was somewhat deep and took me to over the 
 knee, so I bore her over in my arms ; then we went 
 on a little further till we must cross the river back 
 again in another place, and there the ford was shal- 
 lower, and, the day being hot, Atra must needs 
 wade it on her own feet. So she did off hosen and 
 shoon, and I led her by the hand, and it took her 
 but up to mid-leg. But when we came up out of 
 the water and were on the grass again, I craved the 
 gift of her foot-gear for the love of her, and she 
 gave it straightway, and fared home barefoot, for 
 it was over the meads we were wending in early 
 summer, and the grass was thick and soft. But 
 thereafter I did do make the fair shoon which thou 
 hast on thy feet, and gave them to her. And, for 
 a further token that my tale is true, I shall tell thee 
 that the name of the first ford we waded that day 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 175 
 
 is the Grey-nag's Wade, and the second is called 
 Goat Ford. This is all my tale, lady ; is the token 
 true ? 
 
 True it is, squire, said Birdalone, and was silent 
 awhile, and he also. Then she looked on him 
 friendly, and said : Thou art out of heart as now, 
 my friend. Fear not, for thou shalt without doubt 
 see thy speech-friend again. Moreover here is a 
 ring which she set upon my finger, bidding me give 
 it thee. And she held it out unto him. 
 
 He took the ring, and said : Yea, it is best that 
 I have it of thee, lest unluck come thereof. She 
 saw trouble in his face, but knew not what to say 
 to cheer him, and they stood silently facing one 
 another for awhile. Then he said : Let us back to 
 our fellows, and talk it over, what is now to be 
 done. 
 
 So they went their ways to where lay the other 
 two upon the green grass, and the Black Squire 
 lay down beside them ; but Birdalone stood before 
 them and spake unto the three. 
 
CHAPTER VI. HOW THE CHAM- 
 PIONS WOULD DO BIRDALONE TO 
 BE CLAD ANEW IN THE CASTLE 
 OF THE QUEST. 
 
 LORDS, she said, now is it clear by the tokens 
 that mine errand is to you and none other ; 
 now therefore am I to tell you what to do to 
 come unto your speech-friends and deliver them 
 and bring them back hither. For this is their case, 
 that they are in captivity in a wonder-isle of this 
 great water, and it is called the Isle of Increase 
 Unsought. 
 
 Spake the Golden Knight : Fair lady, we have 
 heard before that our friends fared hence, or rather 
 were taken hence over the water. And that is the 
 cause why we builded this castle on the water's edge, 
 on the very stead where was raised the pavilion, the 
 house made for the ladies to abide therein the battle 
 of the Champions. Since that time, moreover, 
 many a barge and keel have we thrust out into the 
 water, that we might accomplish the Quest where- 
 unto we were vowed ; but ever one way went our 
 seafaring, that when we were come so far out into 
 the water as to lose sight of land, came upon us 
 mist, rose against us dusk and darkness ; and then 
 a fierce driving wind that drave us back to this 
 shore. It is but six days ago since we tried this 
 adventure for the last time, and belike the same 
 shall befall us the next time we try it. Wherefore 
 I must ask thee, lady, dost thou know any way 
 whereby we may come to the said isle ^ For if thou 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 177 
 
 dost, full surely we will try it, whatsoever may be 
 the risk thereby to our bodies or our souls. 
 
 Full surely I do, said Birdalone ; else how had 
 I come from thence hither mine own self? And 
 therewith she told them of the Sending Boat, what 
 it was, and how she had come all the way by means 
 thereof from the Isle of Increase Unsought; and 
 they all hearkened her heedfully, and wondered 
 both at the sorcery, and the valiant heart of her who 
 had driven it as she would in despite of the evil. 
 But in the end she spake and said : Lords, ye have 
 now heard some deal of my story, even that which 
 concerns you thereof, and which must needs be told 
 at once : wherefore doubtless ye shall fare unto 
 your speech-friends by this ferry in the very wise 
 that I shall show you ; unless perchance ye deem 
 that I have been lying and making light tales to 
 you, as, sooth to say, I deem ye think it not. 
 
 Spake the Golden Knight : Damsel, in all wise 
 we trow in thee and thy tale. And God forbid that 
 we should tarry ! Go we hence this very day. 
 
 Yea, but hearken, said the Black Squire : Is it 
 not a part of this damsel's errand that she should 
 deliver to us the raiment of our friends, which now 
 she beareth on her own body, that we may bear it 
 back unto them .'' 
 
 Sooth is that, said Birdalone, and ye may well 
 wot that this may be nought but needful, whereas 
 the said ladies be all beset by sorceries. 
 
 See ye then, fellows, said the Black Squire, it may 
 not be to-day nor yet to-morrow that we may take 
 the road. For yewot that there is no woman's gear 
 
 13 
 
1 78 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 in all the castle, and we must needs send otherwhere 
 to seek it. 
 
 Look thou, maiden, said the Golden Knight, 
 laughing, how duly this young knight thinketh of 
 thee ; whereas I, who am his elder, and should be 
 wiser than he, am but heedless of thee. 1 pray thy 
 pardon. 
 
 Moreover, said the Black Squire, there may well 
 be wisdom in abiding ; for it is to be thought that 
 our dear loves considered this, and knew what the 
 time of tarrying should be, and have so dight their 
 matter as to fit in therewith ; and I may not deem 
 it of them that they would have us array this our 
 dear sister and theirs in unseemly wise. Nay, for 
 that would be an ill beginning of this deal of the 
 Quest. 
 
 Now all yeasaid this gladly ; and the Green 
 Knight said : It were not so ill done that we should 
 see more of our sister here ere we depart, and hear 
 more of her tale ; for meseemeth she began it ere- 
 while but half-way. And he turned to Birdalone, 
 and took her hand and caressed it. 
 
 Birdalone smiled on them somewhat shyly, and 
 thanked them ; but bade them spend as little time 
 as might be on her arrayal. For, said she, though 
 those ladies may well have reckoned on the time of 
 the arrayal of my body, yet surely also they shall 
 have reckoned with the eager fire of love in the 
 hearts of you, and the haste it shall breed therein. 
 
 Well pleased were they with that word of hers, 
 but none the less sent two sergeants and a squire 
 with led horses unto the cheaping-town, a goodly 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 179 
 
 and great town hight Greenford, which was some 
 twenty miles thence^j^ith the errand to bring back 
 "wtr h ihuii "^ ""good shaper and embroideress, and 
 sewing-women, and cloth and silk and linen, and 
 all things needful. 
 
 As for jewels, each one of them was fain to give 
 her something which he prized, and fair and rich 
 were the gifts, though they had not been made for 
 women. As a fair SS collar of gold, which the 
 Golden Knight gave her, and a girdle of broad 
 golden plates, wrought beauteously, which was the 
 gift of the Black Squire. Albeit he did not offer 
 to clasp it round her loins, as she deemed he would ; 
 for when the Green Knight brought his gift, a 
 great gold ring, very ancient of fashion, he would 
 have her turn back the sleeve from her fore-arm, 
 that he might set his dwarf-wrought gold upon 
 the bare flesh ; neither did he refrain him from 
 kissing it withal. 
 
 But the messengers came back with their work- 
 women and stuffs early on the morrow ; and now 
 was changed all the manner of the womanless castle, 
 and men were full merry therein. 
 
CHAPTER VII. OF BIRDALONE, HOW 
 SHE TOLD THE CHAMPIONS ALL HER 
 TALE. 
 
 IT was a matter of eight days, the making of all 
 Birdalone's raiment, and meanwhile she was 
 ever with the three Champions, either all three 
 together, or one or other of them. And as to their 
 manners with her, ever was the Golden Knight of 
 somewhat sober demeanour, as if he were an older 
 man than he verily was. The Green Knight was 
 for ever praising Birdalone's beauty to her face, 
 and seemed to find it no easy matter to keep his 
 eyes off her, and somewhat he wearied her with 
 kisses and caresses ; but a gay and sportive lad he 
 was ; and when she rebuked him for his overmuch 
 fondness, as now and again she did, he would laugh 
 at himself along with her ; and in sooth she deemed 
 him heart-whole, and of all truth to Viridis, and oft 
 he would talk of her to Birdalone, and praise her 
 darling beauty to her, and tell of his longing for 
 his love aloof. Only, quoth he, here art thou, my 
 sister, dwelling amongst us, and shedding thy fra- 
 grance on us, and showing to us, wilt thou, wilt thou 
 not, as do the flowers, all the grace and loveliness 
 of thee i and thou so tender of heart withal, that 
 thou must not blame me overmuch if whiles I for- 
 get that thou art my sister, and that my love is, 
 woe's me ! far away. So thou wilt pardon me, wilt 
 thou not? Yea, verily, said she, with a whole heart. 
 Yet thou needest not reach out for my hand ; thou 
 hast had enough of it this morning. And she hid 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE gUEST l8l 
 
 it, laughing, in the folds of her gown ; and he 
 laughed also, and said : Of a truth thou art good 
 in all wise, and a young fool am I ; but Viridis 
 shall make me wiser, when we come together again. 
 Sawest thou ever so fair a damsel ? Never, she 
 said, and surely there is none fairer in all the world. 
 So hold thee aloof now for a while, and think of 
 her. 
 
 As for the Black Squire, hight Arthur, Bird- 
 alone was troubled for him, and he made her some- 
 what sad. True it is that he came not before her 
 again so moody and downcast as when he was giv- 
 ing her the token ; yet she deemed that he enforced 
 himself to seem of good cheer. Furthermore, 
 though he sought her company ever, and that 
 lonely with him, and would talk with her almost 
 as one man with another, though with a certain 
 tenderness in his voice, and looking earnestly on 
 her the while, yet never would he take her hand, 
 or touch her in any wise. And true it is that she 
 longed for the touch of his hand. 
 
 On the third day of her sojourn in the Castle 
 of the Quest, Birdalone took heart at the much 
 egging of her friends, as they sat all together in 
 the meadow without the castle, to tell them all the 
 story of her ; she hid none, save concerning the 
 wood-mother, for she deemed that her sweet friend 
 would love her the better if she babbled not of 
 her. 
 
 So the Champions hearkened her telling the tale 
 in her clear lovely voice, anci great was their love 
 and pity for the poor lonely maiden. And in espe- 
 
1 82 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 cial clear it was to see that they were sore moved 
 when she told how she first came on the Sending 
 Boat, and how the witch-wife tormented her inno- 
 cent body for that guilt. Then Baudoin laid his 
 hand upon her head, and spake : Poor child, much 
 indeed hast thou suffered ! and now I will say it, 
 that it was for us and our loves that thou hast borne 
 all this anguish of captivity and toil and stripes. 
 
 But Hugh leaned over to her, as she sat with her 
 head hanging down, and kissed her cheek, and said : 
 Yea ! and I was not there to smite the head off" that 
 accursed one; and I knew nought of thee and thine 
 anguish, as I took my light pleasure about these 
 free meadows. And he turned very red, and went 
 nigh to weep. 
 
 Arthur sat still with his eyes bent down on the 
 ground, and he said nothing; and Birdalone glanced 
 on him wistfully ere she went on with her tale. And 
 she went on and told closely all that had happened 
 unto her in the crossing of the water and on the 
 Isle of Increase Unsought, and the other Wonder 
 Isles ; and she deemed it not too much that she 
 should tell it twice over, nor they that twice over 
 they should hearken it. 
 
 That same evening as Birdalone walked by her- 
 self in the castle pleasance, she saw Arthur peering 
 about as if he were seeking someone ; so she stood 
 forth, and asked him was he seeking aught ; and 
 he said : Thee was I seeking. But she durst not 
 ask him what he would, but stood silent and trem- 
 bling before him, till he took her hand, and spake 
 not loud but eagerly. 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 183 
 
 After what thou hast told us to-day, I seem to 
 know thee what thou art ; and 1 tell thee that it is 
 a pain and grief to me to leave thee, yea to leave 
 thee were it but for a minute. O I pray thee pity 
 me for the sundering. And therewith he turned 
 about and hastened into the castle. But Birdalone 
 stood there with her heart beating fast and her flesh 
 quivering, and a strange sweetness ofjoy took hold 
 of her. But she said to herself that it was no won- 
 der though she felt so happy, seeing that she had 
 found out that, despite her fears, this one of her 
 friends loved her no less well than the others. And 
 then she spake it in a soft voice that she would 
 indeed pity him for the sundering, yea, and herself 
 also. 
 
 Nevertheless, when they met thereafter, his de- 
 meanour to her was none otherwise than it had 
 been ; but she no longer heeded this since now she 
 trowed in him. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. IN THE MEANWHILE 
 OF THE DEPARTING OF THE CHAM- 
 PIONS, THEY WOULD PLEASURE 
 BIRDALONE WITH FEATS OF ARMS 
 AND GAMES OF PROWESS. 
 
 PASSED the days now speedily, and the three 
 Champions did what they might for the solace 
 of Birdalone. For they and their household 
 showed her of arms, and they tilted together cour- 
 teously ; and the sergeants stood forth, and shot in 
 the bow before her, till she herself by their bidding 
 took the bow in hand, and shot straighter and well- 
 nigh as hard as the best man there, whereat they 
 marvelled, and praised her much. 
 
 Then the young men ran afoot before her for 
 the prize of a belt and knife, and forsooth she 
 wotted well that were she to run against them with 
 trussed-up skirts she would bear off the prize ; but 
 she had no heart thereto, for amidst them all, and 
 her new friendships, she had grown shamefast, and 
 might play the wood-maiden no longer. 
 
 Yet twice the Champions fared further afield 
 with her to show her some woodcraft ; yet were not 
 very free to go far, because of the ill neighbours 
 whereof the chaplain had told her that first night 
 of her coming. 
 
 And in all these pastimes, whatso they were, 
 Birdalone bore herself well and merrily, and put 
 from her the sorrow of the sundering, and the peril 
 of her dear friends which grew now so near at 
 hand. 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 185 
 
 The chaplain aforesaid, who hight Leonard, she 
 fell in with not seldom ; and he was ever meek and 
 humble before her ; and ever withal was sorrow easy 
 to be seen in his countenance, and trouble withal ; 
 and she knew not how to help him, save by being 
 courteous and kind with him whenso they met ; 
 but none the more might he pluck up cheerful 
 countenance in answer to her kindness. 
 
 With Sir Aymeris, the grizzle-haired castellan, 
 she foregathered also oft enough, and could not 
 forbear some merry gibes with him concerning their 
 first meeting, and how that she had been a bur- 
 den and a terror to him ; and these mocks she 
 made him because she saw it liked him not ill to 
 be mocked in friendly fashion ; though forsooth 
 betwixt the laughter he looked on her somewhat 
 ruefully. And ever, ere he parted from her, he 
 made occasion to kiss her hands ; and she suffered 
 it smiling, and was debonair to him ; whereas she 
 saw that he was of good will to her. In such wise 
 then wore the hours and the days. 
 
CHAPTER IX. BIRDALONE COMETH 
 BEFORE THE CHAMPIONS IN HER 
 NEW ARRAY. 
 
 NOW the time was come when Birdalone had 
 all her gear ready, and the women were to 
 abide in the castle as her serving-damsels 
 while the Champions were away. 
 
 So now in the summer eve, an hour before sun- 
 set, Birdalone did on the richest of her new rai- 
 ment, and came into the hall where sat the Three 
 together, and Sir Aymeris with them. She was so 
 clad, that she had on a green gown with broidered 
 sleeves, and thereover a white cote-hardie welted 
 with gold, and gold-embroidered ; on her feet were 
 gold shoon of window-work, pearled and gemmed ; 
 and on her head a rose garland ; on her neck she 
 bore the Golden Knight's collar ; her loins were 
 girt with the Black Squire's girdle ; and on her 
 wrist was the Green Knight's ancient gold ring; 
 and she carried In her arms Aurea's gown and 
 Viridis' shift and Atra's shoon. 
 
 Rather sunrise than sunset it seemed, as verily 
 birdalone she came into the hall with bright eager 
 eyes, and flushed cheeks, and countenance smil- 
 ing with love. The men stood up all, and would 
 come down from the dais to meet her ; but she 
 bade them go back, and sit each in his place till 
 she stood before them. 
 
 Up the hall then she walked, and every step of 
 hers seemed lovelier than the last, till she came 
 to them and gave unto each his keepsake, and said : 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 187 
 
 Champions, now is mine errand all done, save that 
 to-morrow I must show you the manner of the 
 Sending Boat. Now there is nought save the dark- 
 ness of the coming night to hinder you from this 
 last deal of your Quest ; and it is I that have 
 brought you to this, and have done this good unto 
 you, if no more good I do in the world. Where- 
 fore I pray you to love me ever, and bear me ever 
 in your minds. 
 
 They gazed on her, and were overcome by her 
 loveliness and grace, and by the kindness and val- 
 iancy of her heart. Next arose the Golden Knight, 
 Baudoin to wit, and took a cross from his breast, 
 and held it up, and spake : Maiden, thou sayest 
 well, and never shall we forget thee, or cease to love 
 thee ; and here I swear by God upon the Tree, that 
 it shall be a light thing for me to die for thee, if in 
 any need I find thee. Brethren, will ye not swear 
 the same ? And this is but thy due, maiden, for I 
 declare unto thee, that when thou didst enter the 
 hall e'en now, it was as if the very sun of heaven 
 was coming in unto us. 
 
 Thereon the other two took the Rood and swore 
 upon it : and Hugh was hushed and meek and sad- 
 faced after he had sworn ; but Arthur the Black 
 Squire bowed down his head and wept, and his 
 fellows marvelled nought thereat, neither did Bird- 
 alone ; and all her body yearned toward him to 
 solace him. 
 
 Now turned Sir Baudoin to the castellan and 
 said : Sir Aymeris, I will now swear thee to guard 
 this lady as the apple of thine eye whiles we three 
 
l88 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 be away, and therein to spare neither thyself nor 
 others. For thou seest well what grief it would be 
 to us if she came to any harm. 
 
 And to me also, said the castellan. And there- 
 with he swore upon the Rood, and then came round 
 the table, and knelt before Birdalone, and kissed 
 her hands. 
 
 Thereafter were they all silent a space ; and then 
 came Birdalone to the inner side of the table and 
 sat betwixt Baudoin and Hugh. But the Black 
 Squire took up the word and spake: Birdalone, 
 sweet child, one thing is to be said, to wit, that it 
 were well that thou keep within walls while we be 
 away ; or at least that thou go but a little beyond 
 the castle, and never but within a half bowshot, save 
 thou be well accompanied. For there be men of 
 violence dwelling no great way off, reivers and 
 rovers, who would be well pleased to take from us 
 anything which we deem dear ; besides others who 
 would think the lifting of such a jewel good hap 
 indeed. Sir Aymeris, have a care of the^Red_ 
 Knight ; and if thou mightest come by a few more 
 stout lads, to wage them, it were well. 
 
 Birdalone heeded not what the castellan an- 
 swered, such a shaft of joy went to her heart when 
 she heard that friend speak her own name in such 
 wise as he had never done erst, and that before 
 them all. She but murmured some yeasay to that 
 which Arthur had spoken unto her, and then she 
 held her peace for the sweetness of that moment. 
 
 So there they sat and talked a while in dear and 
 pleasant converse ; and Hugh fell to asking her 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 189 
 
 of her life in the House under the Wood, and she 
 answered all frankly and simply, and the more she 
 told the dearer she seemed to them. 
 
 Thus drew night in, till folk came flockmeal into 
 the hall ; for needs must be feast and banquet for 
 triumph of the furtherance of the Quest ; and the 
 most of men were merry ; but somewhat sober were 
 all the three Champions, so that whoso ran might 
 read it in their faces. As for Birdalone, she showed 
 cheerful to all that folk which loved her and praised 
 her ; but inwardly sorrow had come home to her 
 heart. 
 
CHAPTER X. THE CHAMPIONS GO 
 THEIR WAYS IN THE SENDING BOAT. 
 
 WHEN the sun was arisen on the morrow 
 the three Champions went down to the 
 landing-place, and there was none with 
 them ; for they had given command that no man 
 should pry into their doings. Thither to them 
 Cometh Birdalone, clad no more in her gay attire, 
 but in a strait black coat and with unshod feet ; and 
 she looked no sorrier than she was. 
 
 By Birdalone's rede the Champions bore down 
 in their own hands the victual and weapons and 
 armour that they needed for the voyage ; for she 
 knew not but that the Sending Boat might take it 
 amiss that any should touch her save the senders. 
 And when they had done lading her, then all four 
 stood together by the water's edge, and Birdalone 
 spake to her friends, and again bade them beware 
 of the wiles of the Isle of Nothing; and again she 
 told them of the woful images of the Isle of Kings 
 and the Isle of Queens, and the strange folk of the 
 Isle of the Young and the Old. Then she said : 
 Now when ye come to the Isle of Increase Un- 
 sought, what think ye to do ? Said the Green 
 Knight : If I might rule, we should go straight up 
 to the witch sitting in her hall, as thou toldest us, 
 my dear, and then and there smite the head from 
 off her. His eyes flashed and his brow knitted, 
 and so fierce he looked that Birdalone shrank back 
 from him ; but the Black Squire smiled and said : 
 It may come to the smiting off of heads in the end ; 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 19 1 
 
 yet must we so fashion our carving, that it avail us 
 for the freeing of our friends ; else may the witch 
 die, and the secret of the prison-hous^ die with her. 
 How sayest thou, dear Birdalone ? 
 
 She reddened at the caress of his voice, and an- 
 swered : By my rede ye shall seek and find your 
 speech-friends ere ye make open war upon the witch ; 
 else may her malice destroy them ere ye undo her. 
 Her face flushed yet more as she spake again : 
 But concerning all things, I deem that Atra may 
 give you the best rede, when ye have met the loves ; 
 for that she knoweth more of the isle and its guiles 
 than the others. 
 
 Quoth Baudoin: Herein is wisdom, sweet 
 maiden, for as guileless as thou mayst be; and so 
 far as we may we shall follow thy rede ; but all 
 lieth in the fathom of the coming time. And now 
 this moment is the moment of sundering and fare- 
 well. 
 
 Came he then to Birdalone and took his two 
 hands about her head, and lifted her face unto him, 
 and kissed it kindly, as a father might kiss a daugh- 
 ter, and said : Farewell, dear child, and take heed 
 to the word that Arthur spake yesterday, and go 
 not from the castle even a little way save with good 
 and sure company. 
 
 Then came Hugh to her, and took her hand 
 somewhat timidly ; but she put up her face to him 
 in simple wise, and he kissed either cheek of her, 
 and said no more than : Farewell, Birdalone! 
 
 Lastly came Arthur, and stood before her a little; 
 and then he knelt down on the stones before her 
 
192 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and kissed her feet many times, and she shuddered 
 and caught her breath as they felt his kisses; but 
 neither he nor she spake a word, and he stood up 
 and turned away at once toward the Sending Boat, 
 and boarded her first of the three ; and the others 
 followed straightway. 
 
 Thereafter the Champions bared each an arm, 
 and let blood flow thence into a bowl, and reddened 
 stem and stern of their barge, and then all three 
 spake the spell together thus, as Birdalone had 
 taught them : 
 
 The red raven-wine now 
 
 Hast thou drunk, stern and bow : 
 
 Wake then, and awake. 
 
 And the northern way take ! 
 
 The way of the Wenders forth over the flood. 
 
 For the will of the Senders is blent with the blood. 
 
 Went all as before thereafter, that the Sending 
 Boat stirred under them, and then turned about 
 and pointed her bows to the northward, and sped 
 swiftly over the waters. It was a fair sunny day, 
 with no cloud, nought save the summer haze lying 
 on the lake far away. Birdalone stood watching 
 the speeding of the boat, till she could see it no 
 longer, not even as a fleck on the face of the waters. 
 Then she turned away and went toward her cham- 
 ber, saying to herself that the sundering was easier 
 to bear than she had deemed it would be, and that 
 she had a many things to do that day. But when 
 she came into her chamber, and shut the door, she 
 looked about her on the things which had grown 
 so familiar to her in these few latter days, and she 
 
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST 193 
 
 stood watching the bright sunshine that streamed 
 across the floor and lay warm upon her feet ; then 
 she took three steps toward the window, and saw 
 the lake lying all a-glitter under the sun, and her 
 heart failed her withal, and she had no might so 
 much as to think about her sorrow and caress it, 
 but fell down where she was swooning on to the 
 floor, and lay there, while all the house began to 
 stir about her. 
 
 Here ends the Third Part of the Water 
 of the Wondrous Isles, which is called Of the 
 Castle of the Quest, and begins the fourth 
 Part of the said tale, which is called Of the 
 Days of Abiding. 
 
 13 
 
THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS 
 ISLES. THE FOURTH PART: OF 
 THE DAYS OF ABIDING. 
 
 CHAPTER I. OF BIRDALONE'S GRIEF; 
 AND OF LEONARD THE CHAPLAIN. 
 
 NOW came Birdalone to herself, and that was 
 but little joy unto her, and she yet lay still 
 on the floor for a while, for she loathed the 
 hour that was to come. Then the life stirred in 
 her, and whereas she would not that her women 
 should find her there, she stood up, and clad her- 
 self somewhat more seemly ; yet she did on her 
 black raiment ; and determined in her mind that 
 nought would she wear save black unadorned while 
 her friends were away. 
 
 She betook her now to the chamber where her 
 women were gathered together, and watched them 
 working a while, but spake nought. Then she 
 went her ways into the pleasance, and paced the 
 plashed alley up and down, letting the tears run 
 down from her as they would. Then she turned 
 back into the castle, and went out-a-gates and 
 walked over the meadow a little, and might well 
 have gone further than wisdom would. But the 
 castellan espied her from a window, and came hur- 
 rying out after her, and with many prayers for par- 
 don, brought her back again, babbling to her by 
 the way ; but not a word might he get from her ; 
 and when he came into the hall with her, and. 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 195 
 
 after his wont, knelt down to kiss her hands, she 
 caught them away from him peevishly, and was 
 sorry for it thereafter. 
 
 Long she sat in the hall, scarce moving, till she 
 heard one entering from the screen, and lo it was 
 Leonard the chaplain. He came her way, and 
 showed her rueful countenance ; and pity of him 
 smote her, and she remembered therewith how 
 they first went out of gates together ; and at the 
 thought thereof her tears brake forth again, but 
 she made him a sign with her hand to sit down 
 beside her, and he did so ; and when she might 
 for her weeping, she looked kindly on him, and 
 he fell to talk, making as if he noted not her tears 
 and sorrow ; but she answered him little, for she 
 had shame to begin the talk concerning the 
 Champions and their Quest, and their departure ; 
 yet might she not bring her tongue to make any 
 speech else. But presently he took up the word, 
 and asked her how long a while she deemed they 
 would be away, and she answered, smiling on him 
 for thanks, and having reckoned the days on her 
 fingers : If all go better than well, they may be 
 back in ten days' time. Said the chaplain : There 
 be longer whiles of waiting in most men's lives. 
 Yea, she said, but this is the delay at the best ; it 
 may be far longer ; for how may we tell what 
 haps may be ? 
 
 Yea, said Leonard, shall we then call it twenty 
 days, or thirty ? Forsooth, that may be long for 
 thee ; though there be some who must needs 
 endure hope deferred a deal longer. But it may 
 
196 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 run out longer than even thirty days, thy waiting- 
 tide. 
 
 She answered not, and he said : Whenso the time 
 hangs heavy on hand with thee, if thou hast will 
 to fare abroad out of the castle, I shall be ever at 
 hand to guide thee. Indeed, I wot that the cas- 
 tellan will be loth to let thee go ; but he is old and 
 straitlaced : and yet withal he wotteth, as do we all, 
 that there is now little peril or none were we to fare 
 a five miles or more, whereas we are as good as at 
 peace for the last five days with all save the Red 
 Knight, and of him we wot that he is gone into 
 another land with as many of his folk as be not 
 needed for the warding of his hold. 
 
 I thank thee, said Birdalone, but it is like to be 
 my will not to fare out-a-gates till the Champions 
 come back home. I was glad e'en now when the 
 castellan fetched me in again : to say sooth, fear of 
 peril had just entered my heart when he came up 
 with me. 
 
 The priest seemed somewhat chapfallen at her 
 answer. He spake little more, and presently he 
 stood up, made his obeisance, and departed. 
 
CHAPTER II. BIRDALONE LEARN- 
 ETH LORE OF THE PRIEST. TEN 
 DAYS OF WAITING WEAR. 
 
 WORE that day and the next, and Bird- 
 alone fell to talking with her women, 
 whereof were five now left ; and four of 
 them were young, the eldest scarce of thirty sum- 
 mers, and the fifth was a woman of sixty, both wise 
 and kind. All these told her somewhat of their 
 own lives when she asked them ; and some withal 
 told of folk whom they had known or heard tell of. 
 And well pleased was Birdalone to hear thereof, and 
 learn more of the ways of the world, and quick- 
 witted she was at the lesson, so that she needed not 
 to ask many questions. 
 
 Furthermore, she took to her broidering again, 
 and fell to doing a goodly pair of shoon for Atra, 
 since she had worn those borrowed ones somewhat 
 hardly. And the women wondered at her needle- 
 work, so marvellous fine as it was, and how that 
 in little space of time were come flowers and trees, 
 and birds and beasts, all lovely ; and they said that 
 the faery must have learned her that craft. But 
 she laughed and reddened, and thought of the 
 wood-mother; and, sitting there within the four 
 walls, she longed for the oak-glades, and the wood- 
 lawns, and for the sight of the beasts that dwelt 
 therein. 
 
 Again she fell in with Leonard the priest, and 
 he asked her could she read in a book, and when 
 she said nay, he offered to teach her that lore, and 
 
198 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 she yeasaid that joyously ; and thenceforth would 
 she have him with her every day a good while ; and 
 an apt scholar she was, and he no ill master, and 
 she learned her ABC speedily. 
 
 Now it was the ninth day since the Champions 
 were gone, and all that time she had not been out- 
 a-gates ; and after the first two days, had enforced 
 herself to fill up her time with her work as afore- 
 said: but this last day she might do but little, for 
 she could not but take it for sure that the morrow 
 would be the day of return ; nay, even she deemed 
 that they might come in the night-tide; so that 
 when she went to bed, though she was weary, she 
 would wake if she might, so that it was nigh dawn 
 ere she fell asleep. 
 
 Some three hours after she woke up, and heard 
 a sound of folk stirring in the house, and the clash- 
 ing of weapons; and the heart leapt in her, and she 
 said: They are come, they are come! Neverthe- 
 less she durst not get out of bed, lest her hope 
 had beguiled her ; and she lay awake another hour, 
 and no tidings came to her ; and then she wept 
 herself to sleep ; and when she awoke once more, 
 she found that she must have wept sleeping, for 
 the pillow beside her face was all wet with the 
 tears. 
 
 The sun was high now, and his beams were cast 
 back from the ripple of the lake, and shone waver- 
 ing on the wall of the chamber, the window whereof 
 gave on to the water. Then came a hand on the 
 latch of the door, and she started, and her heart 
 grieved her ; but it was one of the women who 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 199 
 
 opened, and came in, and Birdalone rose up sitting 
 in her bed, and said faintly, for she could scarce 
 speak : Is any tiding toward, Catherine ? The maid 
 said : Yes, my lady ; for early after sunrise came 
 weaponed men to the gate, and would sell us beeves ; 
 and my lord. Sir Aymeris, must needs go forth and 
 chaffer with them, though belike they had been 
 lifting what was neither ours, nor theirs, nor the 
 neighbours'. Maybe Sir Aymeris looked to buy 
 tidings from them as well as beef. Anyhow they 
 departed when they had gotten their money and 
 drunk a cup. And now it is said that the Red 
 Knight hath been hurt in some fray, and keepeth 
 his bed ; wherefore the land shall have peace of him 
 awhile. Said Birdalone : I thank thee, good Cathe- 
 rine ; I shall lie a little longer ; depart now. 
 
 The woman went her ways ; and when she was 
 gone, Birdalone wept and sobbed, and writhed 
 upon her bed, and found no solace to her grief. 
 But she arose and paced the chamber, and sithence 
 looked out of the window over the empty water, 
 and wept again. Then she said : Yet they may 
 come ere noon, or it may be ere evening, or per- 
 chance to-morrow morning. And she stayed her 
 weeping, and was calmer. But still she walked the 
 floor, and whiles looked out of window, and whiles 
 she looked on her limbs, and felt the sleekness of 
 her sides, and she said : O my body ! how thou 
 longest ! 
 
 But at last she clad herself in haste, and went 
 stealthily from the chamber, as if she feared to meet 
 anyone ; and she stole up to the tower-top that 
 
200 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 was nighest, and looked through the door on to 
 the leads, and saw no one there ; so she went out, 
 and stood by the battlement, and gazed long over 
 the water, but saw neither boat nor burning moun- 
 tain coming towards her. 
 
CHAPTER III. NOW WOULD BIRD- 
 ALONE RIDE ABROAD. 
 
 AFTER a while she came down again, and 
 went to the women, and sat working with 
 them a while, an4'SQ--WQr£_awaj^Jj yQ h -e iirs r- 
 Then she sent for the priest and had her lesson of 
 him ; and when she had been at it another two 
 hours, she bade him begin and learn her writing ; 
 and nought loth he was thereto ; forsooth he had 
 been longing to pray her to suffer him learn her, 
 but durst not. For in such teaching needs must 
 he sit full nigh to her, and watch her hands, and 
 her fingers striving to shape the letters ; nay, whiles 
 must he touch her hand with his, and hold it. 
 Wherefore now he promised himself a taste of 
 Paradise. Withal he was full meet to learn her, 
 whereas he was one of the best of scribes, and a 
 fair-writer full handy. 
 
 So they fell to the lesson, and she became eager 
 thereover, and learned fast, and clave to the work, 
 while his soul was tormented with longing for her. 
 And thus wore a three hours, and then suddenly 
 she looked up wearily from her work, and her 
 trouble was awake, and the longing for her speech- 
 friend, and she gave the priest leave for that day, 
 but suffered him to kiss her hand for wages. 
 
 Then she hurried up to the tower-top, when the 
 afternoon was wearing into evening ; and abode 
 there a long while looking over the waters, till it 
 began to dusk, and then came down miserably and 
 went to her women. 
 
101 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 The next day was like unto this ; nought betid, 
 and she wore the hours whiles going up to the 
 tower-top and looking over the lake, whiles broid- 
 ering amidst her maids, whiles learning her clerk's 
 work with Sir Leonard, but ever eating her heart 
 out with her longing. 
 
 On the third of these days she called the castel- 
 lan to her for a talk, and asked him what he thought 
 of it, this delay of his lords' return. Quoth the 
 greyhead : My lady, we may not wonder if they be 
 tarried for a few days ; for this is an adventure on 
 which they have gone, and many haps betide in such 
 tales. Now I beseech thee torment npt thyself; 
 for the time is not yet come for thee even to doubt 
 that they have miscarried. 
 
 His words solaced her much for that time, where- 
 as she saw that he spake but the sooth ; so she 
 thanked him, and smiled upon him kindly ; and 
 he was ravished thereat, and was for kneeling be- 
 fore her at once and kissing her hands after his 
 wont ; but she smiled again and refrained him, and 
 said : Nay, not yet, fair friend ; that is for the de- 
 parture, and I have yet a word to say unto thee : 
 to wit, that I long to go out-a-gates, and it will 
 solace me and give me patience to abide the com- 
 ing of my friends. For thou must know, Sir Ay- 
 meris, that I was reared amidst the woods and the 
 meadows, with the burning of the sun, and the 
 buffets of the wind ; and now for lack of some deal 
 of that am I waxing white and faint. And thou 
 wouldst not have me falling sick on thine hands 
 now, wouldst thou ? 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 203 
 
 Nay, surely, lady, said Sir Aymeris ; this very 
 day I will ride out with thee ; and two score or 
 more of weaponed men shall ride with us for fear 
 of mishaps. Said Birdalone, knitting her brows : 
 Nay, knight, I need not thy men-at-arms; I 
 would fain go free and alone. For hast thou not 
 heard how that the Red Knight is hurt and keep- 
 eth his bed ? So what peril is there ? Said Sir 
 Aymeris : Yea, lady ; but the Red Knight is not 
 the only foe, though he be the worst : but it may 
 well be that the story is but feigned, for the said 
 enemy hath many wiles. And look you, kind lady, 
 it is most like that by now he hath heard how in 
 my poor castle is kept a jewel, a pearl of great 
 price, that hath not its like in the world, and will 
 encompass the stealing of it if he may. 
 
 Laughed Birdalone, and said : But how if the 
 said jewel hath a will, and legs and feet thereto, and 
 is ready to take the peril on her, and will wend 
 out-a-gates if she will ? What wilt thou do then, 
 lord ? Then, said the castellan, I shall fetch thee 
 back, and, though it be a grief to me, shall have 
 thee borne back perforce if nought else may do. 
 For so the oath sworn to my lords compelleth me. 
 
 Again laughed Birdalone, and said: Hearken, 
 whereto cometh all this kneeling and hand-kiss- 
 ing ! But bear in mind, fair lord, how once on 
 a time thou wouldst have me out-a-gates, would 
 I, would I not, and now, will I, will I not, thou 
 wouldst keep me within ; so have times changed, 
 and mayhappen they may change yet again. But 
 tell me, am I mistress over my women to bid 
 
204 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 them what I will ? Certes, said he, and over all 
 of us. Said she : If then I bade them, some two 
 or three, come with me into the meadows and 
 woods a half day's journey for our disport, how 
 then ? For that once, said Sir Aymeris, I should 
 bid them disobey their lady. Said Birdalone : 
 And how if they disobeyed thee, and obeyed me ? 
 Quoth Sir Aymeris : If they bring thee back safe, 
 they may chance to sing to the twiggen fiddle-bow, 
 that they may be warned from such folly ; but if 
 they come back without thee, by All-hallows the 
 wind of wrath shall sweep their heads off them ! 
 
 Birdalone flushed red at his word, and was 
 silent a while ; then she said, making cheerful 
 countenance again : Thou art a hard master, lord 
 castellan ; but I must needs obey thee. There- 
 fore I will take thy bidding, and ride abroad in 
 such wise that I shall scare the land with an army, 
 since no otherwise may I look on the summer land. 
 But to-day I will not go, nor to-morrow belike ; 
 but some day soon. And in good sooth I thank 
 thee for thy heedful care of me, and wish I were 
 better worth it. Nay, nay, thou shalt not kneel to 
 me, but I to thee : for thou art verily the master. 
 
 Therewith she rose from beside him, and knelt 
 down before him and took his hand and kissed 
 it, and went her ways, leaving him ravished with 
 love of her. But now she had no scorn of him, 
 but deemed, as was true, that he was both valiant 
 and trusty and kind, and she thanked him in her 
 heart as well as in words^ "" ~ 
 
CHAPTER IV. OF BIRDALONE'S 
 FARING ABROAD. 
 
 INDEED Birdalone longed on any terms to 
 be out-a-gates and to have some joy of the 
 summer ; for now she began to see that she 
 might have to abide some while ere her friends 
 should come to her in the Castle of the Quest ; 
 and she was angry with herself that her longing 
 was thus wasting her, and she rebuked herself and 
 said : Where is now that Birdalone who let but 
 few days go by without some joyance of the earth 
 and its creatures ? she who bore lightly the toil 
 of a thrall, and gibes and mocking and stripes ? 
 Surely this is grievous folly, that I should be 
 worsened since I have come to be the friend of 
 gentle ladies, and noble champions, and mighty 
 warriors. Had it not been better to have abided 
 under the witchwife's hand ? For not every day 
 nor most days did she torment me. But now for 
 many days there has been pain and grief and heart- 
 sickness hour by hour ; and every hour have I 
 dreaded the coming of the next hour, till I know 
 not how to bear it. 
 
 So she strove with herself, and became of better 
 heart, and set herself strongly to the learning of the 
 clerkly lore ; she gathered her wits together, and no 
 longer looked for every day and every hour to bring 
 about the return of the Champions, nor blamed the 
 day and the hour because they failed therein, and in 
 all wise she strove to get through the day unworn 
 by vain longing. 
 
2o6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Wherefore, on a day when three whole weeks 
 were gone snice the day of departure, she was glad 
 when the castellan came to her and said : Lady, 
 these two days I have had men out to spy the land, 
 and their word goes that nought is stirring which a 
 score of us well-armed might have cause to fear ; 
 wherefore to-morrow, if it be thy will, we shall bring 
 thee out-a-gates, and so please thee, shall be in no 
 haste to come back, but may lie out in the wild- 
 wood one night, and come back at our leisure on the 
 morrow of to-morrow. How sayest thou of thy 
 pleasure herein ? 
 
 She thanked him, and yeasaid it eagerly, and next 
 morning they set forth ; and Birdalone had with her 
 three of the women, and they had sumpter-beasts 
 with them, and tents for Birdalone and her maids. 
 
 So they rode by pleasant ways and fair meadows, 
 and the weather was good, for it was now the first 
 days of July, and all was as lovely as might be ; and 
 for that while Birdalone cast off all her cares, and 
 was merry, and of many words and sweet ; and all 
 the folk rejoiced thereat, for all loved her in the 
 Castle of the Quest, besides those one or two that 
 loved her overmuch. 
 
 Rode they thus a twelve miles or more, and then 
 they came, as their purpose was, to the beginning of 
 a woodland plenteous of venison, and they hunted 
 here, and Birdalone took her part therein, and all 
 praised her woodcraft; albeit because of her went 
 a head or two free that had fillen else, whereas of 
 the carle hunters were some who deemed the body 
 of her better worth looking on than the quarry. 
 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 207 
 
 Howsoever, they slew of hind and roe and other 
 wood-cattle what they would, some deal for their 
 supper in the wilderness, some to bear home to the 
 castle. But when night was nigh at hand they made 
 stay in a fair wood-lawn about which ran a clear 
 stream, whereby they pitched the ladies' tent ; and 
 Birdalone and hers went down into the water and 
 washed the weariness ofFthem ; and her ladies won- 
 dered at the deftness of Birdalone's swimming ; for 
 they bathed in a pool somewhat great into which 
 the stream widened, so that there was space enough 
 for her therein. 
 
 By then they were washen and clad goodly in rai- 
 ment which they had brought on the sumpters, the 
 men had lighted fires and were cooking the veni- 
 son, and anon there was supper and banquet in the 
 wildwood, with drinking of wine and pleasant talk 
 and the telling of tales and singing of minstrelsy ; 
 and so at last, when night was well worn, and out 
 in the open meadows the eastern sky was waxing 
 grey, then Birdalone and her ladies went to bed in 
 their fair tents, and the men-at-arms lay down on 
 the greensward under the bare heaven. 
 
CHAPTER V. SIR AYMERIS SHOW- 
 ETH BIRDALONE THE MOUNTAINS 
 AFAR OFF. 
 
 WHEN it was morning and they arose, the 
 day was as fair as yesterday, and folk were 
 even as joyous as they had been then, all 
 but Birdalone, and she was silent and downcast, 
 even when she came forth from the fresh water into 
 the sweetness of the midsummer wood. She had 
 dreamed in the night that she was all alone in the 
 Castle of the Quest, and that her old mistress came 
 to her from out of the Sending Boat to fetch her 
 away, and brought her aboard, and stripped her 
 of her rich garments and sat facing her, drawing 
 ugsome grimaces at her ; and she thought she knew 
 that her friends were all dead and gone, and she 
 had none to pity or defend her. Then somehow 
 were they two, the witch and she, amidmost of the 
 Isle of Nothing, and the witch drew close anigh her, 
 and was just going to whisper into her ear some- 
 thing of measureless horror, when she awoke ; and 
 the sun was bright outside the shaded whiteness of 
 her tent ; the shadows of the leaves were dancing 
 on the ground of it ; the morning wind was rustling 
 the tree-boughs, and the ripple of the stream was 
 tinkling hard by. At first was Birdalone joyous 
 that what she had awakened from was but a dream ; 
 but presently she felt the burden of her longing, and 
 she said to herself that when they came back to the 
 castle they should find tidings, and that she should 
 know either that her friends were indeed dead, or 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 209 
 
 that they were come back again alive and well. 
 And then she thought within herself, suppose the 
 three Champions and their loves were dead and 
 gone, how would she do with those that were left 
 her, as Sir Aymeris, and Leonard the priest, and 
 her women ? and her soul turned with loathing from 
 a life so empty as that would be; and yet she blamed 
 herself that she was so little friendly to these lesser 
 friends, whom forsooth she loved because of her love 
 for the greater ones. So, as abovesaid, she was 
 troubled and silent amongst the joy of the others. 
 
 That saw Sir Aymeris the castellan ; and when 
 they had broken fast and were getting to horse, 
 he came to her and said : Lady, the day is yet 
 young, and if we fetch a compass by a way that 1 
 wot of, we shall see places new to thee, and may- 
 happen somewhat wonderful, and yet come home 
 timely to the castle. Wilt thou ? 
 
 Birdalone was still somewhat distraught, but she 
 knew not how to naysay him, though at heart she 
 would liefer have gone back to the castle by the 
 shortest way. So folk brought her her palfrey, 
 and they rode their ways, the castellan ever by her 
 side. And by fair ways indeed they went, and so 
 joyous was all about them, that little by little Bird- 
 alone's gladness came back to her, and she made 
 the most of it to be as merry of seeming as she 
 might be. 
 
 Now they rode fair and softly by thicket and 
 copse and glade of the woodland, following up the 
 stream aforesaid for the more part, till at last the 
 trees failed them suddenly, and they came forth 
 
 14 
 
2IO THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 on to a wide green plain, all unbuilded, so far as 
 their eyes could see, and beyond it the ridges of the 
 hills and blue mountains rising high beyond them. 
 
 When Birdalone's eyes beheld this new thing, 
 of a sudden all care left her, and she dropped her 
 rein, and smote her palms together, and cried out : 
 Oh ! but thou art beautiful, O earth, thou art 
 beautiful ! Then she sat gazing on it, while the 
 greyhead turned and smiled on her, well pleased of 
 her pleasure. 
 
 After a while she said : And might we go nigher ? 
 Yea, certes, said he, yet I doubt if thou wilt like 
 it the better, the nigher thou art. Ah ! she said, 
 but if I were only amidst it, and a part of it, as 
 once I was of the woodland ! 
 
 So thitherward they rode over the unharvested 
 mead, and saw hart and hind thereon, and wild 
 kine, and of smaller deer great plenty, but of tame 
 beasts none ; and the hills were before them like 
 a wall. But as they drew nigher, they saw where 
 the said wall of the hills was cloven by a valley 
 narrow and steep-sided, that went right athwart the 
 lie of the hills ; the said valley was but little grassed, 
 and the bare rocks were crow-black. When they 
 had gone a little further, they could see that the 
 ground near the foot of the hills rose in little knolls 
 and ridges, but these were lower and fewer about 
 the entry into that valley. Also presently they 
 came upon a stream which ran out of the said val- 
 ley, and Sir Aymeris said that this was the water 
 whereby they had lain last night ; albeit here it 
 was little indeed. 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 21 1 
 
 Now when they had ridden some five miles over 
 the plain, they came amongst those knolls at the 
 mouth of the valley, and Sir Aymeris led Birdalone 
 up to the top of one of the highest of them, and 
 thence they could look into that dale and see how 
 it winded away up toward the mountains, like to a 
 dismal street ; for not only was it but little grassed, 
 but withal there was neither tree nor bush therein. 
 Moreover, scattered all about the bottom of the 
 dale were great stones, which looked as if they had 
 once been set in some kind of order ; and that the 
 more whereas they were not black like the rocks 
 of the dale-side, but pale grey of hue, so that they 
 looked even as huge sheep of the giants feeding 
 down the dale. 
 
 Then spake Birdalone: Verily, sir knight, thou 
 saidst but sooth that I should see things new and 
 strange. But shall we go a little way into this val- 
 ley to-day ? Nay, lady, said Sir Aymeris, nor to- 
 morrow, nor any day uncompelled ; neither shall 
 we go nigher unto it than now we be. Where- 
 fore not? said Birdalone, for meseemeth it is as 
 the gate of the mountains ; and fain were I in the 
 mountains. 
 
 Lady, said the castellan, overmuch perilous it 
 were to ride the valley, which, as thou sayest, is 
 the very gate of the mountains. For the said dale, 
 which hight the Black Valley of the Greywethers, 
 hath a bad name for the haunting of unmanlike 
 wights, against which even our men-at-arms might 
 make no defence. And if any might escape them, 
 and win through the gates and up into the moun- 
 
212 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 tains, I wot not if suchlike devils and things un- 
 kent be there in the mountain-land, but of a sooth 
 there be fierce and wild men, like enough to devils, 
 who know no peace, and slay whatsoever cometh 
 unto them, but if they themselves be slain of them. 
 
 Well, said Birdalone, then to-day, at least, we 
 go not into the dale ; but knowest thou any tales 
 of these wild places? Many have I heard, said he, 
 but I am an ill minstrel and should spoil them in 
 the telling. Ask them of Sir Leonard our priest, 
 he knoweth of them better than others, and hath a 
 tongue duly shapen for telling them. 
 
 Birdalone answered nought thereto ; she but 
 turned her horse's head and rode down the knoll; 
 and so they came unto their company, and all went 
 their ways toward the Castle of the Quest. 
 
 Nought befell them on their way home ; but the 
 nigher they came to the castle the more pensive 
 waxed Birdalone, and, though she hid it, when they 
 were come to the gate she scarce had her wit; for 
 it was as if she thought to have one rushing out 
 and crying : Tidings, tidings ! they are come. 
 
 Nowise it so befell ; they were no more come 
 than was the Day of Doom. And a little after they 
 were within gates; it was night, and Birdalone crept 
 wearily up to her chamber, and gat to bed, and so 
 tired was she that she fell asleep at once and dreamed 
 not. 
 
CHAPTER VI. BIRDALONE HEAR- 
 ETH TELL TALES OF THE BLACK 
 VALLEY OF THE GREYWETHERS. 
 
 ON the morrow was Birdalone heavier of heart 
 than ever yet, and wearier for tidings ; and 
 she wondered how she could have been so 
 joyous that day in the wildwood. Yet she thought 
 much of the Valley of the Greywethers, and that 
 solaced her somewhat after a while, so sore she 
 longed to go thither ; and, as 'tis said, one nail 
 knocks out the other. So that morning, when 
 she had had her lesson of priest Leonard, she spake 
 thereof to him, and told him what Sir Aymeris had 
 said concerning his knowledge thereof; and she 
 asked him what he knew. 
 
 I have been there, said he. She started at that 
 word and said : Did aught of evil befall thee ? 
 
 Nay, said he, but a great fear and dread hung 
 about me ; and 'tis said that they try their luck 
 overmuch who go thither twice. 
 
 Birdalone said : Tell me now of the tales that be 
 told of that valley. Quoth Leonard : They be 
 many ; but the main of them is this : that those 
 Greywethers be giants of yore agone,or landwights, 
 carles, and queans, who have been turned into stone 
 by I wot not what deed; but that whiles they come 
 alive again, and can walk and talk as erst they did ; 
 and that if any man may be so bold as to abide 
 the time of their awakening, and in the first mo- 
 ment of their change may frame words that crave 
 the fulfilment of his desire, and if therewith he be 
 
214 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 both wise and constant, then shall he have his de- 
 sire fulfilled of these wights, and bear his life back 
 again from out the dale. And thus must he speak 
 and no otherwise : O Earth, thou and thy first chil- 
 dren, I crave of you such and such a thing, what- 
 soever it may be. And if he speak more than this, 
 then is he undone. He shall answer no question 
 of them ; and if they threaten him he shall not pray 
 them mercy, nor quail before their uplifted weapons; 
 nor, to be short, shall he heed them more than if 
 they still were stones unchanged. Moreover, when 
 he hath said his say, then shall these wights throng 
 about him and offer him gold and gems, and all the 
 wealth of the earth ; and if that be not enough, they 
 shall bring him the goodliest of women, with nought 
 lacking in her shape, but lacking all raiment, so that 
 he shall see her as she is verily shapen. But whoso 
 shall take any one of all these gifts is lost for ever, 
 and shall become one of that Stony People ; and 
 whoso naysayeth them all until the cock crow, and 
 abideth steady by his one craving, shall win fulfil- 
 ment thereof, and, as some say, all those gifts afore- 
 said ; for that the Stony People may not abide the 
 day to take them back again. 
 
 He was silent therewith, and nought spake Bird- 
 alone, but looked down on the ground, and long- 
 ing encompassed her soul. Then the priest spake 
 again : This were a fair adventure, lady, for a hap- 
 less one, but for the happy it were a fool's errand. 
 She answered not, and they parted for that time. 
 
 But the next week, there being yet no tidings come 
 to hand, Birdalone prayed the castellan to take her 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 215 
 
 out-a-gates again, that she might once more behold 
 the mountains, and the gates thereof; and he yea- 
 said her asking, and went with her, well accompa- 
 nied, as before ; but this time, by Birdalone's will, 
 they rode straight to the plain aforesaid, and again 
 she looked into that dale of the Greywethers from 
 the knoll. Somewhat belated they were, so that 
 they might not get back to the castle before dusk, 
 wherefore again they lay out in the wildwood, but 
 there lacked somewhat of the triumph and joyance 
 which they had had that other day. They came 
 back to the castle on the morrow somewhat after 
 noon, and found no news there ; nor, to say sooth, 
 did Birdalone look for any ; and her heart was 
 heavy. 
 
CHAPTER VII. BIRDALONE BEGUIL- 
 ETH THE PRIEST TO HELP HER TO 
 OUTGOING. 
 
 NOW had the time so worn that the season was 
 in the first days of August, and weariness 
 and heartsickness increased on Birdalone 
 again, and she began to look pined and pale. Yet 
 when she spake of the tarrying of the Champions 
 both to the castellan and Sir Leonard the priest 
 (who was the wiser man of the two), each said the 
 same thing, to wit, that it was no marvel if they 
 were not yet come, seeing what-iike the adventure 
 was ; and neither of those two seemed in anywise 
 to have lost hope. 
 
 Thrice in these last days did Birdalone go out- 
 a-gates with Sir Aymeris and his company ; and 
 the last of the three times the journey was to the 
 knoll that looked into the Black Valley; but now 
 was Birdalone's pleasure of the sight of it afar off 
 marred by her longing to be amidst thereof; yet 
 she did not show that she was irked by the refrain- 
 ing of her desire to enter therein, and they turned, 
 and came home safely to the castle. 
 
 On the morrow she sat with Sir Leonard the 
 priest over the writing lesson, and she let it be long, 
 and oft he touched her hand, so that the sweetness 
 of unfulfilled desire went deep to his heart. 
 
 At last Birdalone looked up and said : Friend, 
 I would ask thee if thou seest any peril in my enter- 
 ing the Black Valley of the Greywethers by day- 
 light if I leave it by daylight ? Alone ? quoth he. 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 217 
 
 Yea, she said, alone. He pondered a little, and 
 then said : Sooth to say I deem the peril little in the 
 valley itself, if thou be not overcome by terror 
 there. Yea, for my part I am not all so sure that 
 thou shalt see the wonder of the Stony Folk com- 
 ing alive ; for 'tis not said that they quicken save on 
 certain nights, and chiefly on Midsummer Night ; 
 unless it be that the trier of the adventure is some 
 one fated above others thereto ; as forsooth thou 
 mayst be. And as for peril of evil men, there are 
 few who be like to be as venturesome as thou or I. 
 They durst not enter that black street, save sore 
 need compel them. But forsooth, going thither, 
 and coming back again, some peril there may be 
 therein. And yet for weeks past there has been 
 no word of any unpeace ; and the Red Knight it 
 is said for certain is not riding. 
 
 Birdalone was silent a while ; then she said : Fair 
 and kind friend, I am eating my heart out in long- 
 ing for the coming back of my friends, and it is 
 like, that unless I take to some remedy, I shall fall 
 sick thereby, and then when they come back there 
 shall be in me but sorry cheer for them. Now the 
 remedy I know, and it is that I betake me alone to 
 this adventure of the Black Valley ; for meseemeth 
 that I shall gain health and strength by my going 
 thither. Wherefore, to be short, if thou wilt help 
 me, I will go to-morrow. What sayest thou, wilt 
 thou help me ? 
 
 He turned very red and spake : Lady, why 
 shouldestthougo, as thy name is, birdalone? Thou 
 hast called me just now thy kind friend, so kind as 
 
2l8 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 it was of thee ; now therefore why should not thy 
 friend go with thee ? 
 
 Kindly indeed she smiled on him, but shook her 
 head : I call thee trusty and dear friend again, said 
 she ; but what I would do I must do myself More- 
 over to what end shouldst thou go ? If I fall in 
 with ghosts, a score of men would help me nought ; 
 and if I happen on weaponed men who would do 
 me scathe, of what avail were one man against 
 them ? And look thou, Sir Leonard, there is this 
 avail in thine abiding behind ; if I come not back 
 in two days' space, or three at the most, thou wilt 
 wot that I have fared amiss, and then mayst thou 
 let it be known whither I went, and men will seek 
 me and deliver me maybe. 
 
 Therewith she stayed her words suddenly, and 
 turned very pale, and laid her hand on her bosom, 
 and said faintly : But O my heart, my heart ! If 
 they should come while I am away ! And she 
 seemed like to swoon. 
 
 Leonard was afraid thereat, and knew not what 
 to do ; but presently the colour came into her face 
 again, and in a little while she smiled, and said : 
 Seest thou not, friend, how weak I am gotten to 
 be, and that I must now beyond doubt have the 
 remedy ? Wilt thou not help me do it ? 
 
 Yea verily, said he ; but in what wise wilt thou 
 have it? He spake as a man distraught and rede- 
 less ; but she smiled on him pleasantly, and said : 
 Now by this time shouldst thou have devised what 
 was to do, and spared me the pain thereof. Two 
 things I need of thee : the first and most, to be put 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 219 
 
 out of the castle privily betimes in the morning 
 when nought is stirring ; the second, to have my 
 palfrey awaiting me somewhat anigh the gate, so 
 that I may not have to go afoot : for I am become 
 soft and feeble with all this house-life. 
 
 Leonard seemed to wake up with that word, and 
 said: I have the key of the priest's door of the 
 chapel, and the postern beyond it ; that shall be 
 thine out-gate, lady. I will come and scratch at thy 
 chamber-door much betimes, and I will see to it 
 that thy palfrey is bestowed in the bower wherein 
 thou didst rest the first night thou camest amongst 
 us. She said: I trust thee, friend. And she thanked 
 him sweetly, and then rose up and fell to pacing the 
 hall up and down. Leonard hung about watching 
 her a while, she nought forbidding him, for her 
 thoughts were elsewhere, and she had forgotten 
 him ; and at last he went his ways to set about 
 doing what she would. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. BIRDALONE FARES 
 ON HER ADVENTURE. 
 
 DAWN was butjtist beginning when Birdalone 
 awoke, and though she had not heard Leon- 
 ard at the door, she sprang out of bed and 
 clad herself, doing on her black gown ; and she 
 had a scrip with some bread therein, and a sharp 
 knife at her girdle. Then even as she had done 
 she heard the priest's nail on the door, and she 
 turned thereto ; but as she went, her eye caught 
 her bow and quiver of arrows where they hung on 
 the wall, so she took the bow in her hand and slung 
 the quiver over her shoulder ere she opened the 
 door and found Leonard standing there. Neither 
 of them spake aught, but they stole downstairs, and 
 so to the chapel and out by the priest's door and 
 the postern in the wall-nook, and were presently 
 out in the fresh morning air; and Birdalone was 
 joyous and lightfoot, and scarce felt the earth be- 
 neath her soles for pleasure of her hope, whereas 
 she deemed she had a thing to crave of the Stony 
 Folk, if they should come alive before her. Fain 
 were she, if she might withal, to give a joy to some 
 other ; so that when they were gone but a little way 
 from the castle she reached out her hand to Leon- 
 ard and took his, and said: Hand in hand we walked 
 when first I went this way, and I deemed thee kind 
 and friendly then, and even so hast thou been 
 sithence. 
 
 He was dumbfoundered at first for joy of the 
 touch of her hand and the sweetness of her words ; 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING ill 
 
 but presently he spake to her confused and stam- 
 mering, and praised her that she had thought to 
 take her bow and arrows ; for, said he, that they 
 might stand her in stead for defence or for getting 
 of food, or for an excuse for wending the woods. 
 She nodded yeasay unto him, and bade him again 
 to bide three days for her, and if she came not again 
 in that time, to make a clean breast of it to Sir 
 Aymeris. 
 
 Yea, said the priest, and then . . . Why, what 
 then ? He can but shove me out by the shoulders, 
 and then I can seek to the little house of canons 
 that is at Gate Cross on the road to Greenford. 
 
 Ah, my friend ! said Birdalone, how we women 
 think of nothing at all but ourselves ! And wilt 
 thou be thrust out of thine home for helping me 
 herein ? Why did I not look to my palfrey my- 
 self? And the keys I might have stolen from thee, 
 always with thy good will. But now I see that I 
 have done thee a hurt. 
 
 Said Sir Leonard : Lady, a priest hath a home 
 wheresoever is an house of religion. There is no 
 harm done, save Sir Aymeris bethink him of hang- 
 ing me over the battlements ; as I doubt he will 
 not with a priest. Moreover, I pray thee believe, 
 that wert thou gone from the castle, house and home 
 were none for me there. And he looked upon her 
 piteously, as if he were beseeching. 
 
 But she knew not what to say, and hung her 
 head adown ; and presently they were come to the 
 bower in the copse, which this time was a stable 
 for Birdalone's palfrey instead of a chamber for 
 
222 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 herself. So Leonard went in and fetched out the 
 comely beast ; and Birdalone stood with him just 
 in the cover of the copse waiting to put her foot in 
 the stirrup; but she might not but abide to look 
 upon the priest, who stood there as if he were striv- 
 ing with his words. 
 
 So she said : Now is need of haste to be gone. 
 Yet one word, my friend : Is there aught betwixt 
 us wherein I have done thee wrong ? If so it be, 
 I pray thee to say out what it is ; for it may be 
 (though I think it not) thou shalt not see me again 
 from henceforth. 
 
 He caught his breath, as if he had much ado to 
 refrain the sobbing ; but he mastered it, and said : 
 Lady and dear friend, if I see thee not again, I 
 heed not what shall befall me. Thou hast done 
 me no wrong. There is this only betwixt us, that 
 I love thee, and thou lovest not me. 
 
 She looked on him sweetly and pitifully, and 
 said : I may not choose but understand thy word, 
 to wit, that thy love for me is the desire of a man 
 toward a woman ; and that is unhappy ; for I love 
 thee indeed, but not as a woman loveth a man. 
 It is best to say thus much to thee downright. 
 But I feel in my heart that when I have said it, 
 it is as much as to say that I cannot help thee, and 
 therefore am I sorry indeed. 
 
 He stood before her abashed, but he said at 
 last : Now art thou so sweet, and so kind, and so 
 true, that I must perforce love thee yet more ; and 
 this maketh me bold to say that thou mayst help 
 me a little, or so meseemeth. How so ? said Bird- 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 223 
 
 alone. Quoth he: If thou wouldst suffer me to 
 kiss thy face this once. She shook her head, and 
 spake : How may it avail thee, when it is for once, 
 and once only, as forsooth it must be ? Yet it is 
 thy choice, not mine, and I will not naysay thee. 
 
 And therewith she put up her face to him, and 
 he kissed her cheek without touching her other- 
 wise, and then he kissed her mouth ; and she 
 knew that he was both timorous and sad, and she 
 was ashamed to look on him, or to speak to him 
 any more, lest she should behold him ashamed ; 
 so she but said : Farewell, friend, till to-morrow 
 at least. 
 
 And therewith her foot was in the stirrup, and 
 anon she sat in the saddle, and her palfrey was 
 ambling briskly on the way she would. 
 
CHAPTER IX. BIRDALONE COMES 
 pro THE BLACK VALLEY. 
 
 i TT ITTLE is to tell of Birdalone's journey unto 
 II J ^^^ knoll above the Black Valley of the 
 -^ Greywethers. J It was about noon when she 
 came there, and ha(^/met but few folk on the way, 
 and those few were husbandmen, or carlines, or 
 maidens wending afield betimes not far from the 
 Castle of the Quest. 
 
 Now she sat on her horse and looked down 
 into the dale and its stony people once more, and 
 saw nought stirring save three ravens who, not 
 far off, were flapping about from stone to stone of 
 the Greywethers, and croaking loud to each other 
 as if some tidings were toward. She watched their 
 play for a little, and then gat off her horse, and 
 sat down on the grass of the knoll, and drew forth 
 her victual, and ate and drank ; for she deemed it 
 happier to eat and drink there than in the very 
 jaws of the Black Valley. 
 
 Soon was her dinner done, and then she got to 
 her saddle again, and rode slowly down to the little 
 stream, and along it toward the valley and the 
 gates of the mountains, which she had been fain 
 to pass through ; but now, as had happed with 
 her that morning when she was boun for the Send- 
 ing Boat, somewhat she hung back from the ad- 
 venture, and when she lacked but some five score 
 yards from the very dale itself, she lighted down 
 again, and let her way-beast bite the grass, while 
 she sat down and watched the rippling water. 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 225 
 
 In a while she drew off shoon and hosen, and 
 stood in the shallow ripple, and bathed her hands 
 and face withal, and stooped up-stream and drank 
 trom the hollow of her hands, and so stepped 
 ashore and was waxen hardier ; then she strung her 
 bow and looked to the shafts in her quiver, and did 
 on her foot-gear, and mounted once more, and so 
 rode a brisk amble right on into the dale, and was 
 soon come amongst the Greywethers ; and she saw 
 that they were a many, and that all the bottom of 
 the dale was besprinkled with them on either side 
 of the stream, and some stood in the very stream 
 itself, the ground whereof was black even as the rest 
 of the valley, although the water ran over it as 
 clear as glass. 
 
 As for the dale, now she was fairly within it, 
 she could see but a little way up it, for it winded 
 much, and at first away from her left hand, and 
 the sides of it went up in somewhat steep screes on 
 either side, which were topped with mere upright 
 staves and burgs of black rock ; and these were 
 specially big and outthrusting on the right hand of 
 her ; and but a furlong ahead of where she was, one 
 of these burgs thrust out past the scree and came 
 down sheer into the dale, and straitened it so much 
 that there was but little way save by the stream 
 itself, which ran swift indeed, but not deep, even 
 there where it was straitened by the sheer rocks. 
 
 But up the dale would she go, whatever was be- 
 fore her ; and now she told herself her very pur- 
 pose, as forsooth she scarce had heretofore ; to wit, 
 that she would abide in the dale the night over 
 
 15 
 
226 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and see what should betide, and if those wights 
 should chance to come alive, then she looked to 
 have valiance enough to face them and crave the 
 fulfilment of her desire. 
 
 So she took the water and rode the stream till 
 she was past the said sheer rock, and then the val- 
 ley widened again, and presently was wider than 
 it was in the beginning ; and here again were the 
 Grey wethers grown many more and closer together, 
 and, as she deemed, were set in rings round about 
 one very big one, which, forsooth, was somewhat 
 in the shape of a man sitting down with his hands 
 laid on his knees. 
 
 Birdalone reined up for a minute, and looked 
 about her, and then went up on to the grass, and 
 rode straight to the said big stone, and there lighted 
 down from off her horse again, and stood by the 
 stone and pondered. Presently she deemed that 
 she saw something dark moving just beyond the 
 stone, but if it were so, it was gone in a twinkling ; 
 nevertheless she stood affrighted, and stared before 
 her long, and saw no more, but yet for a while 
 durst not move hand nor foot. 
 
 At last her courage came again, and she thought: 
 Yet how if this great chieftain be inwardly stirring 
 and will come awake ? Shall I say the word now, 
 lest hereafter it be of no avail ? Therewith she 
 stretched out her right hand and laid it on the 
 stone, and spake aloud : O Earth, thou and thy 
 first children, I crave of you that he may come 
 back now at once and loving me. And her voice 
 sounded strange and unkent to her in that solitude, 
 and she rued it that she had spoken. 
 
CHAPTER X. HOW BIRDALONE FELL 
 IN WITH A MAN IN THE BLACK VAL- 
 LEY OF THE GREYWETHERS. 
 
 CAME new tidings therewithal ; for the mo- 
 ment after she had spoken, a tall man drew 
 out from behind the big stone, and stood 
 before her ; and at first it was in her mind that this 
 was the very chieftain come alive for her, and for 
 terror she was like to swoon this time ; but he 
 spake nought a while, but looked on her eagerly 
 and curiously. 
 
 She came to herself presently, so much that she 
 could see him clearly, and was now growing more 
 shamefast than afraid, when she saw beyond doubt 
 that the man was of the sons of Adam ; but what 
 with her shame that was now, and her fear that had 
 been, she yet had no might to move, but stood 
 there pale and trembling like a leaf, and might 
 scarce keep her feet. 
 
 Now the new-comer bowed before her smiling, 
 and said : I ask thy pardon, fair damsel (or indeed 
 I should say fairest damsel), that I have scared 
 thee. But sooth to say I beheld thee coming rid- 
 ing, and even from a little aloof I could see that 
 nought which might befall could ever make it up 
 to me for not seeing thee close at hand and hear- 
 ing thee speak. Wherefore I hid myself behind 
 the king's stone here ; and no harm is done there- 
 by I trow ; for now I see that the colour is com- 
 ing into thy cheeks again, and thy fear is gone. 
 And as for me, thou hast not fled away from 
 
228 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 me, as thou wouldst have done had I not hidden 
 and come on thee suddenly ; and then thou being 
 horsed and I unhorsed, thou wouldst have escaped 
 me, whereas now thou art within reach of my hand. 
 Then he smiled, and said: Furthermore, thou hast 
 told so httle of thy secret to this stony king here, 
 that I am little the wiser for thy word, and thou 
 the little more betrayed. Only this I will say, that 
 if He loveth thee not, He is more of a fool than 
 I be. 
 
 He reached out his hand to hers, but she drew 
 it aback, and grew yet more ashamed, and could 
 find no word for him. His voice was soft and full, 
 and he spake deftly, but she was not content with 
 it for its kindness, as she had been with all the 
 other men whom she had met since she left the 
 House under the Wood, and she durst not trust 
 her hand to him. 
 
 As for his aspect, she saw that he was tall and well- 
 knit, and goodly of fashion; dark-haired, with long 
 hazel eyes, smooth-cheeked and bright-skinned ; 
 his nose long, and a little bent over at the end, 
 and coming down close to his lips, which were 
 full and red ; his face was hairless save for a little 
 lip-beard. He was so clad, that he had no helm 
 on his head, but a little hat with a broad gold piece 
 in the front thereof; he was girt to a long sword, 
 and had an anlace also in his belt, and Birdalone 
 saw the rings of a fine hauberk at his collar and 
 knees ; otherwise he was not armed. Over his 
 hauberk he wore a black surcoat, without device 
 of any kind, and his foot and leg gear were of the 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 229 
 
 same hue; wherefore may we call him the Black 
 Knight. Sooth to say, for all his soft speech, she 
 feared him and rued the meeting of him. 
 
 Now he spake to her again : I see that thou art 
 wroth with me, lady ; but mayhappen it is not so 
 ill that I have happened on thee ; for this dale hath 
 a bad name for more than one thing, and is scarce 
 meet for damsels to wander in. But now since thou 
 hast a weaponed man with thee, and thou, by All- 
 hallows ! not utterly unarmed, thou mayst well go 
 up the valley and see something more thereof. So 
 come now, mount thine horse again, and I will lead 
 him for thee. 
 
 Now Birdalone found speech and said : Knight, 
 for such thou seemest to me, I deem now that I 
 have no need to fare further in this dale, but I will 
 get me into the saddle and turn my horse's head 
 outward again, giving thee good day first and thank- 
 ing thee for thy courtesy. And therewith she turned 
 to get to her palfrey, but sore trembling the while ; 
 but he followed her and said, with brow somewhat 
 knitted : Nay, lady, I have left my horse somewhat 
 further up, and I must go back to fetch him, that 
 we may wend out of the dale together. For I will 
 not suffer thee to flee from me and fall into the 
 hands of evil wights, be they ghosts or living men, 
 and that the less since I have heard the speech in 
 thy mouth, as of honey and cream and roses. 
 Therefore if thou go out of the dale, I shall go with 
 thee afoot, leading thine horse. And look to it if 
 it be courteous to unhorse a knight, who is ready 
 to be thy servant. Moreover, since thou hast come 
 
230 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 to this dale of wonder, and mayst leave it safely, 
 pity it were that thou shouldst see nought thereof, 
 for strange is it forsooth, and belike thou shalt never 
 seek thither again. Wherefore I crave of thee, once 
 more, to mount thine horse and let me lead thee 
 up the dale. 
 
 He spake these last words rather as one giving 
 a command than making a prayer, and Birdalone 
 feared him now sorely. Forsooth she had her 
 bended bow in hand ; but let alone that the knight 
 was over-near to her that she might get a shaft out 
 of her quiver and nock it, ere he should run in on 
 her, and let alone also that he was byrnied, she 
 scarce deemed that it behoved her to slay or wound 
 the man because she would be quit of him. Where- 
 fore angrily, and with a flushed face, she answered 
 him : So shall it be then. Sir Knight; or rather so 
 must it be, since thou compellest me. 
 
 He laughed and said : Nay, now thou art angry. 
 I compel thee not, I but say that it will not do for 
 thee to compel me to leave thee. Go which way 
 thou wilt, up the dale, or down it and out of it; it 
 is all one unto me, so long as I am with thee. For- 
 sooth, damsel, I have said harder words to ladies 
 who have done my pleasure and not deemed them- 
 selves compelled. 
 
 She paled but answered nought ; then she 
 mounted her palfrey, and the knight went to her 
 bridle-rein without more words, and so led her on 
 up the valley by the easiest way amongst the Grey- 
 wethers. 
 
CHAPTER XI. BIRDALONE IS LED 
 UP THE BLACK VALLEY. 
 
 AS they went, the knight fell a-talking to 
 BIrdalone, and that without any of the covert 
 jeering which he had used erewhile; and he 
 showed her places in the dale, as caverns under the 
 burgs, and little eyots in the stream, and certain 
 stones amongst the Greywethers whereof stories 
 ran ; and how this and the other one had fared in 
 dealings with the land-wights, and how one had 
 perished, and another had been made happy, and 
 so forth. Withal he told of the mxoun tain-folk, 
 and in especial how they of the plains, when he was 
 scarce more than a boy, had met them in battle in 
 that same dale, and how fierce the fight was ; where- 
 as the mountain-men were fighting for a life of 
 desires accomplished, which hitherto had been but 
 a dream unto them ; and the men of the plain fought 
 for dear life itself, and for all that made it aught 
 save death in life. Wherefore up and down the 
 dale they fought, at first in ordered ranks and then 
 in knots, and lastly sword to sword and man to man, 
 till there was no foot of grass or black sand there 
 which had not its shower of blood ; and the stream 
 was choked with the dead, and ran red out of the 
 dale; till at last well-nigh all the host of the moun- 
 tain-men was fallen, and scarce less of the folk of 
 the plains, but these men held the field and had 
 the victory. 
 
 All this he told her deftly and well, and though 
 he said not so right out, yet let her wot that. 
 
232 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 youth as he was, he was of the battle ; and his voice 
 was clear and good, and Birdalone's wrath ran off 
 her, and she hearkened his tale, and even asked 
 him a question here and there ; and so courteous 
 was this Black Knight now become, that Birdalone 
 began to think that she had fallen short of courtesy 
 to him, because of her fear and the weariness of the 
 waiting which so oppressed her ; and that shamed 
 and irked her, for she would fain be of all courtesy. 
 Wherefore now she deemed that perchance she had 
 erred in deeming him an evil man ; and she looked 
 on him from time to time, and deemed him goodly 
 of fashion ; she thought his eyes were deep, and his 
 face sober and fair of aspect, but that his nose turned 
 down at the end, and was over thin at the bridge, 
 and moreover his lips looked over-sweet and 
 licorous. 
 
 Now when the knight was silent of his tales. Bird- 
 alone fell to asking him questions sweetly concern- 
 ing this Stony People which was all about them ; 
 and he told her all he knew, soberly enough at 
 first, yet indeed ended by mocking them somewhat, 
 but mocked not at her any more. At last he said : 
 Fair lady, that thou hast not come here all for 
 nought I partly know by those words which I heard 
 come from thy mouth at the King's Stone ; where- 
 fore I marvelled indeed when I heard thee say that 
 thou wouldst go straight out of the dale ; for I had 
 deemed thee desirous of trying the adventure of 
 waking this Stony People a-night-tide. Forsooth 
 was this thy mind when thou soughtest hither to 
 the dale ? 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 2^3 
 
 She reddened at his word, and yeasaid him 
 shortly. Then said he: Is it not thy mind still ? 
 Sir, said she, as now I have got to fear it. Yea ? 
 and that is strange, said he, for thou wouldst have 
 waked the dale alone ; and now thou art no longer 
 alone, but hast me to watch and ward thy waking, 
 thou art more afeard. 
 
 She looked on his face steadily, to wot if there 
 were no half-hidden smile therein ; but herseemed 
 that he spake in all soberness ; and she had nought 
 to say to him save this : Sir, I am now become 
 afraid of the waking. And he said no more 
 thereof 
 
 Now they went thus, and Birdalone not without 
 pleasure, since her fear of the knight was minished, 
 some three hours up the dale, and still were the 
 Greywethers everywhere about them, so that there 
 were well-nigh as many hours as miles in their 
 wending. 
 
 At last they seemed to be drawing nigh to the 
 head of the dale, and the burgs and the rocks were 
 before them all round it as a wall, though yet about 
 a mile aloof at the further end ; and this end it was 
 wider than elsewhere. 
 
 Came they then to a level space of greensward 
 clear of the grey stones, which were drawn all around 
 it in ordered rings, so that it was as some doom- 
 ring of an ancient people ; and within the said space 
 Birdalone beheld a great black horse tethered and 
 cropping the grass. The knight led her into the 
 ring, and said : Now are we come home for the 
 present, my lady, and if it please thee to light down 
 
234 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 we shall presently eat and drink, and sithence talk 
 a little. And he drew nigh to help her off her 
 horse, but she suffered him not, and lighted down 
 of herself; but if she suffered not his hand, his eyes 
 she must needs suffer, as he gazed greedily on the 
 trimness of her feet and legs in her sliding from 
 her horse. 
 
 Howsoever, he took her hand, and led her to a 
 little mound on the other side of the ring, and bade 
 her sit down there, and so did she, and from under 
 the nighest of the stones he drew forth a pair of 
 saddle-bags, and took victual and wine thence, and 
 they ate and drank together like old companions. 
 And now Birdalone told herself that the knight was 
 frank and friendly ; yet forsooth she wotted that 
 her heart scarce trowed what it feigned, and that 
 she yet feared him. 
 
CHAPTER XII. HOW THOSE TWAIN 
 GET THEM FROM OUT OF THE 
 BLACK VALLEY OF THE GREY- 
 WETHERS. 
 
 WHEN they had dined, and had sat a while 
 talking, the knight said : I will ask thee 
 once more wherefore thou must needs 
 depart from this dale leaving the Greywethers un- 
 waked ? Yet this must I tell thee first, that this 
 ring at the dale's end is the only one due place 
 where the Greywethers can be rightly waked, and 
 that there be few who wot this. Wilt thou not tell 
 me then what is in thy mind ? 
 
 Birdalone gazed down on the ground a while ; 
 then she lifted up her head and looked on the Black 
 Knight, and said : Sir Knight, we have been brought 
 so close together to-day, and as meseemeth I am 
 so wholly in thy power, that I will tell thee the very 
 truth as it is. My mind it was to wake the dale 
 here to-night, and take what might befall me. And 
 well indeed might I fear the adventure, which few, 
 meseemeth, would not fear. But so strong is my 
 longing for that which I would crave of these wights, 
 that it overmastered my fear, and my purpose held 
 when I entered the dale. Then I met thee ; and 
 here again is the truth, take it how thou wilt, that 
 presently I feared thee, and yet I fear thee ; for I 
 have noted thee closely all this while, and have seen 
 of thee, that thou art over heedful of my poor body, 
 and wouldst have it for thine own if thou mightest. 
 And there is this in thee also, as I deem, though 
 
236 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 thou thyself mayst not know it, that thou wouldst 
 have thy pleasure of me whether it pleasure me 
 or grieve me ; and this thy pleasure must I needs 
 gainsay ; for though thou mayest hereafter become 
 my friend, yet are there other friends of mine, who 
 be such, that my grief would mar any pleasure they 
 might have. Hast thou heard and understood ? 
 
 She looked on his face steadily as she spake, and 
 saw that it flushed, and darkened, and scowled, and 
 that his hands were clenched, and his teeth set hard 
 together. And again she spake : Sir, thou shalt 
 know that beside these shot-weapons, I have a thing 
 here in my girdle that may serve either against thee 
 or against me, if need drive me thereto ; wherefore 
 I will pray thee to forbear. Forsooth, thou shalt 
 presently happen on other women, who shall be 
 better unto thee than I can be. 
 
 By then Birdalone had spoken the word, the 
 knight's face had cleared, and he laughed aloud and 
 said : As to thy last words, therein at least thou 
 liest, my lady. But for the rest, I see that it must 
 all be as thou wiliest. Yea, if such be thy will, we 
 shall presently to horse and ride down the dale again, 
 and at the end thereof I shall leave thee to go home 
 alone at thy will. She said : For that I can thee 
 thanks with all my heart. But why hast thou not 
 asked me of whence I am, and whither I would go 
 home ^ 
 
 Again he laughed and said: Because I know 
 already. I have had more than two or three tales 
 from them who have seen thee, or spoken unto 
 others who have seen thee, how the gay Champions 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING Igl 
 
 of the Castle of the Quest had fished up a wondrous 
 pearl of price from out of the Great Water ; and 
 when I set eyes on thy beauty, I knew that the 
 said pearl could be nowhere else than under mine 
 eyes. 
 
 Let that pass, she said, and blushed not ; but 
 now tell me the truth as I have told thee, why thou 
 art so instant with me to wake the Greywethers to- 
 night ? He kept silence a while, and, as she looked 
 on him, she thought she saw confusion in his face ; 
 but at last he said : Thou wert wrong in saying that 
 I heeded not thy pleasure, and solace, and welfare. 
 Meseemed, and yet doth, that it might be to thine 
 avail to wake the Greywethers to-night ; and never 
 again mayst thou have a chance of the waking, as 
 erst I said. I say I wish thee to have fulfilment 
 of thy craving. Nor hast thou aught to fear of 
 them, seeing that it is but dastards and fools that 
 they undo. 
 
 He broke off his speech, and Birdalone yet 
 looked on him, and after a little he said : Thou 
 drawest the truth out of me ; for moreover I would 
 have thee with me longer than thou wouldst be if we 
 but rode together down the water and out of the 
 dale, and thou to fare away alone. 
 
 Birdalone spake in a while, and that while he 
 gazed upon her eagerly ; she said: I shall now tell 
 thee that I shall abide the adventure of the waking 
 to-night, whatever befall. And I, said he, will so 
 do that thou mayst fear me the less ; for I will un- 
 arm me when the night cometh, and thou thyself 
 shalt keep mine hauberk and sword and anlace. 
 
238 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 She said : It is well ; I will take that, lest desire 
 overmaster thee. 
 
 They spake no more of it at that time, and it 
 was now five hours after noon. Birdalone arose, 
 for she found it hard to sit still and abide nightfall : 
 she went without the two first rings of the Grey- 
 wethers, which were set in more open order beyond 
 that, and she looked all about her, to the black 
 rocks on either side, and to the great black wall at 
 the dale's ending, and the blue mountains aloof be- 
 yond it ; then down toward the plain of the dale 
 came her eyes, and she looked through the tangle 
 of the grey stones. Now she seemed to be look- 
 ing more intently upon some one thing ; with that 
 she called to her the Black Knight, who was hang- 
 ing about watching her, and she said to him : Fair 
 sir, art thou clear-seeing and far-seeing ? I am not 
 thought to be purblind, quoth he. Then Bird- 
 alone reached out her hand and pointed and said : 
 Canst thou see aught which thou didst not look to 
 see, there, up the dale as I point ? Said he : All 
 too clear I see the hand and the wrist of thee, and 
 that blinds me to aught else. I pray thee fool not, 
 she said, but look heedfully, and thou mayst see 
 what I see, and then tell me what it means. Though 
 forsooth I am exceeding in far sight. 
 
 He looked under the sharp of his hand heed- 
 fully, then he turned unto her and said : By All- 
 hallows ! there is in thee every excellency ! Thou 
 art right ; I see a bay horse up there feeding on 
 the bites of grass amongst the Greywethers. Look 
 again ! she said ; what else canst thou see ? Is there 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 239 
 
 aught anigh to the bay horse which is like to the 
 gleam and gHtter of metal. Christ ! said he, once 
 more thou art right. There be weaponed men in 
 the dale. Tarry not, I beseech thee, but get to 
 horse forthright, and I will do no less. 
 
 There goeth the waking of the dale for this time, 
 said Birdalone, laughing. But art thou not in haste, 
 fair sir ? may not these be friends ? 
 
 The knight laid his hand upon her shoulder, and 
 thrust her on toward her palfrey, and spake fiercely, 
 but not loud : Thee I pray not to fool now ! There 
 is not a minute to spare. If thou deemest me evil, 
 as I think thou dost, there are worser than I, I tell 
 thee, there are worser. But we will talk of it when 
 we be in the saddle, and clear of this accursed 
 dale. 
 
 Birdalone knew not what to do save obey him, 
 so she lightly gat into her saddle, and followed him, 
 for he was mounted in a twinkling, and riding on. 
 He led out of the ring, and fell to threading the 
 maze of the Greywethers, keeping ever toward the 
 steep side of the dale, which was on that hand that 
 looked toward the Castle of the Quest, that is to 
 say, the eastern bent. Birdalone wondered at this 
 leading, and when she was come up with the knight 
 she spake to him breathlessly, and said : But, fair 
 sir, why wend we not down the dale ? He answered : 
 First, lady, because we must hide us from them 
 straightway ; and next because they be more than 
 we, many more, and their horses be fresh, while 
 thine at least is somewhat spent; and if they were 
 to spur down the dale in chase, they would soon 
 
240 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 be upon us ; for think, not that I would escape and 
 leave thee behind. 
 
 Said Birdalone : But thou knowest them, then, 
 what they be ? since thou wottest of their numbers 
 and their riding. Hearken now ! Upon thy soul 
 and thy salvation, be they more friends unto thee 
 than unto me ? 
 
 He said, as he rode on a little slower than erst: 
 Upon my soul and my salvation I swear it, that 
 the men yonder be of the worst unfriends to thee 
 that may be in the world. And now, lady, I prom- 
 ise thee that I will unravel thee the riddle, and tell 
 thee the whole truth of these haps, whatsoever may 
 come of my words, when we be in a safer place than 
 this ; and meantime I beseech thee to trust in me 
 thus far, as to believe that I am leading thee out 
 of the very worst peril that might befall thee. Nay, 
 thou must needs trust me ; for I tell thee, that 
 though I now love thee better than all the world 
 and all that is in it, I would slay thee here in this 
 dale rather than suffer thee to fall into the hands of 
 these men. 
 
 Birdalone heard him with a sick heart; but such 
 passion went with his words that she believed what 
 he said; and she spake softly: Sir, I will trust thee 
 thus far; but I beseech thee to have pity upon a 
 poor maiden who hath had but little pity shown 
 unto her until these latter days ; and then : O woe 's 
 me, to have fallen out of the kindness and love 
 once more ! 
 
 The Black Knight spake to her in a little while, 
 and said : What pity I can to thee, that I will. 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 241 
 
 Once more I tell thee, that if thou but knew it thou 
 wouldst thank me indeed for what I have done for 
 thee in this hour ; and henceforth I will do and 
 forbear with thee to the uttermost that love will 
 suffer me. But lo thou ! here are we safe for this 
 present ; but we must nowise tarry. 
 
 Birdalone looked and saw that they were come 
 to the wall of the dale, and that there it went down 
 sheer to the plain thereof, and that before them 
 was a cleft that narrowed speedily, and over which 
 the rocks well-nigh met, so that it was indeed 
 almost a cave. They rode into it straightway, and 
 when that they had gone but a little, and because 
 it had winded somewhat, they could but see the 
 main valley as a star of light behind them, then it 
 narrowed no more, but was as a dismal street of 
 the straitest, whiles lighter and whiles darker, ac- 
 cording as the rocks roofed it in overhead or drew 
 away from it. Long they rode, and whiles came 
 trickles of water from out the rocks on one hand 
 or the other ; and now and again they met a stream 
 which covered all the ground of the pass from side 
 to side for the depth of a foot or more. Great 
 rocks also were strewn over their path every here 
 and there, so that whiles must they needs dismount 
 and toil afoot over the rugged stones ; and in most 
 places the way was toilsome and difficult. The 
 knight spake little to Birdalone, save to tell her of 
 the way, and warn her where it was perilous; and 
 she, for her part, was silent, partly for fear of the 
 strange man, or, it might be, even for hatred of him, 
 who had thus brought her into such sore trouble, 
 
 16 
 
242 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and partly for grief. For, with all torment of sor- 
 row, she kept turning over and over in her mind 
 whether her friends had yet come home to the 
 Castle of the Quest, and whether they would go 
 seek her to deliver her. And such shame took 
 hold of her when she thought of their grief and 
 confusion of soul when they should come home and 
 find her gone, that she set her mind to asking if 
 ij^had not been better had she never met them. 
 
 Sbt in good sooth her mind would not shape the 
 ought, howsoever she bade it.\ 
 
CHAPTER XIII. NOW THEY REST 
 FOR THE NIGHT IN THE STRAIT 
 PASS. 
 
 AT last, when they had been going a long 
 while, it might be some six hours, and it had 
 long been night in the world without, but 
 moon-lit, and they had rested but seldom, and then 
 but for short whiles, the knight drew rein and spake 
 to Birdalone, and asked her was she not weary. O 
 yea, she said ; I was at point to pray thee suffer me 
 to get off and lie down on the bare rock. To say 
 sooth, I am now too weary to think of any peril, 
 or what thou art, or whither we be going. He said : 
 By my deeming we be now half through this moun- 
 tain highway, and belike there is little peril in our 
 resting ; for I think not that any one of them know- 
 eth of this pass, or would dare it if he did ; and they 
 doubtless came into the dale by the upper pass, 
 which is strait enough, but light and open. 
 
 As he spoke, Birdalone bowed forward on her 
 horse's neck, and would have fallen but that he 
 stayed her. Then he lifted her off her horse, and 
 laid her down in the seemliest place he might find ; 
 and the pass there was much widened, and such light 
 as there was in the outer world came down freely 
 into it, though it were but of the moon and the stars; 
 and the ground was rather sandy than rocky. So 
 he dight Birdalone's bed as well as he might, and 
 did off his surcoat and laid it over her ; and then 
 stood aloof, and gazed on her ; and he muttered : 
 It is an evil chance ; yet the pleasure of it, the pleas- 
 
244 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 ure of it! Yea, said he again, she might well be 
 wearied ; I myself am ready to drop, and I am not 
 the least tough of the band. And therewith he 
 laid him down on the further side of the pass, and 
 fell asleep straightway. 
 
CHAPTER XIV, THE BLACK KNIGHT 
 TELLS THE TRUTH OF HIMSELF. 
 
 WHEN the morning was come down into 
 the straitness of their secret road, Bird- 
 alone opened her eyes and saw the Black 
 Knight busy over dighting their horses : so she arose 
 and thrusther grief back into her heart, and gave her 
 fellow-farer the sele of the day, and he brought her 
 victual, and they ate a morsel, and gat to horse there- 
 after and departed ; and the way became smoother, 
 and it was lighter overhead everywhere now, and the 
 rocks never again met overhead athwart the way ; 
 and it seemed to Birdalone that now they were 
 wending somewhat downward. 
 
 The knight was courteous unto Birdalone, and 
 no longer for the present tha-usLhisJove upon her, 
 so that now she had some sblace of his fellowship, 
 though he was but few-spoken to her. 
 
 It was betimes when they arose, and they rode 
 all the morning till it was noon, which they might 
 well wot of, because the way was much wider, and 
 the cliff-walls of the pass much lower, so that the 
 sun shone in upon them and cheered them. 
 
 Now the Black Knight drew rein and said : Shall 
 we rest, lady, and eat ? And thereafter, if thou 
 wilt, I shall tell thee my tale. Or rather, if thou 
 wilt suffer me, I shall speak first and eat after- 
 wards, or else the morsel might stick in my throat. 
 Knight, said Birdalone, smiling, I hope thou hast 
 no lie to swallow down before the meat. Nay, lady, 
 said he ; no lie that is of moment at least. 
 
246 THE WA lER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 So they lighted down, and Birdalone sat on the 
 wayside under a birch-bush that came thrusting out 
 from the rock, and the knight stood before her, 
 hanging his head, as though he were one accused 
 who would plead his cause ; and he began : 
 
 Lady, I must tell thee first of all, that to-day I 
 have done as an unfaithful servant and a traitor to 
 my lord. Said Birdalone simply : Shall I tell thee 
 the truth, and say that from the first I seemed to 
 see in thee that thou wert scarce trusty ? He said : 
 Well, that mind I saw in thee, and it went to my 
 heart that thou shouldest think it, and that it 
 should be no less than true. But now I must tell 
 thee, that it is for thy sake that I have been un- 
 trusty to my lord. How so ? said she. Quoth 
 he : Heardest thou ever of the Red Knight ? Yea, 
 said Birdalone, I have heard of him ever as a tyrant 
 and oppressor. Then she grew pale, and said : 
 Art thou he ? Nay, said the knight, I am but 
 a kinsman of his, and his best-trusted man; nor 
 have I failed him ever till yesterday. 
 
 He kept silence a while, and then said : This is the 
 true tale : that we have had tidings of thee and of thy 
 ridings abroad with that old fool, Sir Aymeris, and 
 how thou hadst been twice to look into the Black 
 Valley. This I say hath the Red One heard, and 
 the heart of him was touched by the mere hearsay 
 of thee ; and moreover 'tis blessed bread to him the 
 doing of any grief to the knights of Quest Castle ; 
 wherefore he hath sent me to hang about the dale, 
 to lay hands on thee if I might ; for he knew, being 
 wise, that thou wouldst hanker after it ; and more- 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 247 
 
 Over he let one of his wise women sit out in spells 
 on thee. So I espied, and happened on thee all 
 alone ; and mine errand it was, since I came upon 
 thee thus, to draw thee till I had thee safe at home 
 in the Red Hold. Forsooth I began mine errand 
 duly, and fell to beguiling thee, so that thou mayst 
 well have seen the traitor in me. But then, and 
 then my heart failed me, because I fell, not to desir- 
 ing thee as coveting my master's chattel, but to 
 loving thee and longing for thee as my fellow and 
 speech-friend. And I said to myself: Into the Red 
 Hold she shall not go if I may hinder it. 
 
 Birdalone was very pale, but she refrained her 
 from grief and fear, and said : But those horsed and 
 weaponed men up the dale, who were they ? He 
 said : I will not lie now, not even a little ; they came 
 into the dale by that upper pass whereof I told thee ; 
 they were of our men ; I brought them. I was never 
 all alone in the dale ; I was to have fetched thee to 
 them, so that thou mightest not see a rout of folk 
 and flee away ; and then would we all have gone 
 home together by the upper pass. But we two 
 must have gone on unto them in the dale's head, 
 whereas for all that I could say I might not bring 
 them down into that doom-ring where we ate and 
 talked yesterday. We two have been valianter 
 than thou mayst have deemed, to have done the 
 deed of dining there ; for all men fear it. But as 
 for me, I have been there more than twice or thrice, 
 and thence have I wandered, and found this pass 
 wherein now we be; concerning which I have held 
 my tongue, deeming that it might one day serve 
 
248 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 my turn ; as it hath done now abundantly, since it 
 hath been a refuge unto thee. 
 
 Yea, but whither are we going now ? said Bird- 
 alone ; is it perchance to the Red Hold? Nay, 
 never, said the knight, so help me God and 
 All-hallows ! 
 
 Whither then ? said Birdalone ; tell me, that I 
 may at least trust thee, even though I owe thee for 
 all the pain and grief which thou hast wrought me. 
 He reddened and said : Wait awhile ; I bring thee 
 to no ill place ; there shall no harm befall thee. 
 And he fretted and fumed, and was confused of 
 speech and look, and then he said : When we come 
 there I shall belike crave a boon of thee. 
 
 O, but I crave a boon of thee here and now, said 
 Birdalone. Wipe away thine offence to me and take 
 me back to my friends and the Castle of the Quest ! 
 So mayst thou yet be dear unto me, though may- 
 be not wholly as thou wouldst have it. And she 
 reached out her two hands toward him. 
 
 His breast heaved, and he seemed nigh to weep- 
 ing ; but he said : Nay, lady, ask me not here and 
 now, but there and to-morrow. But again I swear 
 to thee by thine hands that to the Red Hold I will 
 not bring thee, nor suffer thee to be brought, if I 
 may hinder it ; nay, not though I give my life 
 therefor. 
 
 Birdalone was silent awhile ; then she said: And 
 what shall befall me if I come to the Red Hold ? 
 What is the Red Knight, and what would he do 
 with me ? Said he : The Red Knight is terrible 
 and fierce and wise; and I fear him, I. He held 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 249 
 
 his peace, and said : I must needs say it, that to thee 
 he would have been as Death and the Devil. He 
 would have bedded thee first. She broke in : Nay, 
 never! and flushed very red. But the knight went 
 on : And after, I wot not ; that were according to 
 his mood. And as to thy never, lady, thou wot- 
 test not the like of him or of the folk he hath about 
 him. Such as thou ^ she said angrily. Nay, he 
 said, far worse than me ; men who fare little afield, 
 and are not sweetened by adventures and war-perils ; 
 and women worser yet ; and far worser were they 
 dealing with a woman. She was silent again awhile, 
 and paled once more ; then her colour came back 
 to her, and she held out her hand to him and said 
 kindly : Thou being what thou art, I thank thee for 
 thy dealings with me ; and now until to-morrow, 
 when I shall ask thee of that again, I am friends 
 with thee ; so come now, and let us eat and drink 
 together. 
 
 He took her hand and kissed it, and then came 
 and sat down meekly beside her, and they ate and 
 drank in that wild place as though they had been 
 friends of long acquaintance. 
 
CHAPTER XV. THE BLACK KNIGHT 
 BRINGS BIRDALONE TO THE BOWER 
 IN THE DALE. 
 
 WHEN they had made an end of their meal, 
 they gat to horse again and rode on their 
 ways ; and every mile now was their road 
 the easier, the pass wider, and its walls lower and now 
 also more broken ; till at last they began to go down 
 hill swiftly, and after a little their road seemed to be 
 swallowed in a great thicket of hornbeam and holly; 
 but the knight rode on and entered the said thicket, 
 and ever found some way amidst the branches, 
 though they were presently in the very thick of the 
 trees, and saw no daylight between the trunks for 
 well-nigh an hour, whereas the wood was thick and 
 tangled, and they had to thread their way betwixt 
 its mazes. 
 
 At last the wood began to grow thinner before 
 them, and the white light to show between the 
 trunks ; and Birdalone deemed that she heard 
 the sound of falling water, and presently was sure 
 thereof; and the knight spake to her : Patience, 
 my lady ; now are we near home for to-day. She 
 nodded kindly to him, and therewith they rode on 
 to open ground, and were on the side of a steep bent, 
 broken on their right hands into a sheer cliff, as 
 Birdalone saw when the knight led her to the edge 
 and bade her look over. Then she saw down into 
 a fair dale lying far below them, through the which 
 ran a little river, clear and swift, but not riotous, 
 after it had fallen over a force at the upper end of 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 25 1 
 
 the dale, and made thesoundof waterwhich she had 
 heard. The said dale was so, that whatsoever was 
 on the other side thereof was hidden by tall and 
 great trees, that stood close together some twenty 
 yards aloof from the stream, and betwixt them and 
 it was fair greensward with a few bushes and thorn- 
 trees thereon. 
 
 Ouoth the knight : Down there shall we rest till 
 to-morrow, if it please thee, lady ; and since the sun 
 will set in an hour, we were best on our way at once. 
 It pleases me well, said Birdalone, and I long to 
 tread the turf by the river-side, for I am weary as 
 weary may be of the saddle and the pass. 
 
 So down the bent they rode, and it was but a little 
 ere they had ridden it to an end, and had met the 
 river as it swept round the cliff-wall of the valley ; 
 and they rode through it, and came on to the pleas- 
 ant greensward aforesaid under the trees; and in a 
 bight of the wood was a bower builded of turf and 
 thatched with reed ; and there, by the bidding of 
 the knight, they alighted; and the knight said: This 
 is thine house for to-night, my lady ; and thou 
 mayest lie there in all safety after thou hast supped, 
 and mayst have my weapons by thy side if thou 
 wilt, while I lie under the trees yonder. And if 
 thou wilt bathe thee in the cool water, to comfort 
 thee after the long ride and the weariness, I swear 
 by thy hand that I will take myself out of eye-shot 
 and abide aloof till thou call me. 
 
 Said Birdalone, smiling somewhat : Fair sir, I 
 will not have my watch and ward unarmed ; keep 
 thou thy weapons ; and thou wilt not forget, per- 
 
1^2 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 chance, that I am not wholly unarmed, whereas I 
 have my bow and arrows and my knife here. And 
 as to my bathing, I will take thee at thy word, and 
 bid thee go aloof a while now at once ; for I will 
 go down to the water ; and if thou spy upon me, 
 then will it be thy shame and not mine. 
 
 The knight went his ways therewith, and Bird- 
 alone went down to the water and unclad her ; but 
 ere she stepped into the river, she laid her bow and 
 three shafts on the lip thereof. Then she took 
 the water, and disported her merrily therein ; and 
 now, forsooth, she was nowise downcast, for she 
 said to herself, this man is not all evil and he lov- 
 eth me well, and I look for it that to-morrow he 
 will bring me on my way toward the Castle of the 
 Quest, for mere love of me ; and then shall he be 
 a dear friend to me, and I will comfort him what 
 I can for as long as we both live. 
 
 So she came out of the water and clad her, and 
 then called aloud for the knight, and he came 
 speedily unto her, as if he had been not exceeding 
 far away, though he swore with a great oath that he 
 had nowise espied her. She answered him nought, 
 and they went side by side to the bower ; and there 
 the knight dight the victual, and they sat together 
 and ate their meat like old friends ; and Birdalone 
 asked the knight concerning this valley and the 
 bower, if he had known it for long, and he an- 
 swered : Yea, lady, I was but a stripling when I 
 first happened on the dale ; and I deem that few 
 know thereof save me ; at least none of our flock 
 knoweth thereof; and I am fain thereof, and keep 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 2^2 
 
 them unknowing, for if my lord were to hear of 
 my having a haunt privy unto me he would like 
 it but ill. 
 
 Birdalone turned pale when she heard him speak 
 of his lord ; for fear of the Red Knight had entered 
 into her soul, so that now the flesh crept upon her 
 bones. But she enforced her to smile, and said: 
 Yea, and what would he do to thee were he ill- 
 content with thy ways? Forsooth, lady, said he, 
 if he could spare me he would make an end of me 
 in some miserable way ; nay, if he were exceeding 
 ill-content, he would do as much for me whether 
 he could spare me or not ; otherwise he would 
 watch his occasion, and so grieve me that what he 
 did would go to my very heart. Woe's me ! said 
 Birdalone, thou servest an evil master. The knight 
 answered not, and Birdalone went on speaking ear- 
 nestly: It is a shame to thee to follow this fiend; 
 why dost thou not sunder thee from him, and be- 
 come wholly an honest man? Said he grufily: It 
 is of no use talking of this, I may not; to boot, I 
 fear him. Then did Birdalone hold her peace, and 
 the knight said : Thou dost not know ; when I part 
 from thee I must needs go straight to him, and then 
 must that befall which will befall. Speak we no 
 more of these matters. 
 
 Birdalone flushed with hope and joy as he spake 
 thus, for she took him to mean that he would lead 
 her, on the morrow, on her way to the Castle of 
 the Quest. But the knight spake in a voice grown 
 cheerful again : As to this bower, lady, the talc 
 thereof is soon told; for with mine own hands I 
 
254 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 builded it some fifteen years ago ; and I have come 
 to this place time and again when my heart was 
 overmuch oppressed with black burdens of evil 
 and turmoil, and have whiles prevailed against the 
 evil, and whiles not. Mayst thou prevail this time, 
 then ! said she. He answered her not, but pres- 
 ently fell to talking with her of other matters, and 
 the two were frank and friendly together, till the 
 August night grew dark about them ; and then 
 spake Birdalone: Now would I rest, for I can no 
 longer keep mine eyes open. Abide aloof from 
 me to-morrow morning till I call to thee, as thou 
 didst this evening ; and then, before we eat to- 
 gether again, thou shalt tell me what thou wilt do 
 with me. He stood up to depart, and she reached 
 out her hand to him in the glimmer, and he saw 
 it, but said : Nay, if I take thine hand, I shall take 
 thine whole body. And therewith he departed, 
 and she laid her down in her smock alone, and 
 slept anon, and was dreamless and forgetting every- 
 thing till the sun was up in the morning. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. YET A DAY AND A 
 NIGHT THEY TARRY IN THE DALE. 
 
 BIRD ALONE awoke when the sun came into 
 the bower to her, and stood up at once, and 
 went down to the river and washed the night 
 ofF her ; and then, when she was clad, called on the 
 knight to come to her; and he came, looking down- 
 cast and troubled ; so that Birdalone thought with- 
 in herself: It is well, he will do my will. 
 
 She stood before him, and gave him the sele of 
 the day, and he looked on her sorrowfully. Then 
 she said : Now is come the time when I am to ask 
 thee to take me back to the Castle of the Quest 
 and my own people. He was not hasty to answer 
 her, and she spake again : This must thou do, or 
 else take me to the Red Hold and deliver me to 
 the tyrant there ; and I have heard it from thine 
 own mouth that will be nought else than casting 
 me into shame and torment and death. And I 
 deem thou canst not do it. Nay, she said, stay- 
 ing the words that were coming from his mouth, 
 I wot that thou canst do it if thine heart can suf- 
 fer it ; for thou art stronger than I, and thou mayst 
 break my bow, and wrest this knife out of mine 
 hand ; and thou canst bind me and make me fast 
 to the saddle, and so lead my helpless body into 
 thraldom and death. But thou hast said that thou 
 lovest me, and I believe thee herein. Therefore I 
 know that thou canst not will to do this. 
 
 He answered in his surly voice : Thou art right, 
 lady, I cannot. Nay, hearken thou this time. I 
 
256 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 have been turning over night-long what thou didst 
 say about leaving my lord, that is, betraying him, 
 for it comes to that ; and now I have made up my 
 mind to do it, and I will betray him for thy sake. 
 Wherefore there is a third way to take which thou 
 hast not seen ; we will ride out of this dale in an 
 hour's time, and I will bring thee to them who 
 are only less the mortal foes of the Red Knight 
 than are thy fellows of the Quest, to v/it, to the 
 captain and burgesses of the good town of Green- 
 ford by the Water ; and I will do them to wit that 
 I have rescued thee from the hands of the Red 
 Knight, and am become his foe ; and will show 
 them all his incomings and outgoings, and every 
 whit of rede, and entrap him, so that he fall into 
 their hands. Now, though were I to be taken in 
 battle by them, I should be speedily brought to the 
 halter, or may be to the bale-fire (for we be wizards 
 all in the Red Hold) ; yet with this word in my 
 mouth, if they trow in it, I shall be made their cap- 
 tain, and presently their master. Trow in my tale 
 they will, if thou bear me out therein, and they 
 will honour thee, and suffer thee to give thyself to 
 me in marriage; and then I knov/ thee, and my- 
 self also, and that ere long we shall be both mighty 
 and wealthy and beloved, and fair will be the days 
 before us. 
 
 Flis voice had grown softer as he spake, and to- 
 ward the end of his words he faltered, and at last 
 brake out a-weeping, and cast himself wordless on 
 the grass before her. 
 
 She was pale, and her brow was knitted, and her 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 257 
 
 face quivered ; but she spake coldly to him and 
 said : This way I cannot take ; and I wonder at 
 thee that thou hast shown it unto me, for thyself 
 thou knowest that I cannot go with thee. I will 
 go nowhere hence save to the Castle of the Quest. 
 If thou wilt not lead me thereto, or put me on the 
 road, I ask thee straight, Wilt thou stay me if I 
 go seek the way thither myself? 
 
 He rose up from the ground with a pale face full 
 of anger as well as grief, and caught her by the 
 wrists and said, scowling the while : Tell me now 
 which of them it is ; is it the stupid oaf Baudoin, 
 or the light fool Hugh, or the dull pedant Arthur .? 
 But it matters not ; for I know, and all the coun- 
 try-side knows, that they be vowed, each man of 
 them, to his own woman ; and if they find not the 
 women themselves, such dolts they are, that they 
 will ever be worshipping the mere shadows of them, 
 and turn away from flesh and blood, were it the 
 fairest in the world, as thou art, as thou art. 
 
 She shrank away from him what she might, but 
 he still held her wrists ; then she spake in a quiv- 
 ering voice, her very lips pale with fear and wrath : 
 It is well seen that thou art a man of the Red 
 Knight ; and belike thou wouldst do with me as 
 he would. But one thing I crave of thee, if there 
 is any grain of mercy in thee, that thou wilt draw 
 thy sword and thrust me through ; thou mayst 
 leave thine hold of me to get at the blade, I will not 
 stir from where I stand. O ! to think that I deemed 
 thee well-nigh a true man. 
 
 He dropped her hands now and stood aloof from 
 17 
 
258 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 her, staring at her, and presently cast himself on 
 the ground, rolling about and tearing at the grass. 
 She looked on him a moment or two, and then 
 stepped forward and stooped to him, and touched 
 his shoulder and said : Rise up, I bid thee, and be 
 a man and not a wild beast. 
 
 So in a while he arose, and stood before her 
 hang-dog-like ; then she looked on him pitifully, 
 and said : Fair sir and valiant knight, thou hast 
 gone out of thy mind for a while, and thus hast 
 thou shamed both me and thyself; and now thou 
 wert best forget it, and therewithal my last words 
 to thee. 
 
 Therewith she held out her hand to him, and 
 he went on his knees and took it, sobbing, and 
 kissed it. But she said, and smiled on him : Now 
 I see that thou wilt do what I prayed of thee, and 
 lead me hence and put me on the road to the 
 Castle of the Quest. He said: I will lead thee to 
 the Castle of the Quest. 
 
 Said Birdalone : Then shall it be as I promised, 
 that I will be thy dear friend while both we live. 
 And now, if thou canst, be a little merrier, and come 
 and sit with me, and let us eat our meat, for I 
 hunger. 
 
 He smiled, but woefully, and presently they sat 
 down to their meat ; and he strove to be somewhat 
 merry of mood, and to eat as one at a feast ; but 
 whiles his heart failed him, and he set his teeth and 
 tore at the grass, and his face was fierce and terrible 
 to look on ; but Birdalone made as if she heeded 
 it nought, and was blithe and debonair with him. 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 259 
 
 And when they had done their meat he sat looking 
 at her a while, and at last he said: Lady, dost thou 
 deem that, when all is said, I have done somewhat 
 for thee since first we met the day before yesterday 
 at the lower end of the Black Valley ? Yea, she 
 said, as erst I spake, all things considered I deem 
 that thou hast done much. And now, said he, I 
 am to do more yet ; for I am to lead thee to where 
 henceforth 1 shall have no more part or lot in thee 
 than if thou wert in heaven and I in hell. I pray 
 thee say not so, said Birdalone ; have I not said 
 that I will be thy friend ? Lady, said the knight, 
 I wot well that according to the sweetness of thine 
 heart wilt thou do what thou canst do. And there- 
 with he was silent a while and she also. 
 
 Then he said : I would ask thee a grace if I durst. 
 Ask it, said she, and I will grant it if I may; I have 
 gainsaid thee enough meseemeth. 
 
 Lady, he said, I will ask this as a reward of the 
 way-leader, to wit, that thou abide with me here in 
 this dale, in all honour holden, till to-morrow morn- 
 ing ; and let this place, which has helped me afore- 
 time, be hallowed by thy dwelling here ; and I, I 
 shall have had one happy day at least, if never 
 another. Canst thou grant me this.'' If thou canst 
 not, we will depart in an hour. 
 
 Her countenance fell at his word, and she was 
 silent a while/ for sore she longed to be speedily 
 whereas her frieiids should find her if they came 
 back to the castle.) But she thought within herself 
 how wild and fiefce the man was, and doubted if 
 he might not go stark mad on her hands and de- 
 
26o THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 stroy her if she thwarted overmuch ; and, moreover, 
 frankly she pitied him, and would do what she 
 might to ease his pain and solace his grief of heart. 
 Wherefore she cleared her face of its trouble and 
 let it be vexed no longer, but smiled upon the knight 
 and said: Fair sir, this meseemeth but a little thing 
 for me to do, and I grant it thee with a good will, 
 and this shall now be the first day of the friend- 
 ship if so thou wilt take it ; and may it solace 
 thee. 
 
 Who then was gleeful but the knight, and strange 
 it was to see all his sorrow run off him ; and he 
 became glad and gamesome as a youth, and yet 
 withal exceeding courteous and kind with her, as 
 though he were serving a mighty queen. 
 
 So then they wore the day together in all good 
 fellowship; and first they went up the dale together 
 and right to the foot of that great force, where the 
 stream came thundering down from the sheer rocks; 
 and long Birdalone stood to look thereon, and much 
 she marvelled at it, for no such thing had she seen 
 before. 
 
 Thereafter they went afoot into the wood behind 
 the green bower, and when they had gone some 
 way therein for their pleasure, they fell to seeking 
 venison for their dinner; and the knight took Bird- 
 alone's bow and shafts to strike the quarry withal, 
 but he would have her gird his sword to her, that 
 she might not be weaponless. So they gat them 
 a roe and came back therewith to the bower, and 
 the knight dight it and cooked it, and again they 
 ate in fellowship and kindness; and Birdalone had 
 
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING 261 
 
 been to the river and fetched thence store of blue- 
 flowered mouse-ear, and of meadow-sweet, whereof 
 was still some left from the early days of summer, 
 and had made her garlands for her head and her 
 loins ; and the knight sat and worshipped her, yet 
 he would not so much as touch her hand, sorely 
 as he hungered for the beauty of her body. 
 
 Next, when dinner was done, and they lay in the 
 shadow of the trees, and hearkened the moor-hen 
 crying from thewater, and the moaning ofthe wood- 
 doves in the high trees, she turned to him and bade 
 him tell her somewhat of the tale of his life and 
 deeds ; but he said : Nay, lady, I pray thee pardon 
 me, for little have I to tell thee that is good, and 
 I would not have thee know of me aught worse 
 than thou knowest of me already. Rather be thou 
 kind to me, and tell me of thy days that have been, 
 wherein J know full surely shall be nought but 
 good. 
 
 She smiled and blushed, but without more ado 
 fell to telling him of her life in the House under 
 the Wood, and spared not even to tell him some- 
 what of the wood-mother. And he said no word 
 to her thereover, save thanks and praises for the 
 kindness of her story. 
 
 At last the day wore to its ending, and then the 
 knight's grief strode over him again, and he was 
 moody and few-spoken ; and Birdalone was blithe 
 with him still, and would have solaced his grief; 
 but he said : Let it be ; as for thee, thou shalt be 
 happy to-morrow, but this happy day of mine is 
 well-nigh worn, and it is as the wearing of my life. 
 
262 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 And the dark night came, and he bade her good- 
 night sorrowfully, and departed to his lair in the 
 wood. Birdalone lay in the bower, and might not 
 sleep a long while for her joy of the morrow, which 
 should bring her back to the Castle of the Quest. 
 
 But when morning was, and the sun was but just 
 risen, Birdalone awoke, and stood up and did on 
 her raiment, and called her servant the knight, and 
 he came at once leading the two horses, and said : 
 Now go we to the Castle of the Quest. And he 
 was sober and sorrowful, but nought fierce or wild. 
 
 So Birdalone thanked him kindly and praised 
 him, and he changed countenance no whit therefor. 
 
 Then they mounted and set forth, and the knight 
 led straight into the wood, and by roads that he 
 wotted of, so that they went nowise slowly for 
 wenders through the thick woodland. Thus went 
 they on their way together, he sorry and she glad. 
 
 But now leaves the tale to tell of Birdalone and 
 the knight on whom she happened in the Black 
 Valley of the Greywethers, and turns to the Castle 
 of the Quest and the folk thereof, and what they 
 did in this while and thereafter. 
 
 Here ends the Fourth Part of the Water 
 of the Wondrous Isles, which is called Of 
 the Days of Abiding, and the Fifth Part now 
 begins, which is called The Tale of the 
 Quest's Ending. 
 
THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS 
 ISLES. THE FIFTH PART: THE 
 TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING. 
 
 CHAPTER I. OF SIR LEONARD'S 
 TROUBLE AND THE COMING OF 
 THE QUEST. 
 
 TELLS the tale that when the chaplani had 
 departed from Birdalone at the bower in 
 the copse, he went home to the castle sadly 
 enough, because of his love and longing for her, 
 which well he wotted might never be satisfied. 
 Moreover when he was come into the castle again, 
 there fell fear upon him for what might betide her, 
 and he rued it that he had done her will in getting 
 her forth of the castle ; and in vain now he set be- 
 fore himself all the reasons for deeming that her 
 peril herein was little or nothing, even as he had 
 laid them before her, and which he then believed 
 in utterly, whereas now himseemed there was an 
 answer to every one of them. So he sighed heav- 
 ily and went into the chapel, wherein was an altar 
 of St. Leonard ; and he knelt thereat, and prayed 
 the saint, as he had erst delivered folk from cap- 
 tivity, now to deliver both him and Birdalone from 
 peril and bonds ; but though he was long a-praying 
 and made many words, it lightened his heart little 
 or nothing; so that when he rose up again, that if 
 anything evil happened to this pearl of women, he 
 wished heartily that some one might take his life 
 and he be done with it. 
 
264 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Now was the house astir, and the chaplain came 
 from out the chapel, and thinking all things over, 
 he thought he would go straight to Sir Aymeris 
 and make a clean breast of it, so that weaponed 
 men might be sent at once to seek Birdalone. And 
 he said to himself: What matter if he slay me or 
 cast me into prison, if Birdalone be lost ? 
 
 So he went his ways to the highest tower, which 
 looked landward and hight the Open Eye, deem- 
 ing to find Sir Aymeris; but when he got to the 
 topmost, he found neither captain nor carle there : 
 wherefore he stayed a little and looked forth be- 
 twixt the battlements, if perchance there were some 
 wild chance of seeing Birdalone's coming home 
 again ; but his keen eyes beheld nothing more than 
 he looked to see, as sheep and neat, and the field- 
 folk of thereabouts. So he turned away and went 
 by the swale toward the next tallest tower, which 
 looked lakewards, and was called Hearts' Hope ; 
 and as he went he fell to framing in his mind the 
 words which he should say to the castellan. 
 
 Thus came he, haggard and hapless, on the leads 
 of the tower, which were nought small ; and there 
 gathered together in a knot, and all gazing eagerly 
 out over the lake, he found a dozen of men-at-arms 
 and the castellan amongst them. They took no 
 heed of him as he came up, though he stumbled as 
 he crossed the threshold and came clattering over 
 the lead floor, and he saw at once that there was 
 something unwonted toward ; but he had but one 
 thought in his mind, to wit, the rescuing of Bird- 
 alone. 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 265 
 
 He went up now behind where the castellan 
 was leaning over the battlement, and pulled his 
 skirt, and when Sir Aymeris turned round, he 
 said : Lord, I have a word for thine ear. But the 
 old knight did but half turn round, and then spake 
 peevishly : Tush, man ! another time ! seest thou 
 not I have got no eyes for aught save what we see 
 on the lake ? Yea, but what then ? said the priest. 
 There cometh a boat, said Sir Aymeris, not look- 
 ing back at him, and our thought is that therein be 
 our lords. 
 
 When the priest heard that word, it was to him 
 as if hell had opened underneath his feet ; and he 
 had no might to speak for a minute ; then he cried 
 out : Sir Aymeris, hearken, I pray thee. But the 
 old knight but thrust him back with his hand, and 
 even therewith one of the men-at-arms cried out : 
 I hear the voice of their horn ! Then shouted Sir 
 Aymeris : Where art thou, Noise ? Blow, man, 
 blow, if ever thou blewest in all thy life ! And 
 therewithal came the blare of the brass, and Sir 
 Aymeris nodded to the trumpeter, who blew blast 
 after blast with all his might, so that the priest 
 might as well have been dumb for any hearing 
 he might get ; and all the while to Leonard 
 the minutes seemed hours, and he was well-nigh 
 distraught. 
 
 And then when the knight held up his hand for 
 the Noise to stay his blowing, and Leonard strove to 
 speak, the castellan turned on him and said : Peace, 
 Sir Leonard ; dost thou not know that now we 
 would listen with our ears to heed if they answer 
 
266 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 us ? Not a word any one man of you, learned or 
 lewd, or ye shall rue it ! 
 
 Even therewith came clearly the sound of the 
 horn from the water, and again and yet again ; and 
 no man spake but the chaplain, who cried out : 
 Hearken, knight, it is of Birdalone. But Sir Ay- 
 meris laid his hand on his shoulder and said in an 
 angry whisper : Thou shalt be put downstairs, 
 priest, if thou hold not thy peace. 
 
 Leonard drew aback scowling, and went out of 
 the door, and so slowly down the stair, and with- 
 drew him into the cover of the door of the first 
 chamber down from the tower-top, with the mind 
 to waylay Sir Aymeris as he came down ; and mean- 
 while he cursed him for a fool and a dull-wit, and 
 himself yet more, as was but right, for a fool and a 
 licorous traitor. 
 
 But he had not tarried there more than a score 
 of minutes, ere he heard a great shout from 
 those up above : They are come! they are come! 
 And next thereafter came all the men clattering 
 down the stair past him, scarce refraining them 
 from shoving each his neighbour on to the next 
 one ; Leonard followed on them, and presently 
 arose great shouting and tumult through all the 
 house, and all folk, men and women, hurried 
 flock-meal toward the water-gate, and with them 
 went Leonard perforce ; and sick of heart he 
 was, calling to mind the first coming thither of 
 Birdalone. 
 
 But now when they came to the water-gate, there 
 verily was the Sending Boat just coming to hand; 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 267 
 
 and in the stern stood the three knights together, 
 all clad in their armour, and before them sat three 
 lovely ladies, clad one in gold, one in green, and 
 one in black : and lo, there was the Quest come 
 home. 
 
CHAPTER II. NOW ASK THEY OF 
 BIRDALONE, AND SIR LEONARD 
 SPEAKS. 
 
 NOW the prow touched the stones of the 
 stair, and folk were busy to lay hold of it 
 that the wayfarers might land, but Sir Bau- 
 doin cried out in a great voice : Let none be so 
 hardy as to touch this ferry, either now or hereafter; 
 for there is peril therein. And therewith he took 
 Aurea by the hand, and led her out of the boat and 
 up the stair, and she all joyous and wondering ; and 
 thereafter came Hugh and his darling, and last of 
 all Arthur and Atra, and she alone of the three 
 women looked downcast, and her eyes wandered 
 about the throng that was before them there, as 
 though she sought something, yet feared to see it. 
 
 But when they were all standing together on the 
 landing-plain, and the folk were all about them in 
 a ring. Sir Baudoin spake to the castellan and said : 
 Sir Aymeris, thee and other folk I see here, the 
 sight of whom doth me great joy ; but where, I 
 pray thee, is the lady, our friend Birdalone, by 
 whom it is that all we are come happily hither ? 
 And he looked around with an anxious face ; but 
 Arthur was as pale as ashes, yet he spake nought, 
 and Atra let her hand fall away from his. 
 
 Then spake the castellan, and said : No harm 
 hath befallen the Lady Birdalone ; but whiles she 
 hath been somewhat ailing of late, and it is like that 
 she wotteth not what is toward, and keepeth her 
 chamber now, for it is yet betimes in the morning. 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 269 
 
 As he spake, came thrusting a man through the 
 throng, eager and pale-faced ; who but the chap- 
 lain ; and he said : He would not let me speak, this 
 fool ; I cannot choose my time. Lords, I bear evil 
 tidings and an ugly welcome home. The Lady 
 Birdalone is in peril, and she is not in the castle ; I 
 wot not where she is. Ye must send armed men 
 to seek her out. 
 
 Thereat fell the silence of woe upon the throng ; 
 but Arthur ran forward on the priest with drawn 
 sword, and cried out : I misdoubt me that thou art 
 a traitor ; speak ! or I will slay thee here and now. 
 If I be a traitor, quoth Leonard, I shall tell thee 
 in little while what ye must do to undo my treason, 
 if there be yet time thereto; so slay me not till ye 
 have heard, and then do what ye will with me. 
 
 But Baudoin put Arthur aside, and said : Refrain 
 thee a little, fair brother, else shall words tumble 
 over each other and we shall know nothing clear. 
 Sir Aymeris, bring our dear ladies to the fairest 
 chambers, and do all honour and courtesy to them. 
 And ye, sweetlings, ye will not begrudge us that we 
 go to seek your friend. Thou priest, come with 
 us a little apart, and tell thy tale as shortly as thou 
 mayst, and fear nought ; we be not God's dastards, 
 as the Red Knight and his men. 
 
 Viridis wept and kissed her love before all folk, 
 and bade him go and do his best to find her friend, 
 or never come back to her else. Much moved, 
 even to tears, was Aurea withal, and reached her 
 hand to Baudoin, and said : If any man on earth 
 can help us it is thou. Go thou. But Atra 
 
270 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 wept not, and but said to Arthur : Go thou, it is 
 
 meet. 
 
 Therewith were the ladies brought to fair cham- 
 bers ; but the three knights went with the priest 
 and Sir Aymeris into the solar, and set a guard at 
 the door that their talk should be privy. 
 
 i 
 
CHAPTER III. HOW THEY FOLLOW 
 THE SLOT OF BIRDALONE AND THE 
 BLACK KNIGHT. 
 
 IT was but five minutes ere the priest had told 
 them all that need v/as ; so they let him abide 
 alone there, though sooth to say there was none 
 of them but had good will to break his neck ; and 
 the same rede had all three, that there was nought 
 for it but to go their ways with all speed to the 
 Black Valley of the Greywethers, and follow up 
 the slot of Birdalone if it might yet be found ; 
 wherefore they bade saddle their horses straight- 
 way ; and while that was a-doing they ate a mor- 
 sel, and bade farewell to their lovelings. And they 
 dight them to go, they three together, with but one 
 squire imd a sergeant, who were both of them keen 
 trackers and fell woodsmen. But ere they went, 
 by the rede of Arthur they bade Sir Aymeris to 
 arm a two score of men and ride toward the Red 
 Hold, and beset the ways 'twixt that and the Castle 
 of the Quest ; for one and all they deemed that if 
 any harm befell Birdalone, the Red Knight would 
 be at the bottom of it. 
 
 So rode those fellows, and came unto the dale 
 but some four hours after Birdalone had happened 
 on the stranger knight ; and they took up the 
 slot of her, but not easily, whereas the ground was 
 hard and stony ; howbeit, they found tokens of 
 the knight also, finding here and there what they 
 deemed the footprints of a tall man. And this 
 was grievous to those fellows, since now they could 
 
272 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 not but deem that somewhat untoward had befallen 
 Birdalone. But they went on making out the slot, 
 and they followed it with much toil until they came 
 to the doom-ring in the head of the dale, whereas 
 Birdalone and the stranger had sat down to meat ; 
 but by that time, so toilsome had been their going, 
 it was somewhat more than dusk, and there was 
 nought for it but to abide there night-long. So a 
 while they sat talking, all of them, and the squire 
 and the sergeant aforesaid were not a little timor- 
 ous of the adventure of making that stead unkenned 
 their sleeping chamber ; and to while away the time, 
 their lords made them tell tales such as they knew 
 concerning that place ; and both they said that they 
 had never erst come into the dale but a very little 
 way, and said that they had done so then but trust- 
 ing in their lords' bidding and the luck of the Quest. 
 Thereafter turned the talk as to what had befillen 
 Birdalone, and the chances of coming on her; and, 
 as folk will in such a plight, they talked the mat- 
 ter over and over again till they were weary and 
 could say no more. 
 
 Then they went to sleep, and nought befell them 
 till they awoke in the broad daylight ; but they 
 had little inkling of what hour it was, for all the 
 dale was full of thick white mist that came roll- 
 ing down from the mountains, so that they could 
 scarce see their hands before them, and there they 
 had to tarry still, would they, would they not; 
 and the sergeant fell to telling tales of folk who 
 had been lost in that stony maze ; and all of them 
 deemed, more or less, that this was the work either 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 273 
 
 of evil wights, or it might be of the wizardry of 
 the Red Knight ; and, to be short, they all deemed 
 that he it was who had wielded it, save the ser- 
 geant, who said that the mountain wights were the 
 masters and not the servants of him of the Red 
 Hold. 
 
 Thus, then, it betided ; but when the said mist 
 had been hanging upon them for some six hours, 
 it rolled up like a curtain, and lo the blue sky and 
 the sun, and the mountains as clear blue as in a 
 picture ; and they saw by the sun that it was but 
 a little after high noon. 
 
 But as they rejoiced herein, and betook them 
 once more to tracking out the slot of Birdalone 
 and the other, the sky became suddenly overcast, 
 and down from the jaws of the mountain came a 
 storm of wind and rain, and thunder and lightning, 
 so great that they might scarce see each other's 
 faces, and when it cleared off, in about an hour and 
 a half, and went down the wind to the south-east, 
 the stream was waxen great, and ran brown and 
 furious down the dale, so that it was fordable only 
 here and there ; and as for tracking the slot of 
 those twain, there was no need to talk thereof, for 
 the fury of the driving rain had washed all away. 
 
 Thus fared they the whole day betwixt fog and 
 clear weather, and they laid them down to rest at 
 night sore disheartened. When the day broke they 
 talked together as to what was best to do ; and the 
 sergeant aforesaid spake: Lords, said he, meseem- 
 eth I am more at home in the Black Valley than 
 lye be; heed ye not wherefore. Now so it is that 
 
 18 
 
274 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 if we tarry here till night come we wot not what 
 of evil may betide us, or at the least we do nought. 
 Or if we turn back and go southward out of the 
 dale we shall be safe indeed ; but safe should we 
 have been at your house, lords, and should have 
 done no less. But now 1 shall tell you that, if ye 
 will, lords, I shall guide you to a pass that goeth 
 out of the head of the dale to our right hands, and 
 so turneth the flank of the mountains, and cometh 
 out into the country which lieth about the Red 
 Hold ; and meseemeth it is thitherward that we 
 must seek if we would hear any tidings of the lady ; 
 for there may we lay in ambush and beset the ways 
 that lead up to the Hold, by which she must have 
 been brought if she hath not been carried through 
 the air. How say ye, lords ? Soothly there is peril 
 therein; yet meseemeth peril no more than in our 
 abiding another night in the Black Valley. 
 
 Said Arthur : We heed not the peril if there be 
 aught to be done ; wherefore let us be stirring 
 straightway. And so said they all. Wherefore 
 they gat to horse, and rode up to the very head 
 of the valley, and the weather was now calm and 
 bright. 
 
 But the sergeant brought them to the pass 
 whereof the stranger knight had spoken to Bird- 
 alone, which led into the Red Knight's country, 
 and without more ado they entered it when it was 
 now about three hours after noon. But the way 
 was both steep and rough, so that they had much 
 toil, and went not very far ere night fell upon them, 
 and the moon was not yet up. So when they had 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 275 
 
 stumbled on another two hours, and their horses 
 were much spent and they themselves not a little 
 weary, they laid them down to sleep, after they 
 had eaten such meat as they had with them, in a 
 place where was a little grass for the horses to bite ; 
 for all the road hitherto had been mere grim stones 
 and big rocks, walled on either side by stony screes, 
 above which rose steep and beetling crags. 
 
 In the dawn they arose again, and made no ado 
 till they were in the saddle, and rode till they came 
 to the crest of the pass, and came out thence after 
 a while on to the swelling flank of a huge mountain 
 (as it might be the side of the mountain of Plin- 
 limmon in Wales), which was grassed and nought 
 craggy, but utterly treeless. 
 
 Now the sergeant led them somewhat athwart 
 the said mountain till they began to go down, and 
 saw below them a country of little hills much cov- 
 ered with wood, and in a while, and ere it was noon, 
 they were among the said woods, which were grown 
 mostly with big trees, as oak here and beech there, 
 and the going was good for them. 
 
CHAPTER IV. OF THE SLAYING OF 
 FRIEND AND FOE. 
 
 SO came they, three hours after noon, to where 
 was a clearing in the woodland, and a long 
 narrow plain some furlong over lay before 
 them, with a river running along it, and the wood 
 rose on the other side high and thick, so that the 
 said plain looked even as a wide green highway 
 leading from somewhence to somewhither. 
 
 At the edge hereof their way-leader, the ser- 
 geant, bade draw rein, and said : Lords, we are 
 now in the lands of the Red Hold, and therein is 
 mickle peril and dread to any save stout hearts as 
 ye be ; but meseems we are so steaded, that what- 
 ever may come out of the Black Valley of the 
 Greywethers to the Red Hold, ye now may scarce 
 miss. Yonder along this plain to the north lies 
 the way to the said Hold, and any man coming 
 from the head of the valley is sure to come by the 
 way we have come, and will pass us not many yards 
 at the worst from where we now be. On the other 
 hand, if any come to the Hold from the mouth of 
 the Black Valley, then along this green road must 
 they needs pass under your very eyes. Lastly, if 
 we do what we are come to do, to wit, to deliver the 
 lady from the Red Knight, then, the deed done, 
 we have to take the green road southward, and ride 
 it for a league and then turn east, and we shall have 
 our heads turned toward the Castle of the Quest, 
 and shall speedily fall in with Sir Aymeris and our 
 men who be guarding the out-gates of the Red 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 277 
 
 Knight's country toward our house. So now, by 
 my rede, ye shall lay in covert here and abide a 
 while what may befall ; if nought come hereby ere 
 two hours be lacking of sunset, then may we seek 
 further. 
 
 They all yeasaid this, and gat off their horses, 
 and lay quiet on the grass, not even speaking save 
 softly. And when they had abided thus scarce an 
 hour's space, the squire, who was a man of very 
 fine ear, held up his hand as though to bid utter 
 silence, and all hearkened eagerly. Presently he 
 said: Hear ye not? Said Arthur : Meseemeth I 
 hear a faint tinkle as of a sheep-bell. Said the 
 squire : 'Tis the clashing of swords down the plain 
 to the south, and meseemeth 'tis but of two : ride 
 we thither ? 
 
 Quoth Baudoin : Nay, not by my rede ; for if 
 we can hear them they can hear us ; let us quietly 
 edge along afoot somewhat nigher their way, ever 
 keeping the cover of the wood betwixt us and the 
 open plain. Now then to it ; and let each man 
 keep his weapons ready. 
 
 Even so did they, and spread out in a line as they 
 went, in such wise that there was some six paces 
 betwixt each man of them, and they went softly 
 forward ; Baudoin went first, Hugh second, then 
 Arthur ; then the squire and the sergeant last of 
 all. 
 
 Now when they had gone but a quarter of an 
 hour, the squire caught up with Arthur, and spake 
 to him softly, and said : The voice of the swords 
 has been silent now a while, and I heard a voice 
 
278 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 crying out e'en now, a woman's voice. And now 
 again 1 could well-nigh deem that I hear horse- 
 hoofs. 
 
 Arthur nodded to him, and they went but a 
 little further ere he said : Lo, lo ! 'tis the time of 
 the eyes now ! Here come folk. And therewithal 
 they stayed them. For the wood turned somewhat 
 here, so as to hide all but a little of the plain, and 
 round the wood neb the new-comers hove in sight, 
 and were close on them at once, so that they might 
 see them clearly, to wit, a knight weaponed, clad 
 all in red, a very big man, riding on a great bay 
 horse, and behind him a woman going afoot in very 
 piteous plight ; for she was tethered to the horse's 
 crupper by a thong that bound her wrists together, 
 so that she had but just room left 'twixt her and the 
 horse that she might walk, and round about her 
 neck was hung a man's head newly hewn off. 
 
 This sight they all saw at once, and were out of 
 the wood in a trice with weapons aloft, for they 
 knew both the man and the woman, that they were 
 the Red Knight and Birdalone. 
 
 So swift and sudden had they been, that he had 
 no time either to spur or even to draw his sword ; 
 but he had a heavy steel axe in his hand as the first 
 man came up to him, which was the tall Baudoin ; 
 and therewith he smote down on Baudoin so fierce 
 and huge a stroke, that came on him betwixt neck 
 and shoulder, that all gave way before it, and the 
 Golden Knight fell to earth all carven and stark 
 dead : but even therewith fell Hugh, the squire, and 
 the sergeant on the Red Knight ; for Arthur had 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 279 
 
 run to Birdalone and sheared her loose from her 
 tether. The sergeant smote him on the right arm 
 with a maul, so that the axe fell to the ground ; the 
 squire's sword came on the side of his head, and, 
 as it was cast back beneath the stroke, Hugh thrust 
 his sword through the throat of him, and down he 
 fell unto the earth and was dead in less than a 
 minute. 
 
 Then gathered the others round about Baudoin, 
 and saw at once that he was dead ; and Birdalone 
 came thrusting through the press of them, and 
 knelt down beside him, and when she saw her friend 
 so piteously dight, she wept and wailed over him 
 as one who might not be comforted ; and Hugh 
 stood over her and let his tears fall down upon the 
 dead man ; and withal the squire and the sergeant 
 did not refrain their lamentations, for sore beloved 
 was Sir Baudoin the Golden Knight, 
 
 But Arthur spake dry-eyed, though there was 
 grief in his countenance, and he said : Fellows, and 
 thou, lady, let us lament afterwards, but now is 
 time for us to get us gone hence as speedily as may 
 be. Yet I will ask, doth any know whose is this head 
 that the slain tyrant here had hung about the lady's 
 neck ? May the fiends curse him therefor ! 
 
 Said the sergeant : Yea, lords, that wot I ; this 
 is the head of the Red Knight's captain and head 
 man. Sir Thomas of Estcliffe ; one of the hardiest 
 of knights he was while he was alive, as ye surely 
 wot, lords ; neither, as I have heard say, was he as 
 cruel a tyrant as his lord that lieth there ready for 
 the ravens. 
 
28o THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Now had Birdalone arisen and was standing 
 facing Arthur; her face was pale and full of anguish, 
 and she was dabbled with blood from the dead man's 
 neck ; but there was nought of shame in her face 
 as she stood there and spoke : O my living friends, 
 who have but now saved me, ye and my dead 
 friends, from what shame and death I know not, 
 the tale of this woeful hap is over long to tell if there 
 be peril at hand, and I scarce alive from dread and 
 sorrow ; but shortly thus it is : This man, whose 
 head here lieth, entrapped me as I foolishly wan- 
 dered in the Black Valley, and afterwards delivered 
 me, and was leading me to your castle, my friends, 
 when this other one, his master, the tyrant of the 
 Red Hold, came upon him, and fell upon him and 
 slew him as a traitor, and dighted me as ye saw. 
 And woe's me ! I am the fool whose folly has slain 
 your friend and mine. Wherefore I am not worthy 
 of your fellowship, and ye shall cast me forth of 
 it ; or to slay me were better. 
 
 So she spake, gazing earnestly on Arthur ; and 
 so troubled and grieved, that she might well have 
 died but for her woodland breeding, and the toil 
 of the days she had won through in the House 
 under the Wood. 
 
 But Hugh spake gently to her and said : Keep 
 up thine heart yet, maiden ; for the hand of Fate it 
 is that led thee, and none doeth grievously amiss 
 but if he mean wrong-doing in his heart ; and we 
 know thee for true ; and thou hast been our helper, 
 and brought our lovelings unto us to make us 
 liappy. 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 281 
 
 But she brake out weeping afresh, and said : O 
 no, no ! it is but woe and weariness I have brought 
 unto my friends ; and to myself woe and weariness 
 yet more. 
 
 And she looked piteously into Arthur's face, 
 and hard and stern it seemed unto her ; and she 
 writhed and wrung her hands for anguish. But 
 he spake and said : This will we look into when 
 we be safe behind our walls, and see what she hath 
 done amiss and what not amiss. But now is there 
 but one thing to do, and that is to get us speedily 
 on our way to the Castle of the Quest, and bind 
 our fellow's body on his horse that he also may ride 
 with us, and the lady shall ride the horse of the 
 accursed thief Then they turned to go toward 
 their horses ; but therewith Birdalone smote her 
 foot against the slain knight's head, and shrank 
 aback from it, and pointed down toward it and 
 spake no word ; and Hugh said : Friends, the lady 
 is right, this at least we will cover with earth. Do 
 ye go fetch hither our horses, since we be on the 
 road, and I will do here what need is meanwhile. 
 
 So they went on that errand, and then Hugh and 
 Birdalone between them dug a hole with the swords 
 and laid the head of the captain of the Red Knight 
 therein. And forsooth, somewhat would Birdalone 
 have wept for him had she had a tear to spare. 
 
 Then they fell to and bound the dead Baudoin 
 on the Red Knight's mighty bay steed, so that no 
 time might be wasted ; and when that was done, 
 and the others had not come back with their horses, 
 Hugh took Birdalone's hand and led her down to 
 
282 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 the stream and washed the gore off her bosom, and 
 she washed her face and her hands and let him lead 
 her back again in such wise that now she could 
 hearken to the words of comfort he spake to her, 
 and piteous kind he seemed unto her ; so that at 
 last she plucked up heart, and asked him how Viri- 
 dis did. Quoth he : They be all safe at home in 
 the castle, and Viridis is well and loveth thee well. 
 And Aurea was well, woe worth the while for her 
 now ! As for Atra, she has not been so glad as the 
 other twain, I wot not wherefore. 
 
 Even as he spake were the others come up with 
 the horses, and Arthur nodded yeasay when he saw 
 what had been done with Baudoin dead ; and so 
 they gat to horse, and Birdalone it was that rode 
 Raudoin's steed. Then they went their ways, 
 crossing the river into the wood ; and the sergeant 
 was ever way-leader, but the squire led the horse 
 which bore the sorrowful burden of the dead Knight 
 of the Quest. 
 
CHAPTER V. THEY COME HOME TO 
 THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST. 
 
 NOW they had gone but some three hours, 
 riding dreary and nigh speechless all of 
 them, ere they began to know the land they 
 were in, and that they were coming to the place 
 where they might look presently to fall in with Sir 
 Aymeris and his company ; and even so the meet- 
 ing betid, that they saw men standing and going 
 about their horses beside a little wood, and knew 
 them presently for their folk, who mounted at once 
 and spurred forward to meet them, spears aloft. 
 Speedily then was the joy of those abiders turned 
 into sorrow, nor may the grief of Sir Aymeris be 
 told, so great it was ; and Birdalone looked on and 
 saw the mourning and lamentation of the warriors, 
 and eked was her anguish of mind ; and she beheld 
 Arthur the Black Squire, how he sat still upon his 
 horse with a hard and dreary countenance, and 
 looked on those mourners almost as if he con- 
 temned them. But Sir Aymeris came up to Bird- 
 alone, and knelt before her and kissed her hand, 
 and said : If my heart might rejoice in aught, as 
 some day it will, it would rejoice in seeing thee safe 
 and sound, lady ; here at least is gain to set beside 
 the loss. 
 
 She thanked him, but looked askance toward 
 Arthur, who said : If that be gain, yet is there more, 
 for the Red Knight lieth in the green plain for a 
 supper to the wolf and the crow. Vengeance there 
 hath been, and belike more yet may come. But 
 
284 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 now, if ye have lamented as much as ye deem be- 
 fitteth warriors, let us tarry here no longer; for even 
 yet meseemeth shall we be safer behind walls, now 
 that our chief and captain is slain, I scarce know 
 in what quarrel. 
 
 None naysaid it, so they all rode forth together, 
 and the sergeant and the squire and Sir Hugh told 
 of their tale what they might to Sir Aymeris and 
 the others ; but Arthur held his peace, and rode 
 aloof from Birdalone, whereas Sir Aymeris and 
 Hugh rode on either side of her, and did not spare 
 to comfort her what they might. 
 
 They rode straight on, and made no stay for 
 nightfall, and thvis came home to the Castle of the 
 Quest before the day was full ; and woeful was their 
 entry as they went in the dawn underneath the gate 
 of the said castle, and soon was the whole house 
 astir and lamenting. 
 
 As for Birdalone, when she got down from her 
 horse in the gateway, and was stiff and weary of 
 body, and all dazed and confused of mind, there 
 was but little life in her ; nor could she so much 
 as think of the new day and Aurea's awakening, 
 but crept up unto her own chamber, so long as it 
 seemed since she had left it, though it was but a 
 little while ; and she cast herself upon the bed and 
 fell asleep whether she would or not, and so for- 
 gat her much sorrow and her little hope. 
 
CHAPTER VI. OF THE TALK BE- 
 TWIXT BIRDALONE AND VIRIDIS. 
 
 WHEN she woke again, she had slept the 
 night away, and it was broad day, and for 
 a moment she lay wondering what was 
 the burden upon her ; but presently she called it 
 all to mind, and deemed it were well might she for- 
 get it all again. Anon she became aware of some- 
 one moving about the chamber, and she looked 
 about unhappily; and lo ! a woman, fair and dainty, 
 clad all in green, and it was Viridis that had come 
 there. But when she saw Birdalone stirring, she 
 came up to her and kissed her sweetly and kindly, 
 and wept over her, so that Birdalone might nowise 
 refrain her tears. But when she might cease weep- 
 ing, she said to Viridis : Tell me, art thou weeping 
 for thy friend who is lost, and who shall be thy 
 friend no more; or thy friend whom thou hast 
 found.'* Said Viridis: Forsooth I have wept for Bau- 
 doiji plenteously, and he is worthy of it, for he was 
 valiant and true and kind. Said Birdalone: True 
 is that; but I meant not my question so; but rather 
 I would ask thee if thou weepest because thine heart 
 must needs cast me away, or because thou hast 
 found me again ? Quoth Viridis : Whoso may be 
 dead, or whoso alive, but if it were Hugh, my love- 
 ling, I were rejoiced beyond measure to find thee, 
 my friend. And again she kissed her as one who 
 was glad and kind. But for new rest of soul and 
 for joy, Birdalone fell a-weeping afresh. 
 
 Again she spake : And what mind have the 
 
286 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 others about me ? For thou art but one, though 
 the dearest, save . . . And would they punish 
 me for my fault and folly that has slain the best 
 man in the world ? If the punishment be short of 
 putting me forth of their fellowship, I were fain 
 thereof. 
 
 Viridis laughed : Forsooth, she said, they have 
 much to punish thee for ! whereas it was by thy 
 doing and thy valiance that we all came together 
 again and the Quest was accomplished. Nay, but 
 tell me, said Birdalone, what do they say of me, 
 each one of them ? 
 
 Viridis reddened ; she said : Hugh, my mate, 
 saith all good of thee ; though no one of carl-folk 
 may be sorrier of the loss of his fellow. Aurea lay- 
 eth not the death of her man upon thee ; and she 
 saith : When the fountain of tears is dried up in me, 
 I will see her and comfort her, as she me. Atra 
 saith : she saith but little, yet she saith : So is it 
 fated. I had done belike no better, but worse than 
 she. 
 
 Now turned Birdalone red and then pale again, 
 and she said, but in a quavering voice : And the 
 Black Squire, Arthur, what sayeth he ? Said Viri- 
 dis : He sayeth nought of thee, but that he would 
 hear all the tale of what befell thee in the Black 
 Valley. Sweet friend, said Birdalone, I pray thee 
 of thy kindness and sweetness that thou go unto 
 him presently and bring him in hither, and then I 
 will tell him all ; and he and thou and I together. 
 
 Viridis said : There is this to be said, that when 
 a man loveth a woman he coveteth her, to have her 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 287 
 
 all wholly to himself, and hard and evil he groweth 
 for the time that he misdoubteth her whom he 
 loveth. And I will tell thee that this man is jeal- 
 ous lest thou wert never so little kind to the slain 
 stranger knight whose head the tyrant hung about 
 thee. Furthermore, I fear there is no help for it 
 that thou wilt undo the happiness of one of us, that 
 is Atra ; yet were it better that that befell later 
 than sooner. And if Sir Arthur come in here to 
 thee, and hath thy tale with none beside save me, 
 meseems the poor Atra will feel a bitter smart because 
 of it. Were it not better that we all meet presently 
 in the solar, and that there thou tell thy tale to us 
 all? and thereafter shall we tell the tale of our de- 
 liverance and our coming hither. And thus doing, 
 it will seem less like to the breaking up of our 
 fellowship. 
 
 Said Birdalone : It will be hard for me to tell my 
 tale before Atra and before him. Might it not be 
 that thou hearken to it here and now, and tell it to 
 the others hereafter ? Nay, nay, said Viridis, I am 
 not a proper minstrel to take the word out of thy 
 mouth. Never shall I be able to tell it so that they 
 shall trow it as if they had seen it all. Besides, 
 when all is told, then shall we be more bound 
 together again. I pray thee, and I pray thee, sweet, 
 do so much for me as to tell thy tale to the fellow- 
 ship of us. And if it be hard to thee, look upon 
 it as my share of the punishment which is due to 
 thee for falling into that mishap. 
 
 Smiled Birdalone ruefully, and said: So be it; 
 and may the share of the others be as light as thine, 
 
288 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 sister. Yet soothly were I liefer that my body and 
 my skin should pay the forfeit. But now, since I 
 must needs do this, the sooner is the better me- 
 seemeth. 
 
 In a little half hour, said Viridis, will I bring 
 what is left of our fellowship into the solar to 
 hearken thee. So come thou there unto us when 
 thou art clad. And hear thou ! be not too meek 
 and humble, and bow thyself to us in fear of our 
 sorrow. For whereas thou didst speak of our pun- 
 ishing thee, there will be one there whom thou mayst 
 easily punish to thy pleasure ; forsooth, friend, I rue 
 that so it is ; but since it will not better be, what 
 may I do but wish thee happy and him also. 
 
 Therewith she turned and went out of the cham- 
 ber, and Birdalone, left to herself, felt a secret joy 
 in her soul that she might not master, despite the 
 sorrow of her friends, whatever it might be. 
 
CHAPTER VII. BIRDALONE TELL- 
 ETH THE TALE OF HER WAN- 
 DERING UP THE VALLEY OF THE 
 GREYWETHERS. 
 
 NOW Viridis did as she said, and brought them 
 all into the solar ; there was none lacking 
 save Baudoin, and they sat silently in a half 
 ring, till the door opened and Birdalone came in to 
 them, clad all simply in but a black coat ; and she 
 made obeisance to them, and stood there with her 
 head bent down as if they were her judges, for so 
 in sooth she deemed them. Then Hugh bade her 
 sit down amongst them ; but she said : Nay, I will 
 not sit amongst you till ye have heard my story, 
 and ye have told me that I am yet of your fellow- 
 ship. None said aught ; Atra looked straight be- 
 fore her, and her eyes met not Birdalone's eyes ; 
 Arthur looked down on the ground ; but Hugh 
 and Viridis looked kindly on Birdalone, and to 
 Viridis' eyes the tears were come. 
 
 Then spake Birdalone and said : I am here as 
 one that hath done amiss ; but I will tell you, so 
 that ye may not think worse of me than ye should, 
 that when ye were gone, ye Champions, and the 
 time wore long that ye came not again, it lay heavy 
 on my heart, and hope waned and fear waxed, and 
 my soul so grieved my body that I thought to fall 
 sick thereof, and I knew that it would be ill for you 
 to come home hither and find me sick ; so that I 
 longed sore to do somewhat which should make 
 me whole again. Then weird would that I should 
 
 19 
 
290 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 hear all the tale of the Black Valley of the Grey- 
 wethers, and of how therein is whiles granted 
 fulfilment of desire ; and methought how well it 
 were if I might seek the adventure there and accom- 
 plish it. Thereof, doubtless, hath the chaplain, Sir 
 Leonard, told you ; but this furthermore would I 
 say, that his doing herein was nought ; all was done 
 by my doing and by my bidding, and he might not 
 choose but do it. Wherefore I do pray you all 
 earnestly that ye keep no grudge against him, but 
 pardon him all. Tell me, then, will ye do thus 
 much ? 
 
 Said Hugh : Let him be pardoned, if he can take 
 pardon. But Arthur spake not, and Birdalone 
 looked on him anxiously, and her face was moved, 
 and it was with her throat as if she had swallowed 
 something down. Then she spake again, and fell 
 to tell them all that had betid to her when she went 
 to the Black Valley, even as is hereafore writ, hid- 
 ing nought that had been done and said ; and freely 
 she told it, without fear or shame, and with such 
 clearness and sweetness of words that no one of them 
 doubted her aught ; and Arthur lifted up his head, 
 and once and again his eyes met hers, and there was 
 nought of hardness in them, though they turned 
 away at once. 
 
 So at last fell Birdalone to telling what betid after 
 they two, the stranger knight and she, left the valley 
 of the force and fell to riding the wildwood with 
 their heads turned toward the Castle of the Quest ; 
 and she said : 
 
 When we turned into the wood away from the 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 291 
 
 said valley it lacked some four hours of noon ; and 
 we rode till noon was, and rested by a stream-side 
 and ate, for we knew no cause wherefore we should 
 hasten overmuch ; but my fellow the strange knight 
 was downcast and heavy, and some might have called 
 him sullen. But I strove to make him of better 
 cheer, and spake to him kindly, as to one who of 
 an enemy had become a friend ; but he answered 
 me : Lady, it availeth not ; I grieve that I am no 
 better company than thou seest me, and I have 
 striven to be merrier ; but apart from all that I wot 
 and that thou wottest which should make me of 
 evil cheer, there is now a weight upon my heart 
 which I cannot lift, such as never have I felt erst. 
 So by thy leave we will to horse at once, that we 
 may the speedier come to the Castle of the Quest 
 and Sir Aymeris' prison. 
 
 So I arose, but smiled on him and said : Hold 
 up thine heart, friend ! for thee shall be no prison 
 at the Castle of the Quest, but the fair welcome of 
 friends. He said nought, and mended not his 
 cheer ; and in this plight we gat to horse and rode 
 on for some three hours more, till we came out of 
 the thick forest into a long clearing, which went 
 like a wide highway of greensward between the 
 thicket, and it seemed as if the hand of man had 
 cleared that said green road. Thereto we had 
 come, following a httle river which came out on to 
 the clearing with us, and then, turning, ran well- 
 nigh amidst it toward the north. 
 
 Now when we were come thither, and were be- 
 twixt the thicket and the water's edge, we drew 
 
292 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 rein, and it seemed to me as fair a stead as might 
 be in the woodland, and I looked thereon well 
 pleased and with a happy heart. But the knight 
 said : Lady, art thou not exceeding weary ? Nay, 
 said I, not in any wise. Said he : It is strange 
 then, for so weary am I, that I must in any case 
 get off my horse and lay me down on the grass 
 here, or I shall drop from the saddle. And there- 
 with he lighted down and stood by me a little, as 
 to help me off my horse ; but I said to him : Knight, 
 I pray thee, even if ye be weary, to struggle for- 
 ward a little, lest we be in peril here. In peril ? 
 quoth he ; yea, that might be if the Red Knight 
 knew of our whereabouts ; but how should that 
 be ? He spoke this heavily, as one scarce awake ; 
 and then he said : I pray thee pardon me, lady, 
 but for nought may I hold my head up ; suffer me 
 to sleep but a little, and then will I arise and lead thee 
 straight to thy journey's end. Therewithal he laid 
 him down on the grass and was presently asleep, 
 and I sat down by him all dismayed. At first, in- 
 deed, I doubted some treachery in him, for how 
 might I trust him wholly after all that had come 
 and gone ? but when I saw that there was no feign- 
 ing in his sleep, I set that doubt aside, and knew 
 not what to make of it. 
 
 Thus passed an hour, and from time to time I 
 shook him and strove to waken him, but it was all 
 in vain ; so I knew none other rede than to abide 
 his awakening ; for I knew not the way to take 
 toward this castle ; and, moreover, though he were 
 a knight, and armed, yet might it be perilous for 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 293 
 
 him if he were left there alone and unguarded ; so 
 I abode. 
 
 But now came new tidings. Methought I heard 
 the sound of the tinkling of weapons and armour ; 
 the green highway so turned that a wood neb about 
 an hundred yards to the north hid it from my sight, 
 so that a man might have drawn somewhat near to 
 us without being seen, came he on the hither side 
 ot the river. So I stood up hastily, and strung my 
 bow, and took a shaft in my fingers, and no sooner 
 was it done than there came a rider round about 
 the aforesaid wood neb. He was all-armed and had 
 a red surcoat, and rode a great shining bay horse. 
 I kept my eye upon him while I stirred the sleep- 
 ing knight with my foot, and cried to him to wake, 
 but he scarce moved, and but uttered words with- 
 out sense. 
 
 Now the new-comer drew rein for a moment 
 when he saw us, and then moved on a little toward 
 me, but I nocked a shaft and pointed it at him, 
 and cried out to him to stay. Then I heard a great 
 rattling laugh come from him, and he shouted: 
 Nay, do thou stay, fair wood-wife, and I will risk 
 thy shafts to come at thee. But why doth not the 
 sluggard at thy feet rise up and stand before me, 
 if he be thy loveling ? Or is he dead? His voice 
 was harsh and big, and I feared him sore ; and it 
 was as much because of fear as of hardihood, that 
 I drew and loosed straightway ; and doubtless it 
 was because of fear that I saw my shaft fly an inch 
 or so over his right shoulder. I heard his rat- 
 ling laugh again, and saw him bend forward as he 
 
294 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 spurred ; I knew that time lacked for drawing 
 another shaft, so I caught up my skirts and ran 
 all I might; but swift-foot as I be, it availed me 
 nought, for I was cumbered with my gown, and 
 moreover I was confused with not knowing whither 
 to run, since I wotted that in the water the horse 
 would do better than I. 
 
 So he was up with me in a twinkling, and reached 
 out his hand and caught hold of me by the hair, 
 and tugged me to him as he reined back his horse. 
 Then he laughed again and said : Forsooth she 
 will look better when she is no longer reddened 
 and roughened with fleeing ; and, by Red Peter ! 
 what limbs she hath. Then he let me loose and 
 got off his horse, and shoved me on before him 
 till we came to where the Black One lay still sleep- 
 ing heavily. Then the Red Knight stood over 
 against me, and looked hard into my face ; and I 
 saw how huge a man he was, and how a lock of 
 bright red hair came out from under his sallet. 
 His eyes were green and fierce underneath shaggy 
 red eyebrows ; terrible he was to look on. 
 
 Now he spake fiercely and roughly, and as though 
 he had something against me : Tell me, thou, who 
 thou art and who this is ? I answered nought, for 
 fear had frozen my speech. He stamped his foot 
 on the ground and cried : * Hah ! art thou gone 
 dumb ? Speak ! thou wert best ! I said, all quak- 
 ing : My name is Birdalone ; I belong to no one ; 
 I have no kindred : as for this man, I know not 
 his name. He said : Comest thou from the Castle 
 of the Quest ? Art thou the whore of those lily- 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 295 
 
 and-rose champions there ? My heart was hot with 
 anger in spite of my dread, but I spake : I came 
 from the Castle of the Quest. He said : And this 
 man (therewith he turned about and spurned him 
 in the side), where didst thou happen upon him ? 
 Again I was silent, and he roared out at me : So 
 thou wilt not answer ! Beware, or 1 may see how 
 to compel the speech of thee. Now answer me 
 this ; Was it in the Black Valley of the Grey- 
 wethers that ye two came together ? Again I knew 
 not how to answer, lest I might do a wrong to him 
 who had repented him of the wrong he had done 
 me. But the Red Knight burst out a-laughing 
 and said : It shall be remembered against thee, first, 
 that thou didst let fly a shaft at me ; second, that 
 thou didst run from me ; and thirdly, that thou 
 hast been slack in answering my questions. But 
 all this scathes me nought ; first, because thy shaft 
 missed me ; second, because thy legs failed thee 
 (though they were fair to look on, running) ; and 
 third, because all thou canst tell me 1 know with- 
 out thine answering. Now thee will I tell that this 
 is Friday, and that ye two first met in the Black Val- 
 ley on Tuesday ; now I will ask this last question, 
 and thou mayst answer it or not as thou wilt ; for 
 presently I shall wake this brisk and stirring knight, 
 and I deem that he will tell me the truth of this 
 if of nought else. Tell me, thou whore of the 
 Questing Champions, where and how many times 
 thou hast lain in this good knight's arms since last 
 Tuesday ? Nowhere and never, quoth I. Thou 
 liest, I doubt thee, said the Red Knight ; howso- 
 
296 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 ever, let us see what this doughty one will say. 
 Hah ! thou deemest he shall be hard to wake up, 
 dost thou not ! Well, 1 shall see to that. He who 
 giveth sleep may take it away again. 
 
 Therewith he went up to the Black One and 
 stooped adown over his head, and spake some 
 words over him, but so softly that I heard not their 
 import ; and straightway the sleeper rose up so 
 suddenly that he wellnigh smote against the Red 
 Knight. He stood awhile staggering, and blink- 
 ing at the other one, but somehow got his sword 
 drawn forth, and the Red Knight hindered him 
 nought therein, but spake anon when the other 
 was come to himself somewhat : The sele of the 
 day to thee. Sir Thomas, True Thomas ! Fair is 
 thy bed, and most fair thy bedfellow. 
 
 The Black Kniglit drew aback from him and was 
 now come awake, wherefore he stood on his guard, 
 but said nought. Then said the Red Knight : Sir 
 Thomas, 1 have been asking this fair lady a ques- 
 tion, but her memory faileth her and she may not 
 answer it ; perchance thou mayst do better. Tell 
 me where and how many times hast thou bedded 
 her betwixt last Tuesday and this ? Nowhere and 
 never, cried Sir Thomas, knitting his brows and 
 handling his sword. Hah, said the Red Knight, 
 an echo of her speech is this. Lo, the tale ye have 
 made up betwixt you. But at least, having done 
 mine errand, though meseemeth somewhat leis- 
 urely, and having gotten the woman for me, thou 
 art now bringing her on to the Red Hold, what- 
 ever thou hast done with her on the road ? I am 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 297 
 
 not, said my fellow, I am leading her away from 
 the Red Hold. Pity of thee, quoth the other, that 
 thou hast fallen in with me,and thou but half-armed. 
 And he raised aloft his sword ; but presently sank 
 it again, and let the point rest on the earth. 
 
 Then he spoke again, not mockingly as erst : 
 A word before we end it, Thomas : thou hast 
 hitherto done well by me, as I by thee. I say thou 
 hast gotten this woman, and I doubt not that at 
 first thou hadst the mind to bring her to me un- 
 minished ; but then thou wert overcome by her 
 beauty, as forsooth I know thee woman-mad, and 
 thou hadst meant to keep her for thyself, as for- 
 sooth I marvel not. But in thy love-making thou 
 hast not bethought thee that keep her to thyself 
 thou mayst not while I am above ground, save 
 thou bewray me, and join thee to my foemen and 
 thine. Because I am such a man, that what I desire 
 that will I have. For this reason, when I mis- 
 doubted me of thee for thy much-tarrying, I cast 
 the sleep over thee, and have caught thee. For 
 what wilt thou do ? Doubt it not, that if our swords 
 meet, I shall pay thee for trying to take my bed- 
 thrall from me by taking from thee no more than 
 thy life. But now will I forgive thee all if thou 
 wilt ride home quietly with me and this damsel- 
 errant to the Red Hold, and let her be mine and 
 not thine so long as I will ; and then afterwards, if 
 thou wilt, she shall be thine as long as thou wilt. 
 Now behold, both this chance and thy life is a mere 
 gift of me to thee, for otherwise thou shalt have 
 neither damsel nor life. 
 
298 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Yea, yea, said my friend, I know what thou 
 wouldest : I have been no unhandy devil to thee 
 this long while, and thou wouldst fain keep me 
 still ; but now I will be devil no longer, on this 
 earth at least, but will die and take my luck of it. 
 And do thou, God, see to the saving of this dam- 
 sel, since thou hast taken the matter out of my 
 hands. Farewell, dear maiden ! 
 
 Scarce was the word out of his mouth ere his 
 sword was in the air, and he smote so fierce and 
 straight that he beat down the huge man's blade, 
 and, ere he could master it again, smote the Red 
 Knight so heavily on the crest that he fell to his 
 knees ; and the heart rose in me, for I deemed that 
 he might yet prevail ; and in as 'twere a flash I be- 
 thought me of the knife at my girdlestead, and 
 drew it and ran to the Red Knight, and tore aside 
 his mail hood with one hand and thrust the knife 
 into his shoulder with the other ; but so mighty 
 was he that he heeded nought the hurt, but swept 
 his sword back-handed at the Black Knight's un- 
 armed leg, and smote him so sore a wound that down 
 he fell clattering. Then arose the Red Knight, and 
 thrust me from him with the left hand, and strode 
 over my fellow-farer and thrust his sword through 
 his throat. Then he turned to me, and spake in 
 a braying voice as if a harsh horn were blown : 
 Abide thou ; if thou takest one step I will slay thee 
 at once. So he went and sat down on a bank a 
 little way from the dead man, and wiped his sword 
 on the grass and laid it beside him, and so sat pon- 
 dering a while. Thereafter he called me to him, 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 299 
 
 and bade me stand in face of him with my hands 
 clasped before me. Then he spake to me : Thou 
 art my thrall and my having, since I had thus 
 doomed it no few days ago ; and thou art now in 
 my hands for me to do with as I will. Now in- 
 stead of being meek and obedient to me thou hast 
 rebelled against me, shot an arrow at me, run from 
 me, denied answer to my questions, and thrust a 
 knife into me. To be short, thou hast made thy- 
 self my foe. Furthermore, it is by thy doing that 
 I have lost a right good servant and a trusty fellow, 
 and one that I loved ; it is thou that hast slain him. 
 Now have I been pondering what I shall do with 
 thee. I said : If I have deserved the death, then 
 make an end and slay me presently ; but bring me 
 not to thine house, I pray thee. I pray by the 
 mother that bore thee ! 
 
 Quoth he : Hold thy peace, it is not what thou 
 deservest that 1 am looking to, but what shall 
 pleasure me. Now hearken ; I say that thou hast 
 made thee my foe, and I have overcome thee ; thou 
 art my runaway thrall, and I have caught thee. 
 As my foe I might slay thee in any evil way it 
 might like me ; as my thrall I might well chastise 
 thee as sharply and as bitterly as I would. But it 
 is not my pleasure to slay thee, rather I will bring 
 thee to the Red Hold, and there see what we may 
 make of thee ; whereas I cannot but deem that in 
 thee is the making of somewhat more than a thrall ; 
 and if not, then a thrall must thou needs be. Again 
 as to the chastising of thee, that also I forgive thee 
 since I have gotten the hope aforesaid. Yet for- 
 
300 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 sooth some shame must I do thee to pay thee back 
 for the love that was betwixt thee and the slain 
 man. I will ponder what it shall be ; but take 
 heed that whatsoever it shall be, it will not avail 
 thee to pray me to forego it, though thy speech be 
 as fair and sweet as thy body. 
 
 Therewith he was silent a while, and I stood 
 there not daring to move, and my heart was so 
 downcast that all the sweetness of life seemed de- 
 parted. Yet I withheld lamentations or prayers, 
 thinking within myself, who knows what occasion 
 may be between this and the Red Hold for my 
 escaping ; let me keep myself alive for that if it 
 may be. 
 
 Presently he arose and took his sword, and went 
 up to the slain man's body and smote the head 
 from off it. Then he went to the two horses of 
 Sir Thomas and of me, and took from them such 
 gear of girths and thongs as he would, and there- 
 with he dight me as ye saw, doing a girth about my 
 middle and making me fast to a line wherewith to 
 hold me in tow. And then he did that other thing 
 which sickens my very soul to tell of, to wit, that 
 he took the slain man's head and tied a lace there- 
 to, and hung it about my neck ; and as he did so, 
 he said : This jewel shalt thou thyself bear to mine 
 house; and there belike shall we lay it in earth, 
 since the man was my trusty fellow. Lo now, this 
 is all the ill I shall do thee till it be tried of what 
 avail thou art. This is a shaming to thee and not 
 a torment, for I will ride a foot's-pace, and the 
 green way is both soft and smootli ; wherefore fear 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 301 
 
 not that I shall throw thee down or drag thee along. 
 And to-morrow thy shame shall be gone and we 
 shall see what is to betide. 
 
 Lo, friends, this is the last word he spake ere he 
 was slain, and the ending of my tale ; for we had 
 gone thus but a little way ere ye brake out of the 
 wood upon us ; and then befell the death of one 
 friend, and the doubt, maybe, of the others, and all 
 the grief and sorrow that I shall never be quit of 
 unless ye forgive me where I have done amiss, and 
 help me in the days to come. And she spread out 
 her hands before them, and bowed her head, and 
 the tears fell from her eyes on to the floor. 
 
 Viridis wept at Birdalone's weeping, and Aurea 
 for her own sorrow, which this other sorrow stirred. 
 Atra wept not, but her face was sadder than 
 weeping. 
 
 But Arthur spake and said : Herein hath been 
 the hand of Weird, and hath been heavy on us ; 
 but no blame have we to lay on our sister Bird- 
 alone, nor hath she done light-mindedly by us ; 
 though maybe she erred in not trusting to the good- 
 hap of the Quest to bring us back in due time : 
 and all that she saith do we trow as if it were writ- 
 ten in the Holy Gospel. They all yeasaid this, 
 and called on her to come amongst them ; but she 
 thought of little at first save the joy of hearing the 
 sweetness of those words as Arthur spake them ; 
 wherefore she hung back a little, and thought shame 
 of it that she might not give more heed to the others 
 of them. Then came Viridis and took her by the 
 hand and led her to Sir Hugh, and Birdalone knelt 
 
30a THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 down before him and took his hand to kiss it, but 
 he put both hands about her face and kissed her 
 kindly and merrily on the lips. Then she knelt 
 before Aurea, and was hapless before her ; but 
 Aurea kissed her, and bade her be of better cheer, 
 albeit the words came coldly from her mouth. 
 Next she came to Arthur, and knelt before him and 
 took his hand and kissed it, and thanked him 
 kindly for his kind words, looking into his face 
 meanwhile ; and she saw that it was pale and 
 troubled now, and she longed to be alone with him 
 that she might ask him wherefore. 
 
 As for Atra, she arose as Birdalone came before 
 her, and cast her arms about her neck, and wept 
 and sobbed upon her bosom, and then went hurry- 
 ing from out the solar and into the hall, and walked 
 to and fro there a while until the passion that tore 
 her was lulled somewhat, and she might show her 
 face to them calm and friendly once more. And 
 as she entered Arthur was speaking, and he said : 
 
 To you, ladies, I tell what we of the castle wot 
 better than well, that our dear friend hath escaped 
 so heavy a fate in escaping the Red Hold, that it 
 were unmeet for us to murmur at our loss in our 
 fellow ; for a warrior's life, which is ever in peril 
 of death, is nought over heavy a ransom for such 
 a friend, and so dear and lovely, from such a long 
 and evil death. Whereas ye must wot that the said 
 Hold hath this long while been a very treasure- 
 house of woes and a coffer of lamentations ; for 
 merciless was the tyrant thereof, and merciless all 
 his folk. Now another time, when ye are stronger 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 303 
 
 in heart than now ye be, I may tell you tales there- 
 of closer and more nicely of those who did his will ; 
 as of his innermost band of men-at-arms, called the 
 Millers ; and of his fellow-worker in wizardry and 
 venoms, called the Apothecary ; and the three hags, 
 called the Furies ; and the three young women, 
 called the Graces ; and his hounds that love man's 
 flesh ; and the like tales, as evil as nightmares 
 turned into deeds of the day. But now and here 
 will I say this, that when we have done the obse- 
 quies of our dear fellow, it were good that we follow 
 up the battle so vaHantly begun by him. I mean 
 that the Quest of our ladies being now accomplished, 
 we should turn what is left of the fellowship into 
 a war against the Red Hold and its evil things ; 
 and that so soon as the relics of Baudoin are laid 
 in earth, we gather force and go thither in arms to 
 live or die in the quarrel, and so sweeten the earth, 
 as did the men of ancient days when they slew the 
 dragons and the giants, and the children of hell, and 
 the sons of Cain. 
 
 His cheek flushed as he spoke, and he looked 
 around till his eyes fell on Birdalone, and he saw 
 that her face also glowed and her eyes gleamed ; 
 but Viridis, her heart sank so that she paled, and 
 her lips trembled. 
 
 But Aurea spake and said : I thank thee for thy 
 word. Black Squire, and I know that my man shall 
 rejoice in Paradise when he knoweth of it, and there- 
 of shall I tell him to-morrow when the mass is said 
 for him. 
 
 And Atra said : Good is the word, and we look 
 
304 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 to it that the deed shall be better yet. Thus hath 
 the evil arisen that shall destroy the evil, as oft 
 hath been when the valiant have been grieved, and 
 the joy of the true-hearted hath been stolen from 
 them ; then the hand doth the doughty deed and 
 the heart hath ease, and solaced is sorrow. 
 
 They looked on her and wondered, for she spake 
 with her head upraised and her eyes glittering, as 
 she had been one of the wise women of yore agone. 
 And Birdalone feared her, though she loved her. 
 
 Lastly spake Hugh, and said: Brother, this is 
 well thought of indeed, and I marvel that I did not 
 prevent thee; and I am thine to live and die with 
 thee. And the adventure is nought unlikely; for 
 if we have lost a captain they have lost their head 
 devil, and their head little devil; moreover, the 
 good men of Greenford shall join them to us, and 
 that shall make us strong, whereas they have men 
 enough, and those stout men-at-arms; and artifi- 
 cers they have to make us engines, and do other 
 wisdom; and therewithal money to buy or to wage 
 what they will. Wherefore, to my mind, we were 
 best to make no tarrying, but send out the mes- 
 sengers for the hosting straightway. 
 
 Straightway, said the Black Squire; and let us 
 go now and find Sir Aymeris. So they arose both 
 and went their ways, and'- left the women there 
 alone, and were gone a good while. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. ATRA AND BIRD- 
 ALONE TALK TOGETHER WHILE 
 THE LORDS SIT AT THE MURDER- 
 COUNCIL. 
 
 MF^ANWHILE of their absence, Viridis sat 
 sad and silent and downcast, though she 
 wept not, for her gladness, which erst had 
 been so great, seemed now reft from her; and no 
 merrier was Aurea, as might have been looked for. 
 But Atra came quietly unto Birdalone, and said 
 softly: I have a word for thee if thou wilt come 
 forth with me into the hall. Birdalone's heart 
 failed her somewhat, but she suffered Atra to take 
 her hand, and they went into the hall together, and 
 Atra brought her into a shot-window, and they sat 
 down together side by side and were silent awhile. 
 Spake Atra then, trembling and reddening: Bird- 
 alone, knowest thou what thought, what hope, was 
 in my heart when I spake so proudly and rashly e'en 
 now? Birdalone kept silence, and trembled as the 
 other did. This it was, said Atra : he will go to this 
 battle valiantly, he may fall there, and that were bet- 
 ter ; for then is life to begin anew: and what is there 
 to do with these dregs of life ? Said Birdalone, 
 with flushed face: If he die he shall die goodly, and 
 if he live he shall live goodly. Yea, yea, said 
 Atra; forsooth thou art a happy woman! Dost 
 thou hate me? said Birdalone. Said Atra: Proud 
 is thy word, but I hate thee not. Nay, e'en now, 
 when I spake thus boastfully, I thought: When 
 he hath died as a doughty knight should, then, 
 
3o6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 when life begins again, Birdalone and I shall be 
 friends and sisters, and we two will talk together 
 oft and call him to mind, and the kindness of him, 
 and how he loved us. Woe's me! that was when 
 he was there sitting beside me and I could see him 
 and his kindness; and then it was as if I could give 
 him away; but now he is gone and I may not see 
 him, it is clear to me that I have no part or lot 
 in him, and I call back my thought and my word, 
 and now it is : O that he may live ! O thou happy 
 woman, that shall be glad whether he liveth or 
 dieth ! 
 
 Said Birdalone: And now thou hatest me, dost 
 thou not, and we are foes? Atra answered not, 
 nor spake for a while; then she said: Hard and bit- 
 ter is it, and I know not what to turn to. I have 
 seen once and again, on the wall of the Minorites' 
 church at Greenford, a fair picture of the Blessed, 
 and they walking in the meads of Paradise, clad in 
 like raiment, men and women; their heads flower- 
 crowned, their feet naked in the harmless blos- 
 somed grass; hand in hand they walk, with all wrath 
 passed for ever, all desire changed into loving-kind- 
 ness, all the anguish of forgiveness forgotten. And 
 underneath the picture is it writ: 
 
 Bitter winter, burning summer, never more shall waste and wear ; 
 Blossom of the rose undying brings undying springtide there. 
 
 O for the hope of it, that I might hope it! O for 
 the days to be and the assuaging of sorrow: I speak 
 the word, and the hope springeth ; the word is 
 spoken, and there abideth desire barren of hope! 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 307 
 
 And she bowed down her head and wept bitterly; 
 and Birdalone called to mind her kindness of the 
 past and wept for her, she also. 
 
 After a while Atra lifted up her head, and thus 
 she spake : I hate thee not, Birdalone ; nor doth one 
 say such things to a foe. Yea, furthermore, I will 
 crave somewhat of thee. If ever there come a time 
 when thou mayst do something for me, thou wilt 
 know it belike without my telling thee. In that 
 day and in that hour I bid thee remember how we 
 stood together erst at the stair-foot of the Wailing 
 Tower in the Isle of Increase Unsought, and thou 
 naked and fearful and quaking, and what I did to 
 thee that tide to comfort thee and help and save 
 thee. And then when thou hast called it to mind, 
 do thou for me what thou canst do. Wilt thou 
 promise this? Yea, yea, said Birdalone; and with 
 all the better will, that oft and over again have I 
 called it to mind. Wherefore I behight thee to 
 let me serve thee if I may whenso the occasion 
 Cometh, even if it be to my own pain and grief; for 
 this I know thou meanest. 
 
 See thou to this then, said Atra coldly ; and thou 
 shalt be the better for it in the long run belike : 
 for thou art a happy woman. 
 
 She arose as she spake, and said : Hist ! here 
 come the lords from the murder-council ; and lo, 
 now that he cometh, my heart groweth evil toward 
 thee again, and well-nigh biddeth me wish that thou 
 wert naked and helpless before me again. Lo my 
 unhap ! that he should mark my face that it shows 
 as if I were fain to do thee a mischief. And nought 
 
3o8 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 of that would I do ; for how should it avail me, and 
 thou my fellow and the faithful messenger of the 
 Quest ? 
 
 Now little of her last words did Birdalone meet, 
 as into the hall came Hugh and Arthur; and though 
 she strove to sober her mind and think of her she- 
 friend and her unhappiness, yet she could not choose 
 but to be full of joy in her inmost heart now she 
 knew without doubt that she was so well-beloved 
 of her beloved : and she deemed that Atra was in 
 the right indeed to call her a happy woman. 
 
 So now they all went into the solar together, and 
 sat them down with the two others ; and Hugh did 
 them to wit, how they had ordered all the matter 
 of the messengers who were to summon the knights 
 and chiefs of thereabouts, and the aldermen of 
 Greenford, to meet at the Castle of the Quest, that 
 they might set afoot the hosting to go against the 
 Red Hold. 
 
CHAPTER IX. HUGH TELLS THE 
 STORY OF THE QUEST'S ENDING. 
 
 WHEN this was said, and there had been 
 silence a while, Birdalone took up the 
 word, and spake meekly and sweetly, 
 saying : Dear friends, how it fared with you on the 
 isle from the time of my leaving you, and how with 
 you, true knights, from the time of your departure, 
 I both were fain to know for the tale's sake, and also 
 I would take the telling thereof as a sign of your 
 forgiveness of my transgression ; so I would crave 
 the same of you but if it weary you overmuch. 
 
 All they yeasaid her kindly, and Hugh spake 
 and said : By your leave, fellows, I will tell in few 
 words what betid us on our way to the Isle of In- 
 crease Unsought, and then shall Viridis take up 
 the tale from the time that Birdalone left the said 
 isle in the witch's ferry. None said aught against 
 it, and Hugh went on : Short is my tale of the 
 journey : We came to the Isle of Nothing on the 
 morrow's morn of our departure, and being warned 
 of thee, Birdalone, we abode there but a little while 
 to rest us from the boat, and went nowhither from 
 the strand, and so went on our way in a three 
 hours' space. 
 
 Thence again we took the water, and came to 
 the Isle of Kings, and that was in the middle of the 
 night : we beheld the dead long and heedfully when 
 the morning came, and departed again before noon, 
 and came to the Isle of Oueens a little after night- 
 fall. The next morning we deemed we needs must 
 
3IO THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 go see the images of those hidies, lest aught might 
 have befell since thou wert there which might be 
 of import to the Quest, but all was unchanged, and 
 we came away while the day was yet young. 
 
 We made the Isle of the Young and the Old 
 about sunset that day, and the boy and the girl 
 came down to the strand to behold us and wonder 
 at us, and we sported with them merrily a while ; 
 and then they brought us to the house of the old 
 man, who received us courteously and gave us to 
 eat and drink. Forsooth, when the night was some- 
 what spent, he brought out strong drink to us, and 
 took it somewhat amiss that we drank not over- 
 much thereof, as forsooth he did, and so fell asleep. 
 Before he was drunk we asked him many questions 
 about the isle and its customs, but he knew nought 
 to tell us of them. Of thee also we asked, sister, 
 but he had no memory of thee. 
 
 On the morrow he fared down with us to our 
 ferry, and made many prayers to us to take him 
 along with us ; for here, said he, is neither lordship 
 nor fair lady ; and if here I abide, soon shall I come 
 to mine ending day, and sore I yearn for joyance 
 and a long term to my years. Now we durst not 
 take him aboard lest we should fare amiss with the 
 wight of the Sending Boat ; so we naysaid him cour- 
 teously, thanked him for his guesting, and gave 
 him gifts, to wit, a finger gold ring and an ouch of 
 gold, so he turned away from us somewhat down- 
 cast as we deemed ; but ere we had given the word 
 to the Sending Boat we heard him singing merrily 
 in a high cracked voice as he went on his way. 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 31 1 
 
 Now on this last day betid somewhat of new 
 tidings ; for scarce was this isle out of sight behind, 
 ere we saw a boat come sailing toward us from the 
 north-east, and it came on swiftly with a blue ripple 
 of the lake behind it. Thereat we marvelled, 
 and yet more when we saw that its sail was striped 
 of gold and green and black ; next then were we 
 betwixt fear and joy when, as it drew nigher, we 
 saw three women in the said boat, clad in gold, 
 green, and black ; and it came so nigh unto us at 
 last, that we could see their faces that they were 
 verily those of our lovelings ; and each reached out 
 her arms to us and called on us for help, each by 
 our name : and there we were, oarless, sailless, at 
 the mercy of our unkenned ferry. Then would 
 Baudoin and I have leapt overboard to swim to our 
 loves at all adventure ; but Sir Arthur here stayed 
 us, and bade us think of it, that we were now near- 
 ing the Witch-land, and if we might not look to be 
 beset with guiles and gins to keep us from winning 
 to our journey's end ; wherefore we forbore, though 
 in all wretchedness, and the gay boat ran down the 
 wind away from us, and the breeze and the ripple 
 passed away with it, and the lake lay under the hot 
 sun as smooth as glass ; and on we went, weary- 
 hearted. 
 
 Came again another sail out of the north-east, 
 when the sun was getting low, and speedily it drew 
 nigh, but this time it was no small boat or barge, 
 but a tall ship with great sails, and goodly-towered 
 she was and shield-hung, and the basnets gleamed 
 and the spears glittered from her castle-tops and 
 
312 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 bulwarks, and the sound of her horns came down 
 the wind as she neared us. We two handled our 
 weapons and did on our basnets, but Arthur there, 
 he sat still, and said : Not over-wise is the witch, 
 that she lets loose on us two sendings in one day 
 so like unto each other. Hah, said Baudoin, be 
 we wary though ; they are going to shoot. And 
 sure enough we saw a line of bowmen in all the 
 castles and even along, and a horn blew, and then 
 forth flew the shafts, but whither we knew not, for 
 none came anywhere anigh us ; and Arthur laughed 
 and said : A fair shot into the clouds ; but, by 
 our Lady ! if none shot better in our country, I 
 would bear no armour for their shafts. But we 
 two were confused and knew not what to think. 
 
 The great ship flew past us on the wind as the 
 barge had done, but when she was about half a 
 mile aloof we saw her canvass fall to shivering and 
 her yards swaying round, and Arthur cried out : 
 St. Nicholas ! the play beginneth again ! she is 
 coming about ! 
 
 Even so it was, and presently she was bearing on 
 us, and was ere long so close aboard that we could 
 see her every spar and rope, and her folk all gath- 
 ered to the windward, knights, sergeants, archers, 
 and mariners, to gaze at us and mock us ; and huge 
 and devilish laughter arose from amongst them as 
 she ploughed the water so close beside us, that one 
 might well-nigh have cast a morsel of bread aboard 
 her ; for clear it was presently that she had no mind 
 to run us down. 
 
 Spake Arthur then : There will be a fresh play 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 313 
 
 presently, my mates, but ye sit fast, for meseemeth 
 this show is no more perilous than the other, though 
 it be bigger. 
 
 Scarce were the words out of his mouth, ere there 
 was a stir amongst the men gathered in the waist, 
 and lo, amidst a knot of big and fierce mariners, 
 three women standing, pale, with flying hair, and 
 their hands bound behind them, and one was clad 
 in gold and another in green and the third in 
 black ; and their faces were as the faces of Aurea 
 and Viridis and Atra. 
 
 Then there came forth from that ship a huge 
 cruel roar blent with mocking laughter that shamed 
 our very hearts, and those evil things in the form 
 of mariners took hold of each one of the ladies and 
 cast them overboard into the gulf of the waters, 
 first Aurea, next Viridis, and then Atra ; and we 
 two stood up with our useless swords brandished 
 and would have leapt over into the deep, but that 
 Arthur arose also and took hold of an arm of each 
 of us and stayed us, and said : Nay, then, if ye 
 go, take me with you, and let all the Quest sink 
 down into the deep, and let our lovelings pine in 
 captivity, and Birdalone lose all her friends in one 
 swoop, and we be known hereafter as the fools of 
 lovers, the unstable. 
 
 So we sat us down, but huge shrieking laughter 
 rose up unblended from the keel of the evil thing, 
 and then they let her go down the wind, and she 
 went her way with flashing of arms, and streaming 
 of banners and pennons, and blowing of horns, and 
 the sun was setting over the wide water. 
 
314 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 But Arthur spake : Cheer up, brethren ! see ye 
 not how this proud witch is also but an eyeless fool 
 to send us such a show, and the second time in one 
 day to show us the images of our dearlings, who 
 hours ago flitted past us in the stripe-sailed boat ? 
 Where, then, did they of the ship meet with them ? 
 Nay, lords, let not the anguish of love steal all your 
 wits. 
 
 We saw we had been fools to be so overcast by 
 guile, and yet were we exceeding ill at ease, and 
 over-long the time seemed unto us until we should 
 be come to the Isle of Increase Unsought, and find 
 our lovelino;s there. 
 
 Now was the night come, and we fell asleep, but 
 belike were not often all asleep at once ; and at last 
 it was, when we felt the dawn drawing near, though, 
 the moon being down, it was the darkest of the 
 summer night, that we were all three awake, when 
 all of a sudden we heard just astern the rushing 
 of the water, as though sorne keel were cleaving it, 
 and dimly in the dark we saw a sail as of a boat 
 overhauling us. Close at hand there rang out a 
 lamentable cry : O, are ye there, fellows of the 
 Quest ? O, help me, friends ! save me and de- 
 liver me, who am snatched away to be cast into the 
 hands of my mistress that was. Help me, Baudoin, 
 Hugh, Arthur! Help! help! 
 
 Then all we knew the voice of Birdalone, and 
 Arthur leapt up, and wovdd have been overboard 
 in a trice had not we two held him, and he fought 
 and cursed us well-favouredly, there is no nay 
 thereto ; and meanwhile the wailing voice of thee. 
 
THE TALE OF THE GUEST'S ENDING 315 
 
 my sister, died out in the distance, and the east grew 
 grey, and dawn was come. 
 
 Then spake Baudoin : Arthur, my brother, dost 
 thou not mark that this also was of the same sort 
 of show as those two others, and thou who wert 
 so wise before ? It is but beguilings to bring the 
 Quest to nought ; wherefore call to mind thy man- 
 hood and thy much wisdom ! 
 
 And we admonished him and rebuked him till 
 he became quiet and wise again, but was sad and 
 downcast and silent. But the Sending Boat sped 
 on through the dawning, and when it was light we 
 saw that we had the Isle of Increase close aboard, 
 anfl we ran ashore there just as the sun was rising. 
 Fain were we then to get out of the boat and feel 
 earth under our feet. We took all our hards out 
 of the boat, and hid away under the roots of an old 
 thorn a little mail wherein was your raiment, my 
 ladies, which ye had lent to Birdalone ; then we did 
 on our armour, and advised us of whereabout on 
 the isle we were, and we saw the orchards and 
 gardens before us, and the great fair house above 
 all, even as ye told us of them, Birdalone. 
 
 Next, then, without more ado, we went our ways 
 up through the orchard and the gardens, and when 
 we were well-nigh at the end of them, and in face 
 of those many steps ye spake of, we saw at the foot 
 of them a tall woman clad in red scarlet, standing 
 as if she abode our coming. When we drew nigh 
 we saw that she was strong-looking, well-knit, 
 white-skinned, yellow-haired, and blue-eyed, and 
 might have been called a fair woman, as to her 
 
3i6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 shaping, save that her face was heavy, yet hard- 
 looking, with thin lips and somewhat flagging 
 cheeks, a face stupid, but proud and cruel. 
 
 She hailed us as we came up, and said : Men- 
 at-arms, ye be welcome to our house, and I bid you 
 to eat and drink and abide here. 
 
 Then we louted before her, and bade her Hail ; 
 and Baudoin said : Lady, thy bidding will we take ; 
 yet have we an errand to declare ere we break bread 
 with thee, lest when it is told we be not so welcome 
 as ye tell us now. What is it ? said she. Said 
 Baudoin : This man here is called the Green Knight, 
 and this the Black Squire, and I am the Golden 
 Knight ; and now will we ask thee if this isle be 
 called the Isle of Increase Unsought? Even so 
 have I called it, quoth she, wherefore I deem none 
 other will dare call it otherwise. It is well, quoth 
 Baudoin ; but we have heard say that hereto had 
 strayed three dear friends of ours, three maidens, 
 who hight Viridis, the friend of the Green Knight, 
 and Atra,who is the Black Squire's, and Aurea, who 
 is mine own friend, so we have come to take them 
 home with us, since they have been so long away 
 from their land and their loves. Now if they be 
 thy friends thou wilt perchance let them go for 
 love's sake and the eking of friendship; but if they 
 be thy captives, then are we well willing to pay thee 
 ransom, not according to their worth, for no treas- 
 ure heaped up might come nigh it, but according 
 to thy desire, lady. 
 
 Laughed the proud lady scornfully and said : 
 Big are thy words, Sir Knight : if I had these 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 317 
 
 maidens in my keeping I would give them unto 
 you for nothing, and deem that I had the best of 
 the bargain. But here are they not. True it is 
 that I had here three thralls who were hight as thou 
 hast said ; but a while ago, not many days, they 
 transgressed against me till I chastised them ; and 
 then was I weary of them and would be quit of 
 them ; for I need no servants here, whereas I my- 
 self am enough for myself Wherefore I sent them 
 away across the water to my sister, who dwells in 
 a fair place hight the House under the Wood ; for 
 she needeth servants, because the earth there yield- 
 eth nought save to the tiller and the herdsman and 
 the hunter, while here all cometh unsought. With 
 her may ye deal, for what I know, and buy the 
 maidens whom ye prize so high ; though belike ye 
 may have to give her other servants in their place. 
 For, indeed, a while ago her thrall fled from her 
 and left her half undone, and it is said that she came 
 hither in her shamelessness : but I know not ; if 
 she did, she slipped through my fingers, or else I 
 would have made her rue her impudence. Now 
 meseemeth. Sir Knights, here is enough of so small 
 and foolish a matter ; and again I pray you to enter 
 my poor house, and take meat and drink along 
 with me, for ye be none the less welcome because 
 of your errand, though it be a foolish one. 
 
 Now would Sir Baudoin have answered wrath- 
 fully, but Arthur plucked at his skirt, and he 
 yeasaid the lady's bidding, though somewhat un- 
 graciously ; but that she heeded nought ; she took 
 Sir Baudoin by the hand and led him up the stately 
 
3l3 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 perron, and thence came we into a pillared hall, as 
 fair as might be. And there on the dais was a table 
 dight with dainty meats and drinks, and the lady 
 bade us thereto, and we sat to it. 
 
 Thereat was the lady buxom and merry : Bau- 
 doin scowled across the board ; I was wary and 
 silent ; but Arthur was as blithe with the lady as 
 she with him ; nor did I altogether marvel thereat, 
 since I knew him wise of wit. 
 
 But when we were done with the meal, the lady 
 stood up and said : Now, Sir Knights, I will give 
 you leave ; but this house is as your own to roam 
 through all its chambers and pleasure you with its 
 wonders and goodliness ; and when ye are weary 
 of the house, then is the orchard and the garden 
 free to you, and all the isle wheresoever ye will 
 go. And here in this hall is meat and drink 
 for you whenso ye will ; but if ye would see me 
 again to-day, then shall ye meet me where ye first 
 happened on me e'en now, at the foot of the great 
 perron. 
 
 Then she laid her hand on Arthur's shoulder, 
 and said : Thy big friend may search out every 
 nook in this house, and every bush in the whole 
 island, and if he find there the maidens he spake 
 of, one or all of them, then are they a gift from me 
 unto him. 
 
 Therewith she turned, and went out of the hall 
 by a door in the side thereof; and now already 
 meseemed that though the woman was hateful and 
 thick-hearted and cruel, yet she was become fairer, 
 or seemed so, than when Vv'c first came on her ; 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 319 
 
 and for my part I pondered on what it might grow 
 to, and fear of her came into my soul. 
 
 Now spake Baudoin : Fellows, let us get out 
 into the garden at least; for this place is evil, and 
 meseems it smells and tastes of tears and blood, 
 and that evil wights that hate the life of men are 
 lurking in the nooks thereof. And lo, our very 
 she-friend that was so kind and simple and dainty 
 with us, there is, as it were, the image of the dear 
 maiden standing trembling and naked before the 
 stupid malice of this lump of flesh. So spake he, 
 Birdalone. 
 
 But I said to Arthur in a soft voice : And when 
 shall we slay her .? Said he : Not until we have 
 gotten from her all that may be gotten ; and that 
 is the living bodies of our friends. But come we 
 forth. 
 
 So did we, and came down to the orchard and 
 did off our helms, and lay down under a big apple- 
 tree which was clear of cover all round about, and 
 so fell to our redes ; and I asked Arthur what he 
 deemed of the story of our loves having been car- 
 ried to the House under the Wood, and if it might 
 not be tried seeking thither; but he laughed and 
 said : Never would she have told us thereof had 
 it been sooth : doubtless our friends are here on 
 this isle, but, as I deem, not in the house, else had 
 not the witch left all the house free for us to search 
 into. Yea, said I, but how if they be in her prison ? 
 Said he : It is not hard to find out which is the 
 prison of so dainty a house as is yonder; and when 
 we had found it, soon should v/e have hit upon a 
 
320 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 way to break it, since we be three, and stout fel- 
 lows enough. Nay, I deem that the lovelings be 
 stowed away in some corner of the isle without the 
 house, and that mayhappen we shall find them 
 there ; and yet I trow not before we have made 
 guile meet guile, and overcome the sorceress. But 
 come now, let us be doing, and begin to quarter 
 this little land as the kestrel doth the water- 
 meadow ; and leave we our armour, lest we weary 
 us, for we shall have no need for hard strokes. 
 
 We hung up there on the tree helm and shield 
 and hauberk, and all our defences, and went our 
 ways quartering the isle ; and the work was toil- 
 some, but we rested not till the time was come to 
 keep tryst with the lady ; and all that while we 
 found no sign of the darling ones : and the isle 
 was everywhere a meadow as fair as a garden, with 
 little copses of sweet-growing trees here and there, 
 and goodly brooks of water, but no tillage any- 
 where : wild things, as hart and buck and roe, we 
 came upon, and smaller deer withal, but all un- 
 hurtful to man; but of herding was no token. 
 
 Came we then back to that lordly perron, and 
 there, at the foot thereof, stood the witch-wife, and 
 received us joyously ; clad was she all gloriously 
 in red scarlet broidered and begemmed ; her arms 
 bare and her feet sandalled, and her yellow hair 
 hanging down from under its garland; and certainly 
 it was so that she had grown fairer, and was sleek 
 and white and well-shapen, and well-haired; yet by 
 all that, the visage of her was little bettered, and 
 unto me she was loathsome. 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 321 
 
 Now the feast went much as the earlier meal had 
 done ; and Baudoin was surly and Arthur blithe 
 and buxom ; and nought befell to tell of, save that 
 dishes and meats, and flasks and cups, and all 
 things came upon the board as if they were borne \ 
 thereon by folk unseen ; and thereat we wondered 
 not much, considering in what wonder-house v/e 
 were. But the lady-witch looked on us and smiled, 
 and said : Knights, ye marvel at the manner of our 
 service, but call to mind that we told you this 
 morning that we were enough for Ourselves, and 
 we have so dight our days here that whoso is our 
 friend on this Isle of Increase shall lack nothing. 
 Fear not, therefore, to see aught ugly in our ser- 
 vants as now unseen, if their shapes were made 
 manifest unto you. 
 
 All things were we heedful to note at this ban- 
 quet ; but when it was over, then came music into 
 the hall from folk unseen, but not as if the musi- 
 cians were a many, only belike some three or four. 
 And thereat the lady spake, saying : Knights, ye 
 may deem our minstrels but few, but such is our 
 mind that we love not our music overloud, and for 
 the most part only three sing or play unto us at 
 one time. 
 
 Thereafter the lady brought us to fair chambers, 
 and we slept there in all ease, and we arose on the 
 morrow and found the lady still blithe with us ; 
 yet I noted this, that she seemed to deal with Ar- 
 thur as if she saw him now for the first time, and 
 much he seemed to be to her liking. 
 
 Again we fared forth, and were no less diligent 
 21 
 
322 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 in searching the isle than erst, and found nought; 
 and all went that day as before. 
 
 On the morrow (that is, the third day) the witch 
 seemed to have somewhat more memory of Arthur 
 than erst, and even yet more liking of him, so that 
 she reached out her hand for him to kiss, which 
 needs must he do, despite his loathing of her. 
 
 When we had lain under the apple-tree a little 
 while, Baudoin spake and said : Yesterday and the 
 day before we searched the open land and found 
 nought ; now to-day let us search the house, and 
 if we find nought, then at least it shall lie behind 
 us. We yeasaid it, and presently went back, and 
 from chamber to chamber, and all was fair and 
 goodly as might be, and we marvelled what would 
 betide to it when the witch was undone and her 
 sorcery come to an end. 
 
 To the Wailing Tower we came, and up the 
 stairs, and found the door open of the prison-cham- 
 ber, and all there as thou hast told us, Birdalone; 
 only we opened the great coffer, whence thou 
 didst refrain thee, and found it full of hideous gear 
 truly, as fetters and chains, and whips and rods, 
 and evil tools of the tormentors, and cursed it all 
 and came away ; and Arthur said : Lo you, this 
 stupid one ! How eager is she to bid us what to 
 do, and to tell us that our ladies are not in this evil 
 house, since she leaveth all open to us. Yet we 
 went about the house without, and counted the 
 windows heedfully to see that we had missed no 
 chamber, and found nought amiss ; and then we 
 went in again and sought as low down as we might. 
 
 i 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 323 
 
 to see if perchance some dungeon there were un- 
 derground, but found nought save a very goodly 
 undercroft below the great hall, which was little less 
 fair than that which was above it. So came the 
 evening and the banquet, and the end of that day ; 
 but the witch-wife led Arthur by the hand to the 
 board, and afterwards to the chamber ere we slept. 
 
 On the fourth day and the fifth it was no other- 
 wise than erst ; and when I fared to bed I felt con- 
 fused in my head and sick of heart. 
 
 The night of the next day (the sixth), as we went 
 to our chambers, and the witch-wife and Arthur 
 hand-in-hand, she stayed him a while, and spake 
 eagerly to him in a soft voice; and as he came up 
 to me afterwards he said : To-night I have escaped 
 it, but there will not be escape for long. From 
 what? said I. He said : From bedding her; for 
 now it has come to this, that presently we must 
 slay her at once and have no knowledge of our 
 sweetlings, or I must do her will. 
 
 In such wise passed four more days, and it was 
 the twelfth morning of our sojourn there, and we 
 went forth on our search of every mead and every 
 covert of the isle, and all day we found nought to 
 our purpose ; but as it grew toward sunset, and 
 there grew great clouds in the eastern ort, piled up 
 and copper-coloured, we came over a bent on to a 
 little green dale watered by a clear brook, and as 
 we looked down into it we saw something shine 
 amongst its trees ; so we hastened toward that 
 gleam, and lo, amidst the dale, with the brook 
 running through it, a strange garth we saw. For 
 
324 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 there was a pavilion done of timber and board, and 
 gaily painted and gilded, and out from that house 
 was, as it were, a great cage of thin gilded bars, 
 both walls and roof, just so wide apart as no one 
 full-grown, carl or quean, could thrust through. 
 
 Thitherward then ran we, shouting, for we saw 
 at once that in the said cage were three women 
 whose aspect was that of our sweetlings, and pres- 
 ently we were standing by the said herse, reaching 
 our hands out to them to come to us and tell us 
 their tale, and that we would deliver them. But 
 they stood together in the midst of the said cage, 
 and though they gazed piteously on us thence, 
 and reached out their hands to us, they neither 
 spake nor came to the herse to us ; so we deemed 
 that they were bewitched, and our joy was dashed. 
 
 Then we v/ent all about the cage and the pavil- 
 ion to find ingate, and found it not ; and then the 
 three of us together strove with the bars of the 
 herse, and shook and swayed them, but it was all 
 to no purpose. 
 
 Moreover, while we were at this work the sun 
 seemed to go out, and there came a heavy black 
 mist rolling into the dale, and wrapped us about 
 so that we saw not each other's faces, and the bars 
 of the herse were gone from our hands as we stood 
 there. Then came rain and thunder and lightning 
 on to the black night, and by the glare of the light- 
 ning we could see the leaves and grass of the dale, 
 but neither herse nor house nor woman. So we 
 abode there in the dark night, and the storm all 
 bewildered us, till the rain and clouds drew off 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 325 
 
 and it was calm fair starlight again, but clean gone 
 was the golden cage and they that stood therein ; 
 and we turned sadly, and went our ways toward 
 the witch-house. 
 
 On the way said Arthur : Brethren, this me- 
 seemeth is but a-going on with the shows which 
 were played us on the water as we came hither ; 
 but whether she doth this but for to mock and 
 torment us, or that she would beguile us into 
 deeming that our friends are verily here, I wot 
 not; but to-morrow, meseemeth, I shall can to tell 
 you. 
 
 Now came w e_ta.fhp perrnn pf fht;' hnii<;t?j andi 
 there stood the witch-wife under the stars tojiieet 
 us. And when she saw us^sti^Txrok-hold of Arthur 
 bythe hand and the arm to caress him, and found 
 that he and we were drenched with the rain and the 
 storm, as might well be deemed ; then she bade us 
 up to our chambers to do on raiment which she had 
 dight for us, and we went thither, and found our gar- 
 ments rich and dainty indeed; but when we came 
 down into the hall where the witch abode us, we 
 saw that Arthur's raiment was far the richest and 
 daintiest. But the witch ran to him and cast her 
 arms about him, and clipped and kissed him before 
 the others, and he suffered it. So sped the feast 
 again. 
 
 But when they went to bed, the said witch took 
 Arthur's hand and spake a word unto him, and 
 led him away, and he went with her as one nought 
 loth ; but we twain were afraid lest she should 
 destroy him when she had had her will of him. 
 
326 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Wherefore we waked through the more part of 
 the night with our swords ready to hand. 
 
 But when we were clad in the morn he came 
 unto us, he also clad, and was downcast and shame- 
 faced indeed, but safe and sound ; and he said : 
 Speak no word about our matter till we be out in 
 the open air, for I fear all things about us. 
 
 So when we had gone forth and were under the 
 apple-tree once more, spake Arthur : Now, lords, 
 am I shamed for ever, for I have become the leman 
 of this evil creature ; but I pray ye not to mock 
 me ; and that the more as the same lot may happen 
 on you both, or either ; for I can see for sure that 
 the wretch will weary of me and desire one of you 
 two. Let it pass. Somewhat have I found out 
 from her, but not much; first, that she has for- 
 gotten her first lie, to wit, how she sent our ladies 
 to the sister-witch ; for I told her of the golden 
 cage, and how we had missed it in the storm ; and 
 she said : Though I deem it a folly that ye should 
 seek these thralls, yet would I help you if I might, 
 since ye are now become my dear friends. Though, 
 forsooth, when ye meet them I deem that ye will 
 find them sore changed to you. For, as I, told 
 you, they fled away from me, after I had chastised 
 them for a treason, into the hidden places of the 
 isle, whereas they had no keel to sail away hence. 
 And I cared not to follow them, as I myself am 
 queen and lady of all things here, and am enough 
 for myself, save when love constraineth me, dear 
 lord. Now, my rede is that ye seek the golden 
 cage again and yet again, because I deem that 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 327 
 
 these thralls have somehow learned some wisdom, 
 and they have enchanted the said cage for a de- 
 fence against me, from whom they might not hide 
 as they did from you ; for of me have they stolen 
 their wizardry, and I am their mistress therein. 
 
 This, therefore, is the new lie of her, and my 
 rede is that we heed it nought. For my mind is 
 that she it is that hath made the appearance of the 
 cage and the women therein, and that she hath our 
 poor friends somewhere underneath her hand. 
 
 Now this we deemed most like; yet whereas we 
 had nought to do with the time, which, now that 
 we had searched the isle throughly, hung heavy on 
 hand, we deemed it good to go to the dale of the 
 golden cage again, though we looked not to find 
 the cage there any more. But this betid, that we 
 found the little dale easily enough, and there stood 
 the cage as we had seen it yesterday, but nought 
 was there within its bright bars save the grass and 
 the flowers, and the water of the brook a-running. 
 
 We loitered about that place a while, and went 
 back to the house in due time ; and to shorten the 
 tale, I shall tell that for many days it betid that 
 we went every day to seek the golden cage, but 
 after the first three days we saw it no more. 
 
 Now began sadness and weariness to overcome 
 us as the days and weeks wore, and belike the witch- 
 wife noted it that we were worse company than 
 heretofore. 
 
 And now on a day Arthur bade us note that 
 the said witch was growing weary of him, and he 
 bade me look to it ; for, said he, she is turning her 
 
328 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 face toward thee, brother. My heart burned with 
 rage at that word ; I said nought, but made up my 
 mind that I would try to bring the matter to an 
 end. 
 
 That same night befell what Arthur had threat- 
 ened ; for the feast being done in the evening, the 
 witch drew me aside while the music was a-playing, 
 and caressed my hand and my shoulder, and said : 
 I am yet wondering at you Champions, that ye 
 must needs follow after those three wretched thralls, 
 whom never will ye find, for they need ye not, but 
 will flee from you if ye have sight of them, as they 
 did that other day ; and therein they are scarce in 
 the wrong, whereas they may well think that if ye 
 find them they should fall into my hands ; for 
 easily may I take them any day that I will, and 
 then I have a case against them, and may lawfully 
 chastise them according to the law that has been 
 given unto me ; and then shall they be in grievous 
 plight. Wherefore the rede We give unto you 
 three now is the rede of friendliness that ye make 
 yourselves happy in Our Island, and then will We 
 do everything We may for your pleasure and de- 
 light ; and if ye will that We make Ourselves even 
 fiirer than now We be, that may be done, and 
 shall be a reward unto you for your yielding and 
 obedience. And if ye will women thralls for your 
 pleasure, that also may be gotten for you ; for We 
 be not wholly without power in these waters, 
 though We have no keel or ferry upon them. 
 And now, thou fair lad. We give thee this last word : 
 Ye Champions have been dwelling in Our house 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 329 
 
 a long while, and that while have ever striven to 
 thwart Us. We now counsel you to make an end 
 of it, and it shall be better for you. 
 
 She seemed to my eyes prouder and stupider 
 than ever erst, despite her golden hair and white 
 skin and lovely limbs ; and I said to myself that 
 now must we destroy the evil of that house even if 
 we died for it, or else we were all undone ; withal 
 I saw somewhat of truth thrusting up through her 
 much lying, and I deemed, even as Arthur did, 
 that she had our friends under her hand some- 
 where. 
 
 Nought else betid that night ; but on the mor- 
 row we went forth and strayed on till we were come 
 into the southernmost quarter of the isle, and not 
 very far from the water we came upon a wood or 
 big thicket which was new to us. So we entered 
 it, and as we went and noted the wild things of the 
 wood going hither and thither, we espied afar off 
 the shape of a man going amidst the thicket ; 
 wherefore we went warily towards him, lest he 
 should see us and flee from us ; and when we drew 
 a little nigher we saw it was a woman, though she 
 was clad as a hunter, with legs naked to above the 
 knee. She had a quiver at her back and a bow in 
 her hand, and her coat was black of hue. Belike 
 now she heard our going amongst the dry leaves, 
 for she turned her face to us, and lo ! it was the face 
 of Atra. 
 
 When she saw us, she gave a shrill cry, and fell 
 to running at her swiftest away from us, and we 
 followed all we mi?ht, but we could not over-run 
 
230 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 her, though we kept her in sight ever, till we had 
 run all through the wood, and before us was the 
 sheer side of a rocky hill and the mouth of a cave 
 therein, and by the said mouth who should there 
 be but Aurea and Viridis, as we thought, clad in 
 gold and in green, but the fashion of their raiment 
 not otherwise than Atra's. Their bows were bended 
 and they had shafts in their hands, and as we came 
 out of the thicket into the open lawn before the 
 cave, Viridis nocked a shaft and aimed at us and 
 drew, and the shaft flew over my head ; therewith 
 mocking laughter came from them, and they ran 
 into the cave. Speedily we ran up to it, but when 
 we came home thither, there was the sheer hill- 
 side, but never a cave nor an opening. 
 
 Dismayed were we thereat ; but more dismayed 
 had we been but that we deemed that all this was 
 but a cheat and a painted show put upon us by the 
 witch to back up her lying. Nevertheless we fared 
 the next day to seek the wood and the cave in the 
 sheer rock, but nowise might we find either wood 
 or cave. 
 
 Now it was the night of the day hereafter, as we 
 went to our chambers, that the witch-wife took me 
 by the hand and led me apart, and said me many 
 soft things of her accursed lust, whereof I will not 
 say one again. But the upshot of it all was that 
 she would bring me to her chamber and her bed. 
 And whereas I wasdetermined what to do, and had 
 my war-sword by my side, I naysaid her not, but 
 made her good countenance. And when we came 
 to her chamber, which was full gloriously dight, 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 33 1 
 
 and fragrant as with the scent of the roses and HHes 
 of mid-June, she bade me to lie in her bed of gold 
 and ivory and she would be with me anon. So I 
 unclad myself and laid me down, but I drew forth 
 my sword, and laid the ancient naked blade be- 
 twixt my side and her place. 
 
 Anon she Cometh back again unclad, and would 
 step into the bed ; but she saw the sword and said : 
 What is this. Champion ? Said I : These edges 
 are the token of sundering between us, for there is 
 a spell on me, that with no woman may I deal, save 
 with mine only love, but I shall do her mortal scathe; 
 so beware by the token of the grey edges of battle. 
 She drew aback, and was as a spiteful and angry 
 cat, and there was no loveliness in her ; and she 
 said : Thou liest, and thou hatest me; see thou to 
 it, both for thyself and thy loveling. And she turned 
 about and strode out of the chamber ; but I arose 
 and clad myself in haste, and took my naked sword 
 in my hand. But before I went, I looked around, 
 and espied an ambry fashioned in the wall of the 
 bed-lane, and the door was half open ; and the said 
 ambry was wrought of the daintiest, all of gold and 
 pearl and gems ; and I said to myself: Herein is 
 some treasure, and this is a tide of war. So I 
 opened the ambry, and within it was even more 
 glpriously wrought than without ; and there was 
 nought therein, save a little flask of crystal done 
 about with bands of gold set with great and goodly 
 gems. So I took the said flask and went my ways 
 hastily to my own chamber, and there I looked at 
 the said flask and took out the stopple ; and there 
 
23'^ THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 was a liquor therein, white like to water, but of a 
 spicy smell, sweet, fresh, and enheartening. So I 
 yet thought this was some great treasure, and that 
 much hung upon it, could I find out unto what 
 use it might be put. And I said : To-morrow we 
 will put it to the proof Then I put the said flask 
 under my pillow, and laid my sword by my side 
 and slept, and was not ill-content so far. 
 
 But on the morrow, when I met my fellows, 
 they asked me how I had sped, and I told them, 
 Well, and that we would talk the matter over under 
 our tree of counsel. So we went down into the 
 hall, where we met the witch-lady ; and I looked 
 for it that she would be angry and fierce with me ; 
 but it went far otherwise ; for she was blithe and 
 buxom, and abounding in endearments more than 
 I could away with. But this I noted, that her 
 eyes wandered, and her speech faltered at whiles, 
 and ever she seemed to be seeking somewhat ; and 
 withal that her caressing hands were seeking if they 
 could aught stowed away in the bosom of my coat. 
 But all was nought, for as we came to the door of 
 the hall I gave Baudoin the flask to guard until 
 we should come to our apple-tree of rede. Where- 
 fore the she-wolf went red and white by turns, and 
 fumed, and fretted her bedizenments with unrest- 
 ful hands, and when she should let us go our ways, 
 she lingered and looked back oft, and was loth to 
 depart ere she had gotten what she lacked, and 
 that, forsooth, was the said flasket. 
 
 But when we were without the house, I bade 
 our fellows go with me to another place than the 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING ^33 
 
 wonted apple-tree of rede, and they understood 
 rny word, and I led them to a little grassy plain 
 without the orchard, where was no covert for a 
 wide space about it, nought but the one linden- 
 tree under which now we sat. There I told them 
 all the tale of the last night and of the flasket, and 
 put before them all that was in my mind to do that 
 evening at the banquet, and they both of them 
 yeasaid it. But what it was, that shall ye hear 
 anon when we carried the matter through ; but I 
 bade Baudoin still carry the flasket till the even- 
 ing. 
 
 Thereafter we spake of other matters ; but soon 
 we had good cause to rejoice that we had not talked 
 our talk under the apple-tree (whereas I doubted 
 not that the witch would spy upon us there), for 
 not long had we been at our talk ere, looking that 
 way, we saw the evil creature by the hedge of the 
 orchard and gazing over at us. 
 
 We arose then, and came to her as if nought 
 had happened ; and she bade us walk the garden 
 with her, and we yeasaid it, and went with her, and 
 paced about amidst the flowers and lay on the 
 blossomed grass. Forsooth, both to her and to 
 us the time hung heavy on hand. And meseemed 
 that the sleekness and fairness of her body was 
 worsened since yesterday, and she was pale and 
 haggard, and her eyes were wandering and afraid. 
 
 Now she bade us come a little further into the 
 garden and eat a morsel at noon ; and we arose, 
 and she brought us to where were vines trellised 
 all about and overhead, so that it was like a fair 
 
334 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 green cloister ; and there was a board laid and 
 spread with many dainties of meat and drink. And 
 she bade us sit. Verily we had but little stomach 
 to that dinner ; and I said to myself, Poison ! 
 poison ! and even so my fellows deemed, as after- 
 wards they told me. And I saw Baudoin loosen 
 his sword in the sheath, and I knew that his mind 
 was to smite at once if he saw aught amiss. And 
 I, who sat next to the witch, laid my hand on a 
 little dagger which I wore at my girdle. She also 
 saw this, and turned as pale as death, and sat trem- 
 bling before us ; and whatso we ate or drank at 
 that board under the rustling vine-leaves, she gave 
 unto us with her own hand ; and then we wotted 
 full surely that she had meant our deaths there and 
 then, but was cowed by the fierce eyes of Baudoin 
 and the threat of my hand. 
 
 Withal it seemed that she might not bear it to 
 sit there long amongst us. She rose up and smiled 
 on us as ghastly as a corpse, and gave us leave, and 
 went hurrying into the house. And right glad we 
 were to be at rest from her. Yet as we ourselves 
 durst not go far away from the house, lest some 
 new thing might happen, neither could she leave 
 us quite alone, but thrice again that afternoon at 
 some turn of the garden, or orchard, or meadow, 
 we came upon her wan fice and eyes full of all 
 hate and staring pride, and she enforced her to 
 smile upon us, and turned away with some idle 
 word. 
 
 At last the sun began to sink, and we went to 
 the perron of the house, and found her standing to 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 23 S 
 
 meet us in her wonted way. But when we came 
 up she gave no hand to any one of us, but went 
 up the stairs before us, and we followed with no 
 word spoken. 
 
 There was the hall with the lordly service on the 
 board, and the wax-candles lighted all about, and 
 the great vault of stone fair and stately over it. 
 We went to the dais and the board and sat down, 
 the witch-wife in her gold and ivory chair at the 
 board's end, and I at her right hand and looking 
 down the hall, my two fellows facing me, with their 
 backs to the clear of the hall. 
 
 There we sat, and the meats and drinks were 
 before us as dainty as ever erst ; but we put forth 
 no hand to them, but sat staring at each other for 
 some two minutes it might be, and the witch looked 
 from one to the other of us, and quaked that her 
 hands shook like palsy. 
 
 Then I rose up and put my hand to my bosom 
 (for Baudoin had given me the flasket ere we came 
 to the perron) : I spake in a loud voice, and it 
 pounded wild and hard in the goodly hall : My 
 lady, I said, thou art looking but pale now, and 
 sick and downcast. Drink now to me out of this 
 precious flasket, and thou shalt be whole and well. 
 
 And therewith I held the flasket aloft ; but her 
 face changed horribly ; she sprang up in her chair 
 and reached out her arm to clutch at the flasket, 
 screaming like an eagle therewith. But I thrust 
 her back into the chair with my left hand ; and 
 therewith arose Baudoin and Arthur, and caught 
 her by the shoulders, and bound her fast to the 
 
23^ THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 chair with cords that they had gotten thereto. But 
 when she got her breath she yelled out : Ah, now 
 shall all tumble together, my proudful house and 
 I under it ! Loose me, traitors ! loose me, fools ! 
 and give me one draught of the water of might, 
 and then shall I tell you all, and ye shall go free 
 with your thralls if ye will. Ah ! ye will not loose 
 me ? ye will not ^ Well then, at least ye, the fools, 
 shall be under it, and they also, the she-traitors, the 
 scourged and tormented fools that might not save 
 themselves from me. O loose me ! loose me ! thou 
 in whose arms I have lain so many a night, and give 
 me to drink of the proud water of might ! 
 
 So she yelled ; and now had all the fairness gone 
 from her body : flaggy and yellow were her limbs, 
 and she looked all over as her face, a lump of stu- 
 pid and cruel pride, and her words lost meaning 
 and changed into mere bestial howling. But for 
 me, since she so desired that water, I knew that it 
 was good for us to drink, and I took out the stop- 
 ple and drank, and it was as if fire ran through 
 all my veins, and I felt my strength three-folded 
 straightway, and most wondrous clear was my sight 
 grown therewith ; and I raised my eyes now and 
 looked down the hall, and lo, there was Aurea, 
 chained by the ankle to the third pillar from the 
 dais ; and over against her, Viridis ; and next, to 
 the fourth pillar, Atra. Then I cried in a loud 
 voice that rang through the witch's hall : Lo what 
 I see 1 And I ran round the head of the board, and 
 thrust and dragged Baudoin and Arthur along with 
 me, crying out: Come, come! they are found! 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 337 
 
 they are here ! And I came to my sweetling, and 
 found her clad but in her white smock, which was 
 flecked with blood all about, and her face was wan 
 and pined, and the tears began to run when she saw 
 me, but no word came from her lips though the 
 kissing of them was sweet. 
 
 Then I turned about to my two fellows, and they 
 stood bewildered, not knowing what was toward; 
 and I came to them and made them drink of the 
 flasket, and their eyes were opened and the strength 
 of giants came to them, and they ran each to his 
 sweetling ; but Baudoin, before ever he kissed 
 Aurea, caught hold of the chain that bound her to 
 the pillar, and by main force dragged it out. Wise 
 was that, meseemed, for words were again come into 
 the witch's howls, and I heard her : Ah, long may 
 ye be playing with the chains, long ! for now the 
 house rumbleth toward its fall. Ah, the bitches 
 are loose ! Woe's me ! to die alone ! And once 
 more she howled wordless, as both I and Arthur 
 had our loves in our arms, and fell to following 
 Baudoin out on to the perron and down into the 
 fresh fragrant garden wherein now was the moon 
 beginning to cast shadows. 
 
 Stood we then aloof from the house, and the 
 rumbling whereof the evil hag had howled waxed 
 into a thunder, and under our very eyes the great 
 white walls and gold-adorned roofs fell together, 
 and a great cloud of dust rose under the clear moon- 
 lit sky. 
 
 We looked and wondered, and our loves also, 
 but no word they spake; but ere the other two had 
 
 22 
 
338 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 time to grieve thereat, I gave Viridis to drink of the 
 water of might, and she fell to sweet speech straight- 
 way, of such sort and such wise as I will not tell 
 you. Then I did the same by Aurea and Atra, 
 and forthwith the speech flowed from them to their 
 friends. 
 
 Full happy were we then in the early night-sea- 
 son, for the water of might gave them strength also, 
 as to us, and healed all the stripes and wounds their 
 bodies had suffered of the foul witch, and made 
 their eyes bright, and their cheeks full and firm, and 
 their lips most sweet, and their hands strong and 
 delicious. 
 
 Now when we had stood gazing toward the melt- 
 ing of the beauteous palace for a little, we took our 
 darlings in our arms again, whereas the chains would 
 have hindered their walking, and went down to the 
 lip of the water whereas lay the Sending Boat, so 
 that we might be anigh our ferry in case of need ; 
 for we knew not what might betide the isle now 
 its mistress had perished. Then we fell to and 
 sawed off" the chains from the dear ankles with our 
 swords, and took Birdalone's lendings from the mail. 
 And Aurea had her gown again, and Viridis her 
 smock, and my green surcoat over it, and Atra wore 
 the battle-coat of the Black Squire. As for their bare 
 feet (for Atra would not have hers dight prouder 
 than her sisters'), we so clad them with kisses that 
 they were not ill-covered belike. 
 
 So gat we aboard our ferry, and did blood-offer- 
 ing to the wight thereof, and so sped merrily and 
 lovingly over the wide lake back on our homeward 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 339 
 
 road. And we said : This hath the dear Birdalone 
 done for us. 
 
 And now, my Viridis, I will that thou fill up 
 the tale by telling to Birdalone, as ye told us, how 
 it fared with you three and the evil one from the 
 time that ye sped Birdalone on her way till the 
 moment when mine eyes first beheld you made fast 
 to the pillars of the palace which has crumbled into 
 dust. 
 
CHAPTER X. HOW IT FARED WITH 
 THE THREE LADIES AFTER THE 
 ESCAPE OF BIRDALONE. 
 
 VIRIDIS took up the word without more 
 ado, and said : I will do my best herein, and 
 ye, sisters, must set me right if I err. When 
 we had seen the last of you, dear Birdalone, that 
 early morning, we turned back again to the house 
 as speedily and as covertly as we might, lest the 
 witch might espy our disarray and question us 
 thereover. Then we went to the wonder-coffer, and 
 gat thereout raiment for that which we had given 
 away, which was easy for us to do, whereas the witch- 
 mistress was so slothful that she had given to us the 
 words of might wherewith to compel the coffer to 
 yield, so that we might do all the service thereof, 
 and she not to move hand or foot in the matter. 
 So when we were clad, and the time was come, we 
 went into the hall, by no means well assured of 
 our mistress. 
 
 When we came before her, she looked on us in 
 surly wise, as her wont was, and said nought for a 
 while ; she stared on us and knit her brows, as if 
 she strove to call to mind something that ran to and 
 fro in her memory ; and I noted that, and for my 
 part I trembled before her. But she spake at last : 
 Meseemeth as if there is a woman in the isle be- 
 sides you three ; some misdoer that I was minded 
 to punish. Tell me, you ! was there not a naked 
 one who came into this hall a while ago, one whom 
 I threatened with pining ? Atra, who was the bold- 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 34 1 
 
 est of us, bowed the knee before her, and said: Nay, 
 our lady, since when do stranger women come naked 
 into thine hall, and dare thee there ? 
 
 Said the witch : Yet have I an image of a naked 
 woman standing down there before me ; and if I 
 have it in mine eye, so should ye. Tell me there- 
 fore, and beware, for We are not bidden to hold Our 
 hand from you if We take you in misdeeds. 
 
 If I quaked before, now much more I quaked, 
 till my legs well-nigh failed me for fear ; but Atra 
 said : Great lady, this image will belike be of that 
 one whom a while ago ye had stripped and tied to 
 a pillar here, and tormented while ye feasted. 
 
 The lady looked on her hard, and again seemed 
 striving to gather up the thrums of some memory, 
 and then her face became smooth again, and she 
 spake lightly : All that may well be ; so do ye go 
 about your due service, and trouble Our rest here 
 no longer ; for We love not to look on folk who 
 be not wholly Our own to pine or to spare, to slay 
 or let Hve, as We will ; and We would that the 
 winds and the waves would send Us some such now; 
 for it is like to living all alone to have but such as 
 you with Us, and none to cower before Us and en- 
 treat Us of mercy. So begone, I bid you. 
 
 Thus for that time were we saved from the witch's 
 cruelty; but our time came before long. The days 
 wore heavily, nor kept we count of them lest we 
 should lose heart for the weariness of waiting. But 
 on a day as we stood on the steps of the perron and 
 served my lady with dainties, of a hot afternoon, 
 came two great white doves a-flying, who pitched 
 
j^l THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 down right before our mistress's feet; and each had 
 a gold ring about his neck, and a scroll tied there- 
 to, and the witch bade us take the doves and take 
 off the scrolls and give them unto her; and she 
 looked on the gold rings which the doves bore, 
 and for a moment on the scrolls, and then she said: 
 Take ye the doves and cherish them, lest We have 
 need of them ; take also the two scrolls and keep 
 them till to-morrow morning, and then give them 
 into Our hands. And look ye to this, that if ye 
 give them not unto Us it will be treason against 
 Us, and We shall have a case against you, and your 
 bodies will be Ours. 
 
 Then she rose up slowly, and bade me to her that 
 she might lean upon my shoulder and be helped 
 upstairs, so slothful a beast as she was; and as we 
 went up I heard her say softly to herself: Weary 
 on it, now must I drink a sup of the Water of 
 Might, that I may remember and do and desire. 
 But dear is my sister, and without doubt she hath 
 matters of import to tell me by these doves. 
 
 So when we were together alone I told the others 
 hereof, and we talked it over; and they deemed 
 the tidings ill, even as I did; for we might not 
 doubt but that the doves were a sending from the 
 witch-sister who dwelt at the House under the 
 Wood; and sore we misdoubted that they were 
 sped to our mistress to tell her of thee, Birdalone, 
 and mayhappen of the Quest, so wise as we knew 
 she was. As to the two scrolls, forsooth, they were 
 open, and not sealed; but when we looked on them 
 we could make nought of it ; for though they were 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 343 
 
 writ fairly in Latin script, so that we read them, 
 yet of the words no whit might we understand, so 
 we feared the worst. But what might we do? we 
 had but two choices, either to cast ourselves into 
 the water, or abide what should befall; and this last 
 one we chose because of the hope of deliverance. 
 
 Next morning, therefore, we came before our 
 mistress in the hall, and we found her pacing up 
 and down before the dais ; though her wont was at 
 that hour to be sitting in her throne of gold and 
 ivory, lying back on the cushions half asleep. 
 
 So Atra went up to her, and knelt before her 
 and gave her the scrolls, and she looked on her 
 grimly, and smiled evilly, and said : Kneel there 
 yet ; and ye others kneel also, till I see what befitteth 
 you. So did we, and indeed I was fain to kneel, for 
 I might scarce stand up for terror ; and all of us, 
 our hearts died within us. 
 
 But the witch read those scrolls to herself, sitting 
 in her throne, and spake not a long while ; then she 
 said : Come hither, and grovel before Us, and 
 hearken ! Even so we did ; and she said again : 
 Our sister, who hath been so kind unto you, and 
 saved you from so many pains, here telleth Us, 
 by the message of the two doves, that ye have be- 
 trayed Us and her, and have stolen her thrall and 
 her Sending Boat, and sent her an errand for Our 
 destruction; and therewith she delivereth you into 
 Our hands, and ye are Ours henceforward; nor is 
 it to be thought that ye may escape Us. Now, for 
 your treason, some would slay you outright here 
 and now, but We will be merciful, and let you live, 
 
344 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and do no more than chastise you sharply now ; 
 and thereafter shall ye be Our very thralls to do 
 as We will with : thereafter, that is to say, when 
 they whom ye have sent Our sister's thrall to fetch 
 have come hither (as belike I may scarce stay 
 them), and 1 have foiled them and used them, and 
 sent them away empty. Now I tell you, that 
 meanwhile of their coming shall ye suffer such 
 things as We will ; and when they be here We will 
 not forbid you to be anigh them; but We shall see 
 that there will be little joy to you in that nighness. 
 Yea, ye shall know now to what market ye have 
 brought your wares, and what the price of treason 
 is therein. 
 
 Verily then we suffered at her hand what she 
 would, whereof it would shame me to tell more as 
 at this present; and thereafter did she chain us to 
 those three pillars of the hall whereas ye found us 
 chained; and we were fed as dogs be, and served 
 as dogs, but we endured all for the sake of hope ; 
 and when we durst, and deemed the witch would 
 not hear us, we spake together and enheartened 
 each other. 
 
 But on the fourth day of our torment came the 
 witch to us, and gave us to drink a certain red 
 water from out of a leaden flasket; and when I drank 
 I deemed it was poison, and was glad, if gladness 
 might be in me at such a tide; and when I had 
 drunk I felt an icy chill go through all my body, 
 and all things swam before my eyes, and deadly 
 sickness came over me. But that passed away 
 from me presently, and I felt helpless and yet not 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 345 
 
 feeble; all sounds heard I clearer than ever yet in 
 my life; also I saw the hall, every arch and pillar 
 and fret, and the gleam on the pavement from the 
 bright sun that might not enter; and the witch I 
 saw walking up and down the hall by the dais; but 
 my sisters I saw not when I looked across to their 
 pillars. Moreover, I might not see myself when 
 I reached out my hand or my foot, though I saw 
 the chain which made my ankle fast to the pillar; 
 and withal, when I set my hand on my face, or any 
 other part of my body, or what else I might touch, 
 I felt there what I looked to feel, were it flesh or 
 linen, or the cold iron of my fetter, or the polished 
 face of the marble pillar. 
 
 Now I knew scarce if I were alive or dead, or 
 if I were but beginning to be dead ; but there came 
 upon me the desire of life, and I strove to cry out 
 to the sisters, but though I formed the words in 
 my mouth, and did with my throat as when one 
 cries out aloud, yet no sound of a voice came from 
 me, and more helpless did I feel than erst. 
 
 But even therewith I saw the witch come toward 
 me, and therewith all my body felt such fear of 
 her that I knew I was not dead. Then she came 
 before me and said : O shadow of a thrall, whom 
 none can see but them unto whom wisdom hath 
 given eyes to see wonders withal, now have I tid- 
 ings for thee and thy sisters, to wit, that your 
 lovers and seekers are at hand; and presently I 
 shall bring them into this hall, and they shall be 
 so nigh unto you that ye might touch them if I 
 did not forbid it ; but they shall not see you, but 
 
346 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 shall wonder where I have hidden you, and shall 
 go seeking you to-day and many days, and shall 
 find you not at all. So make ye the most of the 
 sight of them, for in them henceforward ye have 
 no other part or lot. 
 
 Therewith she spat out at me, and went over to 
 my sisters, and said words of like import to those 
 which she had said unto me. And presently she 
 went out of the hall ; and not long afterwards I 
 heard voices speaking on the perron, and knew one 
 for the voice of the witch, and the other for the 
 voice of my lord Baudoin ; and then again wore a 
 little while, and I saw the witch come through the 
 great door of the hall leading Sir Arthur by the 
 hand, as if she were his dear friend, and Baudoin 
 and Hugh, my man, following them. And the 
 said witch was clad full fair, and had laid by her 
 sloth and stupid pride, as meseemed; and her limbs 
 were grown rounder and sleeker, and her skin fairer, 
 so that to them that knew her not she might well 
 seem to be a goodly woman. 
 
 Now they sat to meat as my man hath told you, 
 and then departed from the hall, and the witch also. 
 But after a while she came back again and loosed 
 us, and grimly bade us go with her, and needs must 
 we, though we could not so much as see our own 
 feet upon the floor. And she set us to tasks about 
 the house, and stood by while we toiled for her, 
 and mocked us not without stripes, and in all ways 
 was as rough and cruel and hard with us as she had 
 been smooth and debonair to our lords ; but after 
 noon she brought us back and chained us to our 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 347 
 
 pillars again. And when the evening came and the 
 banquet was, it was we who were the unseen play- 
 ers of the string-play ; and we might play no other 
 melody than what the witch bade us ; else belike, 
 could we have held converse, we might have played 
 such tunes as would have smitten the hearts of our 
 loves, and told them that we were anigh. To make 
 a short story of it, thus did she day by day, and no 
 comfort or converse might we sisters have of each 
 other, or of aught else save the sight of our beloved 
 ones, and a glimmer of hope therewith. And, for- 
 sooth, for as grievously as my heart was wrung by 
 the yearning of me for my love, yet was it a joy 
 unto me to think that he went there desiring me, 
 and that I whom he desired was not the poor 
 wretched creature chained there in her nakedness, 
 with her body spoiled by torment and misery, but 
 the glad maiden whom he had so often called fair 
 and lovesome. 
 
 So passed the days, and at last hope had grown 
 so pale and wan, that she was no more to be seen 
 by us than we were by our lords ; and now it 
 seemed to me that death was coming, so feeble and 
 wretched as I grew. But the witch would not let 
 us die, but sustained us from time to time with some 
 little draughts of a witch-drink that revived us. 
 
 So wore the time till that evening, when came 
 hope together with the fulfilment of hope, so that 
 one minute we durst hope for deliverance, and the 
 next we were delivered. 
 
 Nor is there more to tell, Birdalone, my dear, 
 save that we came safely to the Isle of the Young 
 
348 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and the Old in the full morning-tide ; and as our 
 ferry drew nigh the green shore, there were the 
 two younglings whereof thou didst tell us await- 
 ing our landing, and when we stepped ashore they 
 came to us bearing cakes and fruit in a fair basket, 
 and they made much of us and we of them. And so 
 we came to the old man, who was exceeding fain 
 of us, and grand and courteous, till he became a 
 little drunk, and then he was somewhat over-kind 
 to us women. Nevertheless, there in that pleas- 
 ant isle we rested us for three days, that we might 
 somewhat calm and refresh our spirits with what 
 was small and of little account. And when we de- 
 parted, the old man followed us down to the strand, 
 and lamented our departure, as he had done with 
 our lords erewhile ; only this time yet greater was 
 his lamentation, and needs must we kiss him, each 
 one of us, or never had he been done. So he turned 
 up landward, bewailing the miss of us, but pres- 
 ently, before we had seen the last of him, was cheer- 
 ful again and singing. 
 
 So we went on our way ; and we also, we maid- 
 ens, in our turn, saw those woeful images of the Isle 
 of Queens and the Isle of Kings ; and we came to 
 the Isle of Nothing, and abode warily by our ferry, 
 and so came away safe, and thus, as thou wottest, 
 home to the castle to hear evil tidings of thee. 
 Now is this all my tale. 
 
 Birdalone sat shyly and hushed when all was 
 done ; and then all they did somewhat to comfort 
 her, each after their own fashion ; and now sorrow 
 for the slain man was made softer and sweeter for 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 349 
 
 them, whereas they had to lose not two fellows, 
 but one only. Yet, despite of all, trouble and care 
 was on Birdalone's soul betwixt the joy of loving 
 and being beloved, and the pain and fear of rob- 
 bing a friend of her love. For Atra's face, which 
 she might not hate, and scarce might love, was a 
 threat to her day by day. 
 
CHAPTER XL BIRDALONE AND THE 
 BLACK SQUIRE TALK TOGETHER IN 
 THE HALL OF THE CASTLE. 
 
 NOW within a few days was the body of Bau- 
 doin laid in earth in the chapel of the castle ; 
 and in the solemnest of fashions was the 
 burial done. When it was over, the two knights 
 and Sir Aymeris turned them heartily to dighting 
 the war against the Red Hold, and less than a 
 month thereafter was the hosting at the Castle of 
 the Quest, and if the host were not very many (for 
 it went not above sixteen hundreds of men all told), 
 yet the men were of the choicest, both of knights 
 and sergeants and archers. There then they held a 
 mote without the castle, whereas Arthur the Black 
 Squire was chosen for captain, and in three days 
 they were to depart for the Red Hold. 
 
 Now this while Birdalone had seen but little of 
 Arthur, who was ever busy about many matters, 
 and never had she had any privy talk with him, 
 though sore she longed for it ; yet indeed it was 
 more by her will than his that so it was. But 
 when it was come to the very last day before the 
 departure, she said that she must needs see him 
 before he went, and he perchance never to come 
 back again. So when men were quiet after dinner 
 she went into the hall and found him there, pacing 
 up and down the floor. For indeed she had sent a 
 word to him by Leonard the priest that he should 
 be there. 
 
 So she went up to him, and all simply she took 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 351 
 
 him by the hand and led him into a shot-window 
 and set him down by her ; and he, all trembling 
 for love and fear of her, might not forbear, but 
 kissed her face and her mouth many times ; and 
 she grew as hot as fire, and somewhat she wept. 
 
 Then she spake after a while : Dear friend, 1 
 had it in my mind to say to thee many things 
 that meseems were sage, but now neither will the 
 thought of them come into my mind, nor the words 
 into my mouth. And this is a short hour. And 
 therewith she fell to kissing him, till he was well- 
 nigh beside himself betwixt desire and joy and the 
 grief of departure, and the hardness or the case. 
 
 But at last she forbore and said : Will it not be 
 when thou art gone to-morrow as it was when ye 
 were away upon the Quest, and I knew not how 
 to bear myself, so heavy lay all the world and its 
 doings and its fashion upon me ? It will be hard 
 to me, he said ; evil and grim will be the days. She 
 said : And yet, even now in these last days, when 
 I see thee oft, every day my soul is worn with grief, 
 and I know not what to do with myself. I shall 
 come back, he said, and bear my love with me, and 
 then belike we shall seek some remedy. She was 
 silent a while, and then she said : Meanwhile of 
 thy coming, and I see thee not at all for many days, 
 how will it be with my grief then ? Quoth he : 
 More than enough of grief no soul may bear ; for 
 either death comes, or else some dullness of the 
 pain, and then by little and little the pain weareth. 
 Then she said : And how would it be if thou come 
 not back and I see thee never again, or if when 
 
^S^^ THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 thou come back thou find me not, for that I be 
 either dead or gone away out of thy reach ? He 
 said : I know not how it would be. When thou 
 sayest thou shalt die, dost thou wholly believe it in 
 thy sense or thy body otherwise than Holy Church 
 would ? I will tell thee, she said, that now I am 
 sitting by thee and seeing thy face and hearing thy 
 voice, it is that only which I believe in ; for I may 
 think of nought else of either grief or joy. Yea, 
 when I wept e'en now, it was not for sorrow that I 
 wept, but for I cannot rightly tell what. And she 
 took his hand and looked fondly upon him. 
 
 But presently she looked on his hand, and said : 
 And now meseemeth that we twain are grown to be 
 such close friends that I may ask thee what I will, 
 and thou be neither angry, nor wonder thereat. 
 I see on thy finger here the ring that I brought with 
 me from the Isle of Increase, and which thereafter 
 thou hadst of me when I gave thee back also the 
 shoon which were lent unto me. Tell me how 
 thou hadst it back from Atra, as I suppose thou 
 gavest it unto her. But how now ! art thou angry ^ 
 for I see the blood come up in thy face. Nay, 
 beloved, said he, I am not angry, but whenso I 
 hear of Atra, or think of her closely, shame comes 
 on me and confusion, and maybe fear. But now 
 will I answer thee. For even in those hours which 
 we wore on the Isle of the Young and the Old, 
 when all we should have been so happy together, 
 she divined somewhat of my case, or indeed, why 
 do I not say it out, all thereof. And she spake 
 to me such words (for she is both tender and wise 
 
THE TALE OF THE fJUEST'S ENDING ;^S3 
 
 and strong of heart) that I cowered before her and 
 her grief and pain; and she gave me back the said 
 ring, which forsooth I gave to her in the Sending 
 Boat in the first hour that the Isle of Increase lay 
 astern of us. And I wear it now as a token of 
 my grief for her grief. See now, love, since I have 
 answered thee this question without anger or amaze, 
 thou needest not fear to ask me any other ; for this 
 of all things lies closest to my heart. 
 
 Birdalone drooped her head, and she spake in 
 a low voice : Lo now ! the shadow of parting and 
 the shadow of death could not come between our 
 present joy ; but this shadow of the third one 
 Cometh between us and is present between us. 
 Woe's me ! how little did I think of this when thou 
 wert away and I was sick of longing for the sight 
 of thee, and deemed that that would heal it all. 
 
 He spake not, but took her hand and held it ; 
 and presently she looked up again and said : Thou 
 art good, and wilt not be angry if I ask thee some- 
 thing else ; this it is : Why wert thou so grim with 
 me that other day when ye found me in that evil 
 plight in tow of the Red Tyrant, so that I deemed 
 that thou of all others hadst cast me off? That 
 was worse to me than the witch's stripes, and 1 
 kept thinking to myself: How simple was my 
 trouble once, and now how tangled and weary ! 
 
 Then he might not refrain him, but threw him- 
 self upon her, and clipped her and kissed her all 
 he might, and she felt all the sweetness of love, 
 and lacked nought of kindness and love to him. 
 And thereafter they sat still awhile, and he said, 
 
 23 
 
354 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 as if her question had but that moment left her Hps : 
 This, forsooth, was the cause that I looked grim on 
 thee : first, that from the time I first saw thee and 
 heard thy tale, and of thy deeds, I had deemed 
 thee wise above the wisdom of women. But this 
 going forth of thee to the Black Valley, whereof 
 came the slaying of Baudoin, seemed unto me a 
 mere folly, till again I had heard thy tale of that 
 also; and then the tale and thy speech overcame 
 me. But again, though I was grieved and dis- 
 appointed hereat, belike that had passed from me 
 speedily, but then there was this also which would 
 not let my soul rest, to wit, that I feared concerning 
 that slain knight whose head the Red One had 
 hung about thy neck ; for how else, methought, 
 might he have been so wroth with him and thee ; 
 and meseemed, moreover, that thou wert kind in 
 thine heart to the dead man, even when we were 
 come to thee ; and then, seest thou, my desire for 
 thee and the trouble of Baudoin's slaying, and the 
 black trouble aforesaid. Lo now, I have told thee 
 this. When wilt thou cease to be angry with me ? 
 
 She said : I ceased to be grieved with thine anger 
 when thine anger died ; yet strange, meseemeth, that 
 thou shouldst trust me so little when thou lovest 
 me so much ! 
 
 And she leaned against him and caressed him 
 gently, and again was he at point to take her in 
 his arms, when lo ! the sound of men coming unto 
 the screen of the hall ; so then those two stood up 
 and went to meet them, and there was the speech 
 of their sundering done. Yet belike for a little 
 while both those twain were happy. 
 
CHAPTER XIL THE KNIGHTS AND 
 THEIR FELLOWS BETAKE THEM 
 TO THE ASSAULTING OF THE RED 
 HOLD. 
 
 ON the morrow, when the day was yet young, 
 the knights were ready for departure, and 
 in the very gate they bade farewell to the 
 ladies, who kissed them kindly one and all, and 
 Viridis wept sore ; and Atra constrained herself to 
 do even as the others did ; but pale she was and 
 quaking when she kissed Arthur and watched him 
 get a-horseback. 
 
 But the knights bade their ladies be of good 
 cheer, for that they would send them tidings of 
 how they sped every seven days at least, whereas 
 it was no long way thence to the Red Hold, save 
 there were battle on the road, and they deemed 
 their host which should beset the Hold would be 
 enough to clear all the ways behind it. For that 
 same cause withal they had Sir Aymeris with them, 
 nor left a many men behind them, and they under 
 the rule of three squires, whereof two were but 
 young, and the third, who was made the captain 
 of the castle, was an old and wise man of war, who 
 had to name Geoffrey of Lea. There, withal, was 
 the priest Sir Leonard, who went about now much 
 hushed and abashed, and seemed to fear to give a 
 word to Birdalone ; albeit she deemed of him that 
 his thoughts of her were the same as erst they had 
 been. 
 
 So now when the knights were departed, and all 
 
356 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 the host was gone out of sight, it was heavy time 
 indeed in the Castle of the Quest till they should 
 hear tidings of them again. Both Aurea and Atra 
 kept much to themselves, and did I know not what 
 to wear away the time ; for now it was not to be 
 looked for that they should venture out-a-gates. 
 But as for Viri^is, she waxed of better cheer after 
 a while, but whatever betid she would not sunder 
 herself from Birdalone ; nay, not for an hour ; and 
 Birdalone took all her kindness kindly, though 
 forsooth it was somewhat of a pain unto her ; it 
 shall be told wherefore ere long. 
 
 Withal, as if to wear the time, Birdalone betook 
 her diligently to her needlework, and fell to the 
 cunningest of broidery ; so that Viridis and the 
 others wondered at her, for when they were done 
 it seemed indeed that the flowers and creatures and 
 knots had grown of themselves upon the cloth, 
 such wondrous work it was. 
 
 Moreover, to his great joy, the very first day of 
 the departure of the host she called Sir Leonard 
 unto her, and prayed to go on again with the 
 learning her fair scribe-craft ; and therein also was 
 she diligent hours of every day ; and Viridis would 
 sit beside her wondering at the deftness of her 
 fingers, and crying out for joy as the page grew 
 fair and well-learned under them. 
 
 Thus wore a week, and at the end thereof came 
 a messenger from the host and told how they had 
 come before the Red Hold and had summoned 
 them thereof to yield, which they had utterly de- 
 nied to do, but defied the host; wherefore the 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 357 
 
 host had now beset the Hokl, and more folk were 
 daily flocking unto them ; but that the said Hold 
 would be hard to win by plain assault, whereas it 
 was both strong and well-manned ; but few of the 
 host had been slain or hurt as yet, and of the chief- 
 tains not one. 
 
 Right glad were they of the castle because of 
 these tidings ; though, forsooth, the men-at-arms 
 knew well enough that the time would soon come 
 when some fierce assault would be made, and then, 
 forsooth, would be sore peril of life and limb unto 
 the chieftains. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. BIRDALONE BE- 
 THINKS HER TO FULFIL THE 
 PROMISE MADE UNTO ATRA. 
 
 AGAIN wore a week, and once more came 
 the messenger, and did them of the castle 
 to wit that there had been nought more 
 done at the Red Hold, save skirmishing at the 
 barriers, wherein few were hurt on either side ; and 
 also that the engines for battering the walls were 
 now well-nigh all dight, and they would begin to 
 play upon the Hold, and in especial one which 
 hight Wall-wolf, which had been set up by the 
 crafts of Greenford. 
 
 This tidings also was deemed good by all, save 
 it might be by Atra, who, as Birdalone deemed, 
 pined and fretted herself at the delay, and would 
 fain that, one way or other, all were over. Atra 
 spake but little to Birdalone, but watched her 
 closely now; oft would she gaze on her wistfully, 
 as if she would that Birdalone would speak unto 
 her ; and Birdalone noted that, but she might not 
 pluck up heart thereto. 
 
 Wore a third week, and again came the mes- 
 senger, and told how three days ago, whenas Wall- 
 wolf had sorely battered one of the great towers 
 which hight the Poison-jar, and overthrown a pan 
 of the wall there beside, they had tried an assault 
 on the breach, and hard had been the battle there, 
 and in the end, after fierce give and take, they of 
 the Hold had done so valiantly that they had thrust 
 back the assailants, and that in the hottest brunt 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 359 
 
 the Black Squire had been hurt in the shoulder by 
 a spear-thrust, but not very grievously ; but withal 
 that he sent, in so many words, forbidding the 
 ladies to make any account of so small a matter. 
 And, quoth the sergeant, most like my lord will 
 wear his armour in four days' time ; also now we 
 have reared another great slinger, which we call 
 Stone-fretter, and soon, without doubt, we shall be 
 standing victorious within that den of thieves. 
 
 Now though these tidings were not so altogether 
 ill, yet were those ladies sore troubled thereby, and 
 especially Atra, who swooned outright when she 
 had heard the last word thereof. 
 
 As for Birdalone, she made as little semblance 
 of her trouble as she might, but when all was quiet 
 again she went to find Viridis, and brought her to 
 her chamber and spake to her, saying : Viridis, my 
 sister, thou hast been piteous kind unto me from 
 the first minute that thou sawest me naked and 
 helpless, and fleeing from evil unto worse evil ; 
 nowise mightest thou have done better by m.e hadst 
 thou been verily my sister of blood ; and I know 
 it that thou wouldst be loth to part from me. 
 
 Viridis wept and said : Why dost thou speak of 
 parting from me, when thou knowest itwould break 
 my heart ? 
 
 Said Birdalone : To say it as short as may be, 
 because the parting must now come to pass. Viri- 
 dis waxed pale and then red, and she stamped her 
 foot and said : It is unkind of thee to grieve me 
 thus, and thou doest wrong herein. 
 
 Hearken, dear sister, said Birdalone : thou 
 
360 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 knowest, for thou thyself wast the first to tell me 
 thereof, that 1 am the supplanter in our fellowship, 
 and that I have undone Atra's hope. This I did 
 not of mine own will, but it came unto me ; yet of 
 mine own will I can do the best I may to amend 
 it ; and this is the best, that I depart hence before 
 the Red Hold is taken and my lords come back ; 
 for if they come back and I see my lord Arthur, 
 so fair and beauteous as he is, before me, never shall 
 I be able to go away from him. And lo thou, I 
 have promised Atra by all the kindness she did me 
 when we were come to the Wailing Tower, and I 
 naked and quaking and half-dead with terror, that 
 if occasion served I would do my utmost to help 
 her, even if it were to my own grief. Now be- 
 hold this that now is, is the occasion, and there 
 will not be another ; for when my love comes home 
 hither and beholdeth me, think thou how all the 
 desire which has been gathering in his heart this 
 while will blossom and break forth toward me ; and 
 mayhappen he will make but little semblance of it 
 before other folk, for proud and high of heart is 
 he ; but he will seek occasion to find me alone, and 
 then shall I be with him as the lark in the talons 
 of the sparrow-hawk, and he will do his pleasure of 
 me, and that with all the good-will of my heart. 
 And then shall I be forsworn to Atra, and she will 
 hate me, as now she doth not, and then is all the 
 fellowship riven, and that by my deed. 
 
 Yet was Viridis wrath, and she said : Meseemeth 
 this is fool's talk. Will not the fellowship be all the 
 more riven if thou depart and we see thee no more? 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 36 1 
 
 O nay, r,aid Birdalone ; for when I am gone thy 
 love shall be no less for me, though as now thou 
 art angry; and Atra will love me for that I shall 
 have held to my promise to mine own scathe ; and 
 thy man and Aurea will lay it to me that I have 
 done valiantly and knightly. And Arthur, how 
 can he choose but love me ; and maybe we shall 
 yet meet again. 
 
 And therewithal she did at last bow down her 
 head and fall to weeping, and Viridis was moved 
 by her tears and fell to kissing and caressing her. 
 
 After a little Birdalone lifted up her head and 
 spake again : Moreover, how can I dare to abide 
 him ? didst thou not see how grim he was to me 
 when they delivered me and brought me back ? 
 and he with his own lips told me so much, that it 
 was because he doubted that I had done amiss ; 
 and now if I do amiss again, even if it be at his 
 bidding, will it not be so that he will speedily 
 weary of me, and curse me and cast me off.'' 
 What sayest thou, Viridis mine ^ 
 
 What is to say, said Viridis, save that thou hast 
 broken my heart ? But thou mayst heal it if thou 
 wilt take thy words back, and tell me that thou 
 wilt not sunder thee from us. 
 
 But Birdalone brake out weeping and lament- 
 ing aloud, and she cried out : Nay, nay, it may 
 not be ; I must depart, and Atra hath smitten me 
 amidst of my friends. And Viridis knew not what 
 to say or to do. 
 
 At last came Birdalone to herself again, and she 
 looked sweetly on Viridis and smiled on her from 
 
362 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 out her tears, and said : Thou seest, sister, how 
 httle a loss thou wilt have of me, a mere wild 
 woman. And now nought availeth either me or 
 thee but I must begone, and that speedily. Let 
 it be to-morrow then. And when the messenger 
 comes at the end of this week, send word by him 
 of what I have done ; and look thou to it but both 
 our lords will praise me for the deed. 
 
 Said Viridis : But whither wilt thou, or what 
 wilt thou do ? To Greenford first, said Birdalone, 
 and after whither the Good Lord shall lead me ; 
 and as for what I will do, I am now deft in two 
 crafts, script and broidery to wit ; and, whereso- 
 ever I be, folk shall pay me to work herein for 
 them, whereby I shall earn my bread. Hearken 
 also, my sister, canst thou give me any deal of 
 money ? for though I wot little of such matters, 
 yet I wot that I shall need the same. And I ask 
 this whereas, as e'en now I said, I deem our lords 
 shall praise my deed, and that, therefore, they 
 would not that I should depart hence as an out- 
 cast, wherefore they shall not begrudge it to me. 
 Moreover, for the same cause I would thee speak 
 to the old squire Geoffrey of Lea, and tell him that 
 I have an errand to Greenford, and crave of him 
 that he lend me one of the two younglings, Arnold 
 or Anselm, and two or three men-at-arms to bring 
 me safely thither ; since now, forsooth, I need no 
 more adventures on the road. 
 
 She smiled as she spake; and now all the pas- 
 sion of anguish seemed to have left her for that 
 while ; but Viridis cast her arm.s about her neck 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING S^;^ 
 
 and wept upon her bosom, and said : Woe's me ! 
 for I see that thou wilt go whatsoever I may say 
 or do ; 1 strove to be angry with thee, but I might 
 not, and now I see that thou constrainest me as thou 
 dost all else. I will go now straightway and do 
 thine errand. 
 
 Thus then they parted for that time; but it was 
 not till the day after the morrow that Birdalone 
 was alboun. Viridis told of her departure both 
 to Aurea and Atra ; and Aurea lamented it, but 
 would not do aught to stay her ; for she was waxen 
 weary and listless since the death of her man. 
 As for Atra, she spake but little concerning it, but 
 to Viridis praised Birdalone's valiance and kind- 
 ness. Yet unto herself she said : Verily she un- 
 derstood my word that I spake to her about the 
 occasion of her helping. Yet woe's me ! for she 
 shall carry his love with her whithersoever she 
 wendeth ; and a happy woman is she. 
 
 But when Geoffrey the squire knew that the 
 ladies, all three, were at one with Birdalone as to 
 her departure, he doubted nothing, but bade 
 Arnold, his mate, take four good men with him, 
 and bring the Lady Birdalone unto Greenford and 
 do her bidding there. Albeit, he deemed no less 
 but they would bring her back again. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. RIRDALONE LEAVES 
 THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST. 
 
 ON the morrow morn, then, Birdalone spake 
 farewell both to Aurea and Atra ; but as 
 for Viridis, she sent her word that she had 
 no heart thereto, and yet she sent her a word of 
 comfort, to wit, that she deemed that they would 
 one day meet again. Aurea, in her parting words, 
 part praised her, part chid her ; saying that she 
 did well and kindly and valiantly, as her wont 
 was. Yet, said she, when all is said, thou mightest 
 have abided this tangle and trouble, which at the 
 worst had not been so evil as death between us. 
 Yea, sister, said Birdalone, but might not death 
 have come of my abiding ? 
 
 As she spake, in came Atra, with her head some- 
 what drooped, meek and humble, her cheeks red, 
 her hands trembling ; and she said : Wilt thou 
 take now my word of farewell and blessing, and the 
 kiss of peace betwixt us, and bear away the mem- 
 ory of our kindness together ? 
 
 Birdalone stood up proud and straight, and was 
 somewhat pale as she suffered Atra to kiss her 
 cheeks and mouth, and said : Now hast thou for- 
 given me that weird dragged me in betwixt thy love 
 and thy goodhap ; and I have forgiven thee that I 
 am led away by weird into the waste and the wil- 
 derness of love. Farewell. Therewith she went her 
 way to the gate, and the others followed her not. 
 
 Without abode her Arnold and the four men- 
 at-arms, and her palfrey and a sumpter-horse bear- 
 
THE TALE OF THE QUEST'S ENDING 2^^ 
 
 ing two goodly coffers, wherein Viridis had let load 
 raiment and other havings for her ; and Arnold 
 came up to her smiling, and said : My lady Viridis 
 hath given me a pouch wherein is money to bear 
 for thee to Greenford and hand over to thee there 
 when we be safe ; and she hath bidden me to be in 
 all wise obedient unto thee, lady, which needed not, 
 whereas now and from henceforth am I by mine 
 own will thy very servant to do thy pleasure always 
 and everywhere. 
 
 She thanked him and smiled on him kindly, so 
 that his heart beat fast for joy and love of her ; and 
 therewith she gat into the saddle and they rode 
 their ways together, and Birdalone looked back 
 never till the Castle of the Quest was shut from 
 their eyes by the nesses of the little hills. 
 
 Here ends the Fifth Part of the Water of 
 the Wondrous Isles, which is called The Tale 
 of the Quest's Ending, and begins the Sixth 
 Part of the said tale, which is called The 
 Days of Absence. 
 
THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS 
 ISLES. THE SIXTH PART: THE DAYS 
 OF ABSENCE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. BIRDALONE RIDES TO 
 GREENFORD AND THERE TAKES 
 LEAVE OF ARNOLD AND HIS MEN. 
 
 ON the road to Greenford nought befell to 
 tell of; they came thither when the sun 
 was at point to set, for they had ridden 
 diligently all day. 
 
 As they rode the streets of the good town, they 
 noted of them, that though it was evening where- 
 in folk do much disport them abroad, there were 
 women and children enough in the streets or stand- 
 ing at their doors, but of carles very few, and they 
 for the more part grey-heads. 
 
 Now did Arnold bring Birdalone to the town 
 hall, wherein yet sat the deputy of the burgrave,who 
 himself was in the leaguer at the Red Hold ; this 
 man, who was old and wise and nothing feeble of 
 body, made much of Birdalone and her folk, and 
 was glad of them when he knew that they had the 
 seal and let-pass of Geoffrey of Lea ; wherefore he 
 gave them to eat and drink, and lodged them in 
 his own house, and made them the best of cheer. 
 
 But betimes on the morrow did Birdalone send 
 back Arnold and the four men-at-arms, with no 
 tale but that such was her will ; and bidding fare- 
 well to the said Arnold, she suffered him to kiss 
 
THE Dy\YS OF ABSENCE 367 
 
 her hands, and gave him a ring from off her hngcr, 
 so that he went on his way rejoicing. 
 
 So soon as she saw him and his men well on the 
 road, she went to the old man, the vice-ruler of the 
 town, who was of the aldermen thereof, and did him 
 to wit that she would wage two or three carles who 
 could deal with horses and beasts, and withal handle 
 weapons if need were, to be both as servants and 
 guards for her, as she had errands in that country- 
 side, and belike might well have to go from town 
 to town thereabout. He took her asking kindly, 
 but said it was none so easy to find men who for 
 any wage would fare forth of Greenford at that 
 stour, whereas well-nigh all their fighting-men were 
 lying before the Red Hold as now. Howsoever, 
 ere noontide he brought before her a man of over 
 threescore, but yet wayworthy,and two stout young 
 men, his sons, and told her that these men were 
 trusty and would go with her to the world's end 
 if need were. 
 
 She took these men readily, and agreed with them 
 for a good wage ; and whereas each one had bow 
 and arrows and short sword, she had but to buy 
 for them jacks, sallets, and bucklers, and they were 
 well armed as for their condition. Withal she bought 
 them three good horses and another sumpter-horse; 
 which last was loaded with sundry wares that she 
 deemed that she needed, and with victual. Then 
 she took leave of the alderman, thanking him much 
 for his good-will, and so departed from Greenford 
 at all adventure, when the day was yet young. 
 
 The alderman had asked her whither away, and 
 
368 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 she had told him that she was boim for Mostwyke 
 first, and thereafter for Shifford-on-the-Strand ; 
 whereas she had heard talk of these two towns as 
 being on one and the same highway, and Mostwyke 
 about a score of miles from Greenford ; but when 
 she was well out-a-gates she came to a little road 
 on the right hand which turned clean away from 
 Mostwyke, and she took the said road ; and when 
 she had followed it some three miles, she asked the 
 old carle whither it led. He looked on her and 
 smiled somewhat, and she on him in turn ; and she 
 said : Wonder not, my friend, that I am not clear 
 about my ways, for I shall tell the sooth that I am 
 a damsel adventurous, and am but seeking some 
 place where I may dwell and earn my livelihood till 
 better days come; and this is the whole truth, and 
 thou shalt know it at once, to wit, that I am indeed 
 fleeing, and were fain to hide the footsteps of me, 
 and I bid you three to help me therein. But ye 
 must know that I am fleeing, not from my foes, but 
 from my friends ; and, if ye will, as we go by the 
 way, I will tell you all the story of me, and we will 
 be friends while we are together, yea, and there- 
 after if it may be. 
 
 Now she said this because she had looked care- 
 fully on these men, and herseemed that they were 
 good men and true, and not dull of wit. Forsooth 
 the old man, who hight Gerard of the Clee, was no 
 weakling, and was nought loathly to look on, and 
 his two sons were goodly and great of fashion, clear- 
 eyed, and well-carven of visage; they hight Robert 
 and Giles. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 369 
 
 Now spake old Gerard : Lady, I thank thee 
 heartily of thy much grace unto me; now would 
 I get off my nag and kneel to thee in the high- 
 way therefor, but that I see that thou wert fain 
 to make as much way as may be to-day ; where- 
 fore, by thy leave, I will tarry my homaging till 
 we rest our horses by the wayside. She laughed, 
 and praised his wisdom ; and the young men looked 
 on her and worshipped her in their hearts. For- 
 sooth, the fellowship of these good and true folk 
 was soft and sweet to her, and soothed the trouble 
 of her spirit. And she enforced herself to talk cheer- 
 fully with them, and asked them many things, and 
 learned much of them. 
 
 But now went on Gerard to say: Lady, if thou 
 wilt hide thy ways from whomsoever it may be, 
 thou hast happened on no ill way ; for though this 
 road be good to ride, it is but a byway through 
 the sheep-walks that folk may drive their wains 
 hereby in the wet season of winter and spring ; and 
 for a great way we shall come to but little save the 
 cots of the sheep-carles ; scarce a hamlet or two for 
 the space of two days' riding ; and on the third day 
 a little town, hight Upham, where are but few folk 
 save at the midsummer wool-fair, which is now 
 gone by. 
 
 Now there is a highway cometh into this road 
 from out of the tilled country and Appleham, a 
 good town, and goeth through it toward the tillage, 
 and the City of the Bridges and the liberties thereof; 
 and all the land is much builded and plentiful ; but, 
 if thou wilt, we will not take either highway, but 
 
 24 
 
370 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 wend over the downland which lieth north-east of 
 Uphani, and though it be roadless, yet is it not 
 ill-going, and I know it well and its watering- 
 places, little dales and waters therein all running 
 north-east, wherein be certain little thorps here and 
 there, which shall refresh us mightily. Over that 
 downland we may wend a four days, and then the 
 land will swell up high, and from the end of that 
 high land we shall behold below us a fair land of 
 tillage, well watered and wooded, and much builded ; 
 and in the midst thereof a great city with walls and 
 towers, and a great white castle and a minster, and 
 lovely houses a many. In that city mayst thou 
 dwell and earn thy livelihood if thou canst do aught 
 of crafts. And if thou mayst not, then may we 
 find somewhat to swink at for a wage, and so main- 
 tain thee and us. But the said city is called the 
 City of the Five Crafts, and the land round about 
 it is the frank thereof; and oftenest, frank and city 
 and all, it is called the Five Crafts all simply. Now 
 what sayest thou hereof, my lady ? 
 
 She said : I say that we will go thither, and that 
 I thank thee and thy sons of thy good-will, and so 
 may God do to me as I reward you well therefor. 
 But tell me, good Gerard, how it is that thou art 
 so willing to leave kith and kin to follow a gangrel 
 wife along the ways ? Said Gerard : Dame, I think 
 that the face and body of thee might lead any man 
 that yet had manhood in him to follow thee, even 
 if he left house and all to go with thee. But as 
 for us, we have no longer a house or gear, whereas 
 they of the Red Hold lifted all my bestial, and 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 37 1 
 
 burned my house and all that was therein a month 
 ago. Yea, said Birdalone, and how befalleth it, then, 
 that ye are not before the Red Hold to avenge thee? 
 Dame, said he, when the muster was I was deemed 
 somewhat over old, wherefore the sheriff took me 
 not, but suffered my sons also to abide behind to 
 earn a living for me ; may God be good to him there- 
 for, and St. Leonard ! But as to my kindred, I must 
 tell thee that I am not kinned hereabout, but in a 
 good town hight Utterhay, and that when our alder- 
 man sent for me to bring me to thee, I was more 
 than half-minded to get me back thither. Now 
 sooth it is that the best way thither, though it may 
 be indeed the safest rather than the shortest, lies 
 through the Five Crafts ; for the road goes thence 
 to Utterhay a three score miles or so, making the 
 longer of it, as it skirteth ever some way off a peril- 
 ous forest, a place of sore dread and devilish, which 
 hight Evilshaw, on the edge whereof lieth Utter- 
 hay, a merry cheaping-stead and a plenteous, and the 
 home of my kindred. Wherefore now is the City 
 of the Five Crafts handy to us ; because when thou 
 hast done with us, as I hope it may be long first, 
 then are we others nigh home, and may all simply 
 wend our way thither. 
 
 Birdalone thanked him again full heartily ; but 
 therewithal as they rode along there seemed to stir 
 in her some memory of the earliest of her days in 
 the witch's house, and she began to have a longing 
 to betake her to Utterhay and the skirts of Evil- 
 shaw. 
 
CHAPTER II. OF BIRDALONE AND 
 HER FELLOWSHIP, THEIR FARING 
 OVER THE DOWNLAND. 
 
 THUS rode they along and loitered not, 
 though they talked blithely together ; and 
 Birdalone wondered to herself that she 
 might so much as hold up her head for bitter 
 thoughts of the days and the longings but late 
 passed away, but so it was, that it was only now and 
 again that they stung her into despair and silence, 
 and for the most part she hearkened to the talk of 
 the old man and the lads about the days of Green- 
 ford and the alarms of lifting and unpeace, and the 
 ways of the chapmen and the craftsmen. 
 
 An hour after noon they rested in a little dale of 
 the downland where was a pool and three thorn- 
 bushes thereby ; and when they had lighted down, 
 the old man knelt before Birdalone and took her 
 hand, and swore himself her man to do her will, 
 whatso it were ; and then he stood up and bade his 
 sons do likewise ; so they two knelt before her in 
 turn, somewhat shy and abashed, for all that they 
 were such stout, bold fellows, and found it hard to 
 take her hand, and then when they had it in theirs, 
 hard to let it go again. 
 
 A score of miles and five they rode that day, and 
 had no roof over them at night save the naked 
 heaven, but to Birdalone that was but little scathe : 
 they made a shift to have some fire by them, and 
 the three men sat long about it that even while 
 Birdalone told them somewhat of her life; and as 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 373 
 
 she told of the House under the Wood and the Great 
 Water, Gerard had some inkHng of whereabouts it 
 was ; but was nought so sure, because, as above-said 
 in this tale, seldom did any from the world of 
 men venture in Evilshaw, or know of the Great 
 Water from its banks that gave unto the forest. 
 
 In like wise they rode the next day, and came at 
 eventide to a thorp in a fair little dale of the down- 
 land, and there they guested with the shepherd-folk, 
 who wondered much at the beauty of Birdalone, so 
 that at first they scarce durst venture to draw nigh 
 unto her until Gerard and his sons had had some 
 familiar converse with them ; then indeed they ex- 
 ceeded in kindness toward them, in their rough up- 
 land fashion, but ever found it hard to keep their eyes 
 offBirdalone, and that the more after they had heard 
 the full sweetness of her voice ; whereas she sang 
 to them certain songs which she had learned in the 
 Castle of the Quest, though it made her heart sore ; 
 but she deemed she must needs pay that kindly 
 folk for their guestful and blithe ways. And there- 
 after they sang to the pipe and the harp their own 
 downland songs ; and this she found strange, that 
 whereas her eyes were dry when she was singing 
 the songs of love of the knighthood,the wildness of 
 the shepherd-music drew the tears from her, would 
 she, would she not. Homelike and dear seemed 
 the green willowy dale to her, and in the night ere 
 she slept, and she lay quiet amidst of the peaceful 
 people, she could not choose but weep again, for 
 pity of the bitter-sweet of her own love, and for 
 pity of the wide world withal, and all the ways of 
 its many folk that lay so new before her. 
 
CHAPTER III. THEY COME TO THE 
 CITY OF THE FIVE CRAFTS, AND BIR- 
 DALONE MEETS WITH THE POOR- 
 WIFE. 
 
 THEY made not so much way that they came 
 to the Five Crafts on the fourth day, but lay 
 under the bare heavens in a dale below the 
 big swell of the downland, whereof Gerard spake. 
 But betimes in the morning Birdalone arose and 
 stirred up her men, and they gat to horse, and rode 
 the hill before them till they came on to the crest 
 thereof. Then Birdalone cried aloud with joy to 
 see the lovely land before her, and the white walls 
 and the towers of the great city, whereas Greenford 
 was but small beside it. 
 
 So they rode down into the frank, and entered 
 the gates of the city a little after noon, and again 
 was Birdalone in all amaze at the going to and fro 
 in the streets and the thronging of the markets, and 
 the divers folk, as chapmen and men-at-arms, and 
 craftsmen and lords, who used the said city ; 
 and to say sooth, somewhat her heart sank within 
 her, and it seemed to her that it would be hard and 
 troublous to have to deal with so much folk, and 
 that they must needs go past her on the right hand 
 and the left without heeding her life. 
 
 Howsoever, Gerard, who knew the city, brought 
 her to a fair hostel, where she was well lodged, she 
 and her men. Straightway, then, before she went 
 out into the streets again, she fell to getting to- 
 gether what she had of fine broidered work and of 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 375 
 
 fair script, and to finishing what she had unfinished. 
 And she sent forth Gerard and his sons to find out 
 where was the market for such goods, and if she 
 would have leave to sell the same therein, or any- 
 where in the town ; and Gerard found the hall of the 
 embroiderers, and therein the master of the craft, 
 and he received the carle courteously when he heard 
 that there was fine work come to town, and did him 
 to wit that none in any such craft might have free- 
 dom of the market save by leave of the guild of 
 the craft; but, said he, the guilds were open-handed 
 and courteous, and were nowise wont to refuse the 
 said leave, were the work good and true ; and he 
 bade Gerard withal tell his mistress that she were 
 best to bring samplings of her work to the Guild- 
 hall so soon as she might. So the very next day 
 went Birdalone thither, and found the master a 
 well-looked tall man of some five-and-forty winters, 
 who looked on her from the first as if he deemed 
 it were no ill way of wearing the time. To this 
 man she showed her work, and though he found it 
 not easy to take his eyes off Birdalone herself, yet 
 when he looked at her handiwork, he found it bet- 
 ter than very good, and he said to her : Damsel, 
 here is what will be sought for at a great price by 
 the great lords and ladies of the land, and the rich 
 burgesses, and especially by the high prelates ; and 
 so much of it as thou hast a mind to do is so much 
 coined gold unto thee ; and now I see thee what 
 thou art, I were fain that thou gathered good to 
 thee. But as diligent as thou mayst be, thou hast 
 but one pair of hands, wonderful soothly, and yet 
 
376 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 but one pair. He broke off at that word, for he 
 was verily staring at her hands, and longing to see 
 more of her arms than the wrists only, so that he 
 scarce knew what he was saying. Then he turned 
 red and said : Soothly I wot that no other hands 
 save thine may do such needlework, or make the 
 draughts for them. But thou wilt need women- 
 servants to help thee, both in dighting the house 
 for thee (for this big old carle here will be scarce 
 meet thereto) and as apprentices to help thee about 
 the work itself; and if thou wilt, I shall seek the 
 best ones out for thee. Moreover I must tell thee, 
 that though I know for sure how that no woman 
 in the world may work such needlework as thine, 
 yet whiles there cometh hither a woman of middle 
 age, a woman worn by troubles, pious, meek, and 
 kind ; and by St. Lucia ! now I look on thee again, 
 she might be somewhat like unto thee, were she 
 young and fresh-looking and strong as thou art. 
 Now this woman I say, and thereat I marvel, doeth 
 needlework that is somewhat after the manner of 
 thine, and which seemed to us excellent till 1 had 
 seen thine. Good livelihood she earneth thereby, 
 and is diligent therein ; but she hath no heart to 
 get apprentices, or be made one of our guild, both 
 of which were lawful to her as to thee, lovely dam- 
 sel. But now I shall counsel her to be made of 
 our guild alyng with thee, if thou wilt have it so, 
 and then may ye both have three apprentices each, 
 and may make in our city a goodly school, so that 
 our guild shall be glorified thereby, for there will 
 be none such work in the world. How say est thou? 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 377 
 
 She thanked him much, and yeasaid him, and 
 thought in her heart that such work which would 
 keep her hands and her head both busy, would 
 solace the grief of her heart, and wear away the 
 time, that she might live till hope might perad- 
 venture arise in her. 
 
 Then said the master: There is one thing else, 
 that is, thy dwelling-place; and if thou wilt I shall 
 hire thee a house in the street of the Broiderers, 
 a goodly one: sooth to say, that same is mine own, 
 so thou mayst deem that I tell thee hereof to mine 
 own gain ; and that may be (and he reddened there- 
 with); but there is this in it, that if thou lackest 
 money I shall let thee live therein without price till 
 thou shalt have earned more than enough to pay me. 
 
 Birdalone thanked him well, but she did him to 
 wit that she was nowise penniless; and presently 
 she departed well pleased, though she deemed that 
 the said master was well-nigh more friendly than 
 might be looked for. And the next day he came 
 to her in the hostelry, and without more ado brought 
 her to the house in the street of the Broiderers, and 
 she found it fair and well plenished, and so she fell 
 to work to get all things ready. 
 
 Now the next week was the day appointed when 
 she should be received into the broiderers' guild, 
 and the day before came the master aforesaid to see 
 Birdalone. Sooth to say, he had not failed to come 
 to see her every day, on one pretence or another, 
 since the first day they had met, but ever he did 
 to her with all honour and simply. But on this 
 day he brought with him the woman skilful of her 
 
378 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 hands, to show her unto Birdalone, who received 
 her gladly, and thereafter Master Jacobus left them 
 alone together. 
 
 The said woman looked worn and aged indeed, 
 but was not of more than five-and-forty winters 
 even by seeming, after the first look at her; she was 
 somewhat tall and well-knit, her face well shapen, 
 and her hair yet goodly. There was a kind look 
 in the eyes of her, as if she might love anyone with 
 whom she lived that would be kind to her. Meek, 
 or rather over-meek, of mien she was, and it seemed 
 of her that she had been sore scared and oppressed 
 one while or another. 
 
 So when Master Jacobus was gone, Birdalone 
 set her down on the settle beside her, and spake 
 to her full sweetly and kindly, and the woman spake 
 little in turn save answering simply to her questions. 
 Birdalone asked where she was kinned, and she an- 
 swered : In Utterhay. Then said Birdalone : With- 
 in these last few days I have heard that town named 
 twice or thrice, and never before, as meseemeth; 
 and yet, hearing the name from thy mouth, it seem- 
 eth to stir something in me, as if I had been there 
 one time and longed to be there again. Is there 
 aught in the place whereof folk tell wide about, so 
 that I might have heard it told of and not noted 
 it at the time ? Nay, lady, said the dame, save per- 
 chance that it is on the verge of a very great and 
 very evil wood, otherwise it was once a merry town 
 and of much resort from the country-side. 
 
 Birdalone looked on her, and saw that the tears 
 were coming from her eyes and running down her 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 379 
 
 cheeks as she spake; so she said to her: Why dost 
 thou weep, mother? Is there aught I may do to 
 assuage thy grief? Said the dame: Thou art so 
 kind to me, and thy voice is so dear and sweet, 
 that I cannot choose but weep. Meseems it is be- 
 cause love of thee hath taken mine heart, and there- 
 with is blended memory of past sorrow of mine. 
 Thou askest me if thou mayest do aught to assuage 
 my grief; dear lady, I am not grieved now, that has 
 gone by ; nay, now I am more than not grieved, I am 
 made happy, because I am with thee. But since 
 thou art so debonair with me, I will ask thee to do 
 somewhat for me; and that is, to tell me of thy life 
 gone by ; I mean, sweet young damsel, of thy life 
 when thou wert a little child. 
 
 Then Birdalone kissed her and said: It goes to 
 my heart that thou lovest me; for soon as I set 
 eyes on thee my heart went out to thee; and now 
 belike we shall be dear friends; and that is a thing 
 that shall avail me much, to have a friend who is 
 so much older than I, so that nought can come 
 between us, of the love of men and other griefs. 
 Yea, now, said the dame, smiling somewhat sadly; 
 now do I see the water standing in thine eyes, and 
 thy voice quavers. Is it so, thou lovely kind dam- 
 sel, that thou hast been grieved by love of a man? 
 Who then may prevail in love if thou prevail not? 
 And she fell to fondling Birdalone's hand ; but 
 Birdalone said : It is over-long to tell of all my life, 
 mother, though I be so young; but now I will do 
 as thou badest me, and tell thee somewhat of my 
 days when I was little. 
 
380 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 And therewith she fell to telling her of her days 
 in the House under the Wood, and the witch and 
 her surliness and grimness, and of her love of the 
 wild things, and how she waxed there. And she 
 spake a long while, for the memory of those days 
 seemed to lead her along, as though she verily were 
 alive now in them ; and the woman sat before her, 
 gazing on her lovingly, till Birdalone stayed her 
 tale at last and said : Now have I told thee more 
 than enough of a simple matter, and a life that was 
 as that of a wild creature of the woods. Now shalt 
 thou, mother, tell me somewhat of thee, and what 
 was thy grief of Utterhay : for thou shalt find that 
 the telling thereof shall solace thee. Ah! so think 
 young folk, said the woman sadly, because there 
 are many days left for them to hope in. But 
 though the telling of my sorrow be a fresh sorrow 
 to me, yet shalt thou hear it. It is but of the loss 
 of my babe ; but she was of all babes the fairest 
 and the sweetest. 
 
 Then she fell to telling Birdalone all that con- 
 cerning the witch at Utterhay and the poor-wife 
 that ye have heard in the beginning of this book, 
 until the time when she left the house to buy meat 
 for the witch ; for she herself was the said poor- 
 wife. And then she told how she came back again 
 and found her guest gone and the child withal ; 
 and though she had wept for love of Birdalone, 
 she wept not at telling of this grief, but told it as 
 a tale which had befallen some other one. And 
 she said : And so when I had done running up 
 and down like awild thing, and asking of the neigh- 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 38 1 
 
 hours with lack of hreath and fierceness of speech 
 who had taken my child away from me ; and when 
 I had gone up to the wood and even some way 
 into it, and when I had wandered up and down 
 again, and night was falling, I came back at last 
 again to my poor house so weary with my woe, that 
 I scarce knew what had befallen me. And there 
 upon the board lay the victual and drink which I 
 had brought, and the money which the witch had 
 given unto me ; and despite of grief, hunger flamed 
 up in me at the sight, and I threw myself on to it 
 and ate and drank, and so came to myself, that is, 
 to my grief. But the next day I ran about hither 
 and thither, and wearied folk with my asking and 
 my woe ; but it was all of none avail. The child was 
 gone away from me. There is little more to tell 
 of me, sweet lady. If I were to live, needs must 
 I take the poor price of my little one, to wit, the 
 witch's money, and deal with folk for my liveli- 
 hood; wherefore I bought me cloth and silks, 
 having now the wherewithal, and set to work on 
 broidery, for even then was I a cunning needle- 
 woman. So were God and the saints good to me, 
 and inclined the folk to me, that they were good 
 and piteous, and I lacked not work nor due liveli- 
 hood ; but after a while I wearied of Utterhay, 
 where my dear child should have been running 
 about before my feet ; and having by this time 
 gotten a little money together, and being exceed- 
 ing deft in my craft, I came on hither to live, and, 
 praise be to St. Ursula ! I have found it easy to live : 
 and praise be to All-hallows withal that I have 
 
382 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 found thee, who art so kind and lovely ; and thou 
 by seeming of the very age my child should be if 
 she be living : or how old art thou, dear lady ? 
 
 Birdalone laid her hand on her breast, and she 
 was turned pale, but she said in a low voice : I 
 deem that I am of twenty summers. 
 
 Then they both sat silent, till Birdalone might 
 master the fluttering of her heart, and she. said: 
 Now meseems I have a memory even earlier than 
 those I told thee erst. A woman took me out of 
 a basket and set me on the back of an ass, and I 
 looked about, and I was in a grassy lawn of the 
 woods ; and I saw a squirrel run up a tree-trunk 
 before me, and wind round the tree and hide him ; 
 and then I stretched out my hands and cried out 
 to him ; and then came the woman unto me, and 
 gave me wood-strawberries to eat out of her hand. 
 
 Brake out the poor-wife thereat, pale and trem- 
 bling : Tell me now, my child, hast thou any mem- 
 ory of what the woman was who set thee on the ass 
 and gave thee the strawberries ? Birdalone looked 
 on her, and scanned her face closely, and then shook 
 her head, and said : Nay, it was not thou, mother. 
 Nay, surely ; nay, surely, said the woman ; but 
 think again. Said Birdalone, speaking slowly : 
 Was it my mistress then ? She was a tall woman, 
 somewhat thin and bony, with goodly red hair and 
 white-skinned, but thin-lipped. Quoth the poor- 
 wife : No, no ; it is of no use ; nought such was 
 she. Then Birdalone looked up and said eagerly : 
 Yea, but it was her other shape belike : therein 
 was she a tall woman, dark-haired, hook-nosed, 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 383 
 
 and hawk-eyed, as if of thirty summers ; a stark 
 woman. Hast thou seen such ? dost thou re- 
 member her ? 
 
 The woman sprang up and cried out, and was 
 like to have fallen, but Birdalone arose and held 
 her in her arms and comforted her, and set her in 
 her seat again and knelt before her ; and presently 
 the poor-wife came to herself and said : My child, 
 thou sayest do I remember her ; how shall I ever 
 forget her ? she was the thief who stole my child. 
 
 Therewith she slid from off her seat, and knelt 
 by Birdalone, and stooped low down on the floor 
 as if the tall maiden were but a little one, and she 
 fell to kissing her and patting her, her face and her 
 hands, and all about ; and said, sobbing and yet 
 smiling : Suflfer me a little, my child, mine own 
 lovely child ! For in good sooth I am thy mother, 
 and it is long since I have seen thee : but hearken, 
 when I come quite to myself I shall pray thee not 
 to leave me yet awhile, and I shall pray thee to 
 love me. 
 
 Birdalone clipped and kissed her, and said : I 
 love thee dearly, and never, never shall I leave thee. 
 
 Then they stood up, and the mother took Bird- 
 alone by the shoulders, and held her a little aloof, 
 and devoured her with her eyes ; and she said : 
 Yea, thou hast grown tall, and belike wilt grow no 
 taller : and how fair and lovely thou hast grown ; 
 and thou that wert born in a poor man's house ! 
 no wonder that any should covet thee. And I, I 
 wonder if ever I was as fair as thou art ; forsooth 
 many called me fair for a little while ; and now be- 
 
384 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 hold me ! Nay, child and darling, let not thy face 
 grow downcast, for now shall I know nought more 
 of fear and grief ; and is it not like that I shall 
 grow fairer of flesh, and shapelier, in the happy 
 days we shall dwell together ? And therewith she 
 took her to her arms, and it seemed as if she might 
 never have enough of clipping and embracing her ; 
 and she would look at Birdalone's hands and her 
 feet and her arms, and stroke them and caress them ; 
 and she wondered at her body, as if she had been 
 a young mother eaten up with the love of her first- 
 born. And as for Birdalone, she was as glad of her 
 mother as might be ; and yet in her heart she won- 
 dered if perchance one of the fellowship might stray 
 that way, and be partaker in her joy of this new- 
 found dear friend ; and she said, might it be Viri- 
 dis ; but in her inmost heart, though she told it 
 not to herself, she longed that the Black Squire 
 might find her out at last. 
 
CHAPTER IV. OF THE LOVE OF GER- 
 ARD'S SONS AND OF JACOBUS FOR 
 BIRDALONE. 
 
 NOW dwelt Birdalone in rest and peace when 
 she had been taken into the guild along 
 with her mother, and they had taken the 
 due apprentices to them ; and they began to gather 
 much of goods to them, for of fine broidery there 
 was little done in the Five Crafts, and none at all 
 that could be put beside their work, either for 
 beauty of the draught of it, or for skill of handi- 
 work. She declared unto all folk how that the 
 poor-wife (who had to name Audrey) was her very 
 mother, from whom she had been stolen in her 
 youngest days ; but she told none any tale of how 
 she was stolen. And the twain dwelt together in 
 the greatest loving-kindness ; and it was with Au- 
 drey as she had forecast, that now her days were 
 happy, and she living in all ease and content, that 
 the goodliness of her youth came back to her, and 
 she became a fair woman as for her years ; and 
 therewith it grew to be clear that the two were so 
 much alike one to the other, that all might see that 
 they were mother and daughter. 
 
 Gerard and his two sons she maintained yet as 
 her men ; and not only were they of much use to 
 her in fetching and carrying, but also true it is that 
 her beauty was so manifest, that she whiles needed 
 a stout lad weaponed at her back when she was in 
 the streets or amidst the throng of the market ; 
 and many were they, and whiles of the highest, who 
 
 25 
 
386 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 craved love of her, some with honour, and some 
 with lack of it. 
 
 Of these, forsooth, were but two that anywise 
 troubled her ; and the most trouble was this, that 
 she might not fail to see that the love of her had 
 entered into the hearts of the two Gerardsons, 
 Robert and Giles ; so that times were when she 
 deemed she must even send them away, but when 
 it came to the point she had not the heart thereto; 
 though none other remedy there seemed, so sorely 
 as their souls were wounded by longing for her. It 
 is not to be said that they ever spake to her thereof, 
 or wittingly wearied her with signs of love ; but 
 they could not so easily cover it up but that it was 
 ever before her eyes. But she suffered it all for 
 friendship's sake and for their true service, and in 
 all friendliness did what she might to solace their 
 grief. Forsooth so good and true she found that 
 father-kind, and the young men so goodly and 
 kind, that she said to herself, had she not another 
 man lying in her heart, she might well have chosen 
 one of those twain for her very speech-friend and 
 true lover. 
 
 The second wooer that troubled her was the 
 master. Jacobus, who, when but three months were 
 worn of her dwelling in her house, did all openly 
 crave her love and offer her marriage, he being a 
 man unwedded. Sore was her heart that she must 
 needs gainsay him, so kind and courteous as he had 
 been to her at their first coming together ; though 
 this indeed is sooth, that straightway, so soon as 
 he saw her, he fell into the captivity of her love. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 387 
 
 Howsoever, gainsay him she needs must, and he 
 took the naysay so hardly that he was scarce like 
 a man before her, and wept and prayed and la- 
 mented many times over, till she wearied of it, and 
 well-nigh fell to loathing him. So that it came to 
 this at last, that one day she spake to him and said 
 that she might no longer bear it, but must seek 
 another house and leave his. There then was the 
 to-do, for he fell on his knees before her, and kissed 
 her feet, would she, would she not, and cried out in 
 his grief, till at last for pure weariness of his folly 
 she gave way unto him, and said that she would 
 still abide there ; whereon he rose up from her and 
 went away with all the grief run off him for that 
 time, and as glad a man to look on as you might see 
 on a summer's day. 
 
 But the next morning he came unto her again, 
 and she thinking all was begun afresh, made him 
 no glad countenance ; but he stood up before her 
 and spake friendly, and said how that she was in 
 the right of it, and that if they both dwelt in one 
 house together they were like to have but a weary 
 time of it, both she and he. But, said he, I will 
 not that thou shouldst depart out of this house, for 
 a goodly one it is, and full meet for thee ; it is for 
 me to depart, and not for thee. I tell thee, forsooth, 
 that I had from the first meant this house as a gift 
 from me to thee. And therewith he drew from his 
 pouch a scroll, which was a deed of gift of the 
 said house, duly sealed and attested, and he gave 
 it into her hands ; but she was sore moved there- 
 at, and at the demeanour of him that morning, 
 and she let the scroll fall to the floor and wept for 
 
388 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 pity of him, and reached out both her hands, and 
 he kissed them, and then her Hps also, and sithence 
 he sat down beside her. But she said : Alas ! that 
 thou wilt give me what I may not take, and wouldst 
 have of me what I may not give. 
 
 But now he waxed hotter, and said : This once 
 I command thee to do my will, and take my gift. 
 It will be nought to my gain if thou take it not ; 
 for I may not live in this house when thou art gone 
 from it ; and I swear by All-hallows that I will not 
 let any have it to hire, nor will I sell it, since thou 
 hast made it holy by dwelling therein. 
 
 Yet was she sore moved by his generous fashion, 
 and she said : I will take thy gift then, and live 
 here in honour of thee and thy friendship ; for well 
 I wot thou hadst no mind to buy me with thy gift. 
 
 So she spake, and he stood up stark and stern, 
 and so departed, and kissed her not again ; though 
 meseems she would have suffered him had he offered 
 ay7BeTike4mdJieat that m^jMenrTpressed his" 
 ^ y, it is not so sure but 
 
 she might have yeasaid it, and suffered him to wed 
 her and lead her to bed ; though it would have gone 
 ill both with him and with herjji.ergatten 
 
 Thenceforth dwelt Brrddone with her mother 
 er mai'dens and her men in that house, and 
 
 an 
 
 it became famous in the Five Crafts because of her 
 beauty and her wisdom, which minished not, but 
 waxed day by day ; but therewithal as the time wore, 
 waxed her longing and sadness. But all this she 
 hid in her own heart, and was debonair to all about 
 her, and so good to poor folk that none had a word 
 save of blessing on her beauty and her wisdom. 
 
CHAPTER V. OF THE DEATH OF 
 AUDREY, MOTHER TO BIRDALONE. 
 SHE IS WARNED IN A DREAM TO 
 SEEK THE BLACK SQUIRE, AND IS 
 MINDED TO DEPART THE CITY OF 
 THE FIVE CRAFTS, AND SEEK AGAIN 
 THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST. 
 
 THUS dwelt Birdalone in the Five Crafts in 
 such rest and peace as her heart would let 
 her ; and dear and good friends she had 
 about her; her mother first, whose love and desire 
 for love of her made all things soft and dear unto 
 her. Gerard and the Gerardsons were next, who 
 were ever faithful and true unto her, and deft both 
 of hand and of mind, so that they wrought many 
 things for her avail. Then came the master, Jaco- 
 bus, who held himself unwedded for her sake, and 
 though he no longer dwelt in the same house with 
 her, might scarce endure to miss the sight of her 
 for two days running: a dear friend she deemed 
 him, as forsooth he was, though whiles he tor- 
 mented and wearied her, and belike had wearied 
 her more, but for the sorrow which lay on her own 
 heart, whereof it came that she might not think of 
 any man as of one who might be a lover, and so 
 felt safe even with so kind a friend and so stubborn 
 in his love as was this one. Moreover he never 
 again craved love of her in so many words, but 
 only in his goings and comings so did, that it was 
 clear how he had her, and the love of her, ever in 
 his heart. 
 
390 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Wore thus a five years ; and then came a sick- 
 ness on the city, and many died thereof; and the 
 said sickness entered into Birdalone's house, and 
 slew Audrey her mother, but spared all else therein. 
 Thereby at the first was Birdalone so overwhelmed 
 that she might heed nought, neither her craft nor 
 her friends, nor the days to come on the earth for 
 her. And moreover when she came more to her- 
 self, which was not for many days, and asked why 
 her friend Jacobus had not been to see her the last 
 days, she was told that he also was dead of the 
 pestilence; and she sorrowed for him sorely, for 
 she loved him much, though not in the way he 
 would. 
 
 And now did the city and land of the Five 
 Crafts begin to look unfriendly to Birdalone, and 
 she fell to thinking that she must needs depart 
 thence, as she well might do, whereas she had foison 
 of goods : and at first it was in her mind to go with 
 Gerard and his sons unto Utterhay ; but then she 
 deemed the thoup;ht of her mother, and how she 
 would be ever thinking of the loss and the gain, 
 and the loss once more stood in the way ; and she 
 turned one thing and another over in her mind, and 
 might not face it. 
 
 On a night, as she slept, came to her dreams of 
 her days in the House under the Wood (as very 
 seldom betid), and the witch-wife was speaking to 
 her in friendly fashion (as for her) and blaming her 
 for fleeing away, and was taunting her with the 
 failure of her love, and therewith telling her how 
 fair a man and lovesome was the Black Squire, and 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 391 
 
 what a loss she had of him; and Birdalone was 
 hearkening and weeping for tenderness' sake, while 
 the witch was unto her neither fearful nor irksome, 
 and forsooth nought save a mouthpiece for words 
 that both grieved Birdalone and yet were an eager 
 pleasure unto her. But in the midst thereof, and 
 ere the dream had time to change, Birdalone awoke, 
 and it was an early morning of later spring, and the 
 sky was clear blue and the sun shining bright, and 
 the birds singing in the garden of the house, and in 
 the street was the sound of the early market-folk 
 passing through the street with their wares; and all 
 was fresh and lovely. 
 
 She awoke sobbing, and the pillow was wet with 
 her tears, and yet she felt as if something strange 
 and joyous were going to betide her, and for joy of 
 the love of life the heart beat fast in her bosom. 
 
 She arose all darling naked as she was, and went 
 to the window and looked out on the beauty of 
 the spring, while the sound of the market-wains 
 brought to her mind the thought of the meads, and 
 the streams of the river, and the woodsides beyond 
 the city ; and she fell a-longing for them, as a while 
 she knelt on the window-seat, half dreaming and 
 asleep again, till the sun came round that way, 
 and its beams fell upon her bosom and her arms ; 
 and she stood up and looked on the fairness of her 
 body, and a great desire took hold of her heart that 
 it might be loved as it deserved by him whom she 
 desired. And thus she stood there till she became 
 ashamed, and hastened to do on her raiment; but 
 even as she was about it, it came upon her that what 
 
392 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 she had will to do was to seek to the Castle of the 
 Quest, and find out where was her love if there he 
 were not, and so to seek him the world over till 
 she found him. And such a flood of joy possessed 
 her when she thought this, and so eager to begone 
 she was, that she deemed every minute wasted till 
 she were on the road. 
 
 Nevertheless, in a while, when her mind was 
 steadied, she knew that she had somewhat to do ere 
 she might be gone, and that here, as oft, it would 
 be more haste less speed. 
 
 So she abode a little, and then came into her hall 
 duly dight, and found Gerard and his sons there 
 to serve her; and she brake her fast, and bade them 
 sit by her at table, as oft she did; and she spake to 
 them of this and that, and Gerard answered lightly 
 again; but the two Gerardsons looked at one an- 
 other, as though they would speak and ask a ques- 
 tion from time to time, but forbore because they 
 durst not. But Gerard looked on them, and deemed 
 he wotted what was in their minds; so at last he 
 spake : Our lady, both I, and meseemeth my sons 
 also, deem that there is some tidings toward which 
 are great unto thee ; for thine eyes sparkle, and the 
 red burns in thy cheeks, and thine hands may not 
 be quiet, nor thy feet abide in one place ; where- 
 fore I see that thou hast something in thy mind 
 which strives to be forth of it. Now thou wilt 
 pardon us, our dear lady, that we ask concerning 
 this, because it is in our love for thee that we speak, 
 lest there be some change toward which shall be a 
 grief to some of us. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 393 
 
 My men, said Birdalone, flushing red, sooth it 
 is that there is a change at hand, and I shall tell 
 you straightway what it is. Years ago I told you 
 that I was fleeing from my friends ; now the change 
 hath betid that I would seek them again; and needs 
 must I leave the Five Crafts behind to do so. And 
 moreover there is this ill word to be said, which 
 I will say at once, to wit, that when I am but a 
 little way gone from the Five Crafts I must wend 
 the other deal of my journey birdalone, as my 
 name is. 
 
 All those three sat silent and aghast at that word, 
 and the young men grew pale ; but after a while 
 spake Gerard : Our lady most well-beloved, this 
 word which thou hast spoken, to wit, that thou 
 needest us no longer, I have looked to hear any 
 time this five years; and praise be to the saints that 
 it hath come late and not soon. Now there is no 
 more to be said but that thou tell us what is thy 
 will that we should do. 
 
 Birdalone hung her head awhile for sorrow of 
 sundering from these men ; then she looked up and 
 said: It seemeth, my friends, as if ye deem I have 
 done you a wrong in sundering our fellowship ; 
 but all I may say hereon is to pray you to pardon 
 me, that I needs must go alone on my quest. And 
 now what I would have you do, is first of all to 
 fetch hither a notary and scrivener, that he may 
 draw up a deed of gift to you, Gerard and Gerard- 
 sons, of this house and all that is therein, saving 
 what money I may need for my journey, and gifts 
 such as I shall bid you to be given to my work- 
 
394 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 women. Ye must needs yeasay this, or ye are for- 
 sworn of your behest to do my will. But further- 
 more, I will have you to let the workwomen of 
 mine (and the head one ruling) to hire the afore- 
 said house, if so they will ; for now are they skilled, 
 and may well earn good livelihood by the work. 
 But the next work is simple ; it is to furnish for 
 me the array of a young man, with such armour 
 as I may easily bear, to dight me for my road. 
 Forsooth ye wot that not unseldom do women use 
 the custom of going arrayed like men, when they 
 would journey with hidden head ; and ye may 
 happen upon such gear as hath been made for such 
 a woman rather than any man; but thou shalt get 
 me also a short bow and a quiver of arrows, for 
 verily these be my proper weapons that I can deal 
 with deftly. Now my last command is that, when 
 all is done, maybe to-morrow, or maybe the next 
 day, ye bring me out of the city and the frank of 
 the Five Crafts, and bring me somewhat on my 
 way over the downs, for loth am I to part from you 
 ere needs must. Then they knelt before her and 
 kissed her hands, and they were full of grief; but 
 they saw that so it had to be. 
 
 Thereafter Gerard spake with his sons apart, 
 and in a while came to Birdalone, and said : Our 
 lady, we will do your will in all wise; but we shall 
 tell thee, that the Five Crafts will look but strange 
 to us when thou art gone, and that we have a mind 
 to betake us to Utterhay and the land of our kin- 
 dred. Wherefore we pray thee to give this house 
 that hath been so dear to us unto thy workwoman 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 395 
 
 and her mates ; for we need it not, nor the hire 
 thereof, but shall do well enough with what money 
 or good thou mayst give us. Is this according to 
 thy will, or have I spoken rashly ? 
 
 She said : Ye are good and ungreedy, and I bless 
 you for it ; be it as ye will ; and this the more, as 
 I were fain that ye go to Utterhay ; for whiles I 
 have deemed that I myself am drawn thitherward, 
 wherefore it may be that we shall meet again in 
 that place. 
 
 And when she had so spoken, she might not re- 
 frain her tears ; and the Gerardsons turned away, 
 for they were ashamed, both that they should see 
 her weep, or she them. But at last she called to 
 them and said : Now make we the speediest end 
 we may of this, for sorry work is the tarrying of 
 farewell ; so I pray you, my friends, to go about the 
 work I have bidden you. 
 
 So all was done as she would, and the day after 
 the morrow was Birdalone abiding the coming of 
 Gerard and his sons with the horses ; and despite 
 of the sundering of friends and the perils that be- 
 like lay before her, the world seemed fair to her, 
 and life beginning anew. And she made no doubt 
 that she would soon be at the Castle of the Quest, 
 and there find all things much as she had left them ; 
 and there at least would be the welcome of her dear 
 friend Viridis. 
 
CHAPTER VI. OF THE SUNDERING 
 OF BIRDALONE FROM GERARD AND 
 HIS SONS. 
 
 PRESENTLY were the horses come with Ger- 
 ard and his sons, and Birdalone gat to horse 
 amongst them. She was armed in a light 
 hauberk, and over it a long and loose surcoat that 
 came down beneath the knee of her ; and a sallet 
 she had upon her head, wide but light, so that not 
 very much of her face was to be seen. She had 
 made up her mind to this tale upon the road, when 
 she was among folk, that she was under a vow not 
 to do ofFher helm for a seven days' space. Withal 
 she had covered up the lovely shapeliness of her 
 legs with long boots of deer-leather, and her sur- 
 coat was wide-sleeved ; she was well hidden, and 
 whereas she was a tall and strong woman, she might 
 well pass for a young man, slender and fair-faced. 
 She was girt with a good sword, and Gerard had 
 gotten her a strong horseman's bow and a quiver 
 full of arrows, wherewith, as aforesaid, she knew 
 well how to deal ; wherefore she was by no means 
 without defence. 
 
 So they went their ways through the streets and 
 out-a-gates ; and it must be said, that were not Bird- 
 alone's thoughts turned toward the Castle of the 
 Quest, and what she should meet there, her heart 
 had been somewhat sore at leaving the city which 
 had cherished her so well these years past ; nay, as 
 it was, the shadow of the southern gate, as she past 
 thereunder, smote somewhat cold upon her, and she 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 397 
 
 silently bade farewell to the City of the Five Crafts 
 with some sorrow, though with no fear. 
 
 Forth they rode then through the frank and up 
 on to the shepherd country, and whereas their horses 
 were of the best, and they had no sumpter-beast 
 with them till they came to Upham, where they 
 must needs have victual, they made but five days 
 of it to the place where the road turned aside from 
 the country of Mostwyke. There then they drew 
 rein, and Birdalone lighted down from her horse, 
 and they all, and they lay upon the grass and ate 
 and drank together. 
 
 But when they were done, spake Birdalone and 
 said : Dear friends, this is the hour and the place 
 when we must needs part ; for ye shall go back 
 again to Five Crafts, and do what I have bidden 
 of you, and do your will, and wend your ways with 
 your livelihood unto Utterhay. But as for me, I 
 must go my ways first unto Greenford, and thence 
 to seek my friends from whom erst I was fleeing 
 when ye first became my friends. Now perchance 
 ye will say that I have taken you up in my need, 
 and cast you aside at my pleasure ; but I may only 
 say that there be at present two deals of my life, 
 and of one of them have ye been partakers, and of 
 the other ye may not be. Forsooth that is a grief 
 unto me, as I suppose unto you is it a greater one. 
 But unto me also were it heavier but that my heart 
 tells me it shall not ever be so ; for as I said to you 
 some days agone, I have a hope that we shall yet 
 meet again, be it in Utterhay or in some other place. 
 And now I pray you to pardon me wherein I may 
 
398 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 have done amiss unto you, and begrudge it not 
 that there be others, who indeed were first-comers 
 in regard to you, and whom I love better than you ; 
 for of your truth and your good-will and loving- 
 kindness will I bear witness wheresoever I may be. 
 
 Then spalce Gerard : Do ye speak, my sons ; for 
 I have no grudge against her, nor aught to bewail 
 me as to her, save, it may be, that I am now so well 
 on in years that it may well befall that I shall not 
 live till the time of the meeting in Utterhay. But 
 I will pray thee this, dear lady, that if thou come 
 to the place where I lie dead thou wilt kiss my 
 burial-stone, and sing due masses for me. Nay, 
 she said, but this is the worst shall betide betwixt 
 us. 
 
 Then spake Robert Gerardson : I am not deft of 
 speech, but this parting makes me bold to say this : 
 that from the time when first I set eyes on thee I 
 have loved thee in such wise that never mayst thou 
 love me as much as I love thee, if thou hast any- 
 where, as I deem thou hast, a lover of thy body, 
 whom thou lovest. Now I have seen that for a 
 long while thou hast knov/n this, and hast ever 
 because of it been as meek and kind with me as thou 
 mightest be. And this hath partly grieved me the 
 more, because it hath eked my longing for thee ; 
 and yet it hath comforted me the more, because it 
 hath made me deem better of thee, and deem thee 
 worthier of worship and holier ; therefore have thou 
 all my blessing for it. And now I know that thou 
 sunderest from us that thou mayst go seek thy very 
 bodily lover ; and I say, that if the sundering had 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 399 
 
 been for any lighter cause, grieved at heart should 
 I have been ; but since it is even so, once more I 
 bless thee, and ever shall I be happy in the thought 
 of thee ; and if ever we meet again, still shalt thou 
 find me as now I am in heart and in soul. 
 
 She turned to him, not dry-eyed, and said : I 
 know that what thou sayest is sooth ; and thou hast 
 guessed right as to my goings ; and I take thy 
 blessing with love and joy. 
 
 Then were they silent; but Giles Gerardson was 
 struggling with words, for he was slow to speech ; 
 at last he said : I say much as saith my brother : but 
 see thou, our lady, how ill it had gone if thou hadst 
 loved one of us with an equal love ; woe worth the 
 strife then ! But now I will crave this of thee, that 
 thou kiss me on the lips, now whenas we part ; and 
 again, that thou wilt do as much when first we meet 
 again hereafter. And I tell thee right out, that if 
 thou gainsay this, I shall deem it unfriendly in thee, 
 and that those lovely words which thou didst speak 
 e'en now were but words alone, and that thou art 
 not as true as I have deemed thee. 
 
 She laughed amidst her tears, and said : Dear lad, 
 doom me not till I have been found guilty ! I 
 shall nowise naysay thee this, for I love thee, and 
 now and ever shalt thou be unto me as a brother, 
 thou and Robert also ; for even so have ye done by 
 me. But thou wottest, dear lad, that whiles and 
 again must sister sunder from brother, and even so 
 it has to be now. 
 
 Then they sat silent all four ; and thereafter Bird- 
 alone arose and did off her sallet, and kissed and 
 
400 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 embraced Gerard and his sons, and bade them fare- 
 well, and she and the young men wept. Then she 
 armed herself and gat to horse, and went her ways 
 towards Greenford, having nought with her but the 
 raiment and arms that her body bore, and her horse, 
 and some gold pieces and gems in a little pouch. 
 So rode she ; and the others turned back sadly 
 toward the Five Crafts. 
 
CHAPTER VII. BIRDALONE COMETH 
 TO GREENFORD, AND HEARS OF THE 
 WASTING OF THE CASTLE OF THE 
 QUEST. 
 
 NOW came Birdalone riding into Green- 
 ford an hour before sunset on a day of 
 the latter end of May ; and she had no 
 doubt but to go straight to the hostelry, and that 
 the less as she had not abided there before, as hath 
 been told. To them that served her she told the 
 tale of her vow, that she might not do off her sallet 
 that seven days ; and some trowed her, and some 
 deemed her a woman, but whereas she seemed 
 by her raiment to be of condition none meddled 
 with her. Moreover, as she told her intent to 
 ride on betimes in the morning, it mattered the 
 less unto them : withal she gave out that she came 
 from foreign parts, as sooth it was. 
 
 In the evening she sat in the hall, and with her 
 were three chapmen travelling with their wares, and 
 two good men of the town sitting ; and they were 
 talking together, and were courteous and blithe, and 
 amidst their talk they threw many a glance at the 
 slim and fair young squire, as Birdalone seemed, 
 and were fain to speak unto him, but refrained 
 them for courtesy's sake. For her part, Birdalone 
 longed sore to ask them somewhat of the Castle of 
 the Quest, but the words clave to her throat for 
 very fear ; and she sat restless and ill at ease. How- 
 ever at last said a townsman to a chapman : Art 
 thou for the Red Hold, Master Peter, when thou 
 
 26 
 
402 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 art done here? Birdalone turned very pale at that 
 word ; and Master Peter spake : Yea, surely, neigh- 
 bour, If the folk leave aught in my packs for others 
 to buy. He spake in a jovial voice, as if he were 
 merry, and the others all laughed together, as 
 though they were well pleased and in good content- 
 ment. And now, deemed Birdalone, would be her 
 time to speak if she would learn aught ; so she 
 constrained herself at last, and spake, though in a 
 quavering voice : Meseems then, masters, this good 
 town Is thriving as now ? This I ask because I am 
 a stranger in these parts this long while, and now 
 I am come back hither fain were I to find the land 
 in good peace ; for I may chance to take up my 
 abode hereby. 
 
 The goodmen turned to her and smiled kindly 
 when they heard the sweetness of her voice ; and 
 one of them said: Sir of the sallet, ye shall be con- 
 tent with the peace in this land, and the thriving 
 of its folk; the very villeins hereabout live as well 
 as franklins in most lands, and the yeomen and 
 vavassours are clad as if they were knights of a 
 good lord's household. Forsooth their houses are 
 both goodly and easy to enter ; and well Is that, 
 whereas there lacks never good meat and drink on 
 the board therein. And moreover their women are 
 for ever seeking whatso is fair and goodly, whatso 
 is far-fetched and dear-bought, whereof we chap- 
 men also thrive, as thou mayst well deem. Ah ! 
 it Is a goodly land now ! 
 
 The others nodded and smiled. But Birdalone 
 spake, hardening her heart thereto for very need: 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 403 
 
 Belike then there is a change of days here, for 
 when I last knew of the land there was little peace 
 therein. And that will not be so long agone, said 
 a townsman, smiling, for I doubt we should see 
 no grey hair in thine head if thy sallet were off it. 
 Birdalone reddened : It will be some five years 
 agone, said she. Yea, yea, said the townsman, we 
 were beginning to end the unpeace then, and it was 
 the darkest hour before the dawn; for five years 
 agone we and the good knights of the Castle of 
 the Quest were lying before the walls of the Red 
 Hold. Forsooth we cleared out that den of devils 
 then and there. What betid unto it after ye 
 won it ? said Birdalone, and she trembled withal. 
 Said the townsman: Heard ye never of the Black 
 Squire, a very valiant knight, since thou sayest 
 that thou hast known this country-side? She 
 bowed a yeasay, for this time she found it hard 
 to speak. 
 
 Well, said the townsman, we held garrison in the 
 Red Hold for some three months, and thereafter 
 we craved of him to come and be our captain there- 
 in ; for, even after the Hold was won, there was yet 
 a sort of runagates that haunted the country-side, 
 men who had no craft save lifting and slaying. And 
 forsooth we knew this Lord Arthur for the keen- 
 est and deftest of men-at-arms; so he yeasaid our 
 asking, and did all he might herein, and forsooth 
 that was all there was to do; for he was ever in the 
 saddle, and at the work. Forsooth he was not a 
 merry man, save when he was at his busiest ; and 
 little he spake in hall or chamber, else had he been 
 
404 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 better beloved. But at least by no man better 
 might the land have been served. 
 
 There was silence a little, and Birdalone waxed 
 deadly pale; then she strove with herself and said: 
 Thou sayest he was and he was; is he dead then.'' 
 Said the townsman : Not to our knowledge. When 
 he had brought the land into good peace, which is 
 some three years and a half agone, he went his 
 ways from the Red Hold all alone, and we saw him 
 no more. But some folk deem that he hath en- 
 tered into religion. 
 
 Birdalone's heart sickened, and she thought to 
 herself that now all was to begin again ; yet she felt 
 that the worst was over since he was not dead, and 
 she was able to think what she should do. So she 
 said: Mayhappen he hath gone back to the Castle 
 of the Quest? Nay, nay, said the townsman, that 
 may not be; for waste is that house now; there is 
 none dwelleth there, save, it may be, now and again 
 a wandering carle or carline abideth there a day or 
 two. Said Birdalone : How hath that befallen ? 
 or where is gone Sir Hugh, the Green Knight ? 
 Said the townsman : We knew the Green Knight 
 well ; frank and free and joyous was he ; all men 
 loved him ; and his lady and speech-friend, none 
 ever saw a lovelier, and as kind as was he. But 
 we might not keep them with us; they are gone 
 into their own country. Sir Hugh left the Castle 
 of the Quest some three months after the Black 
 Squire came to us for captain, and he gave over 
 the castle to Sir Geoffrey of Lea, an old and wise 
 man of war. But not many months thereafter we 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 405 
 
 heard that he also had departed, leaving it ungar- 
 nished of men; and we deem that the cause thereof 
 is that something uncouth is seen and heard there- 
 in, which folk may not endure. Is it not so, my 
 masters ? 
 
 They all yeasaid that, and the talk went on to 
 other matters. As for Birdalone, though her hope 
 to come amongst friends was so utterly overthrown, 
 yet she saw not what to do save to go her ways to 
 the Castle of the Quest, and see if perchance she 
 might find any tidings there. And she said to her- 
 self, that if the worst came to the worst, she would 
 herself dwell there as an hermit of love ; or, may- 
 be, to face those uncouth things and see if any 
 tidings might be compelled out of them. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. BIRDALONE COM- 
 ETH TO THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST, 
 HEARETH THE TALE THEREOF 
 FROM LEONARD, AND DEPARTETH 
 THENCE BY THE SENDING BOAT. 
 
 SHE arose betimes on the morrow, and was 
 out of Greenford so soon as the gates were 
 open, and at first made all speed that she 
 might toward the Castle of the Quest ; and noth- 
 ing hindered her, for the land was verily in good 
 peace, and she might have come there if she would 
 before sunset, for all whom she met furthered her. 
 But as the day waned her courage waned with it, 
 so that at last she stayed some six miles short of 
 the house, and craved shelter at a yeoman's stead 
 there, which was granted her with all kindness ; 
 and they made much of her, and she told them 
 her vow of the sallet, and they deemed nought 
 save that she was a young man. 
 
 She departed early in the morning with their God- 
 speed, and while the day was yet young came into 
 the meadows before the castle, and saw the towers 
 thereof rising up before her: then she checked her 
 horse, and rode on no faster than a foot's pace ; 
 yet as slow as she might ride, needs must she get 
 to the gate while the day was yet young. 
 
 So came Birdalone by that bower wherein she 
 had slept that first night she came to the castle ; 
 and she reined up to look on it ; and as she sat 
 there gazing, came a man out from it clad as a 
 man of religion ; and her heart beat quick, and she 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 407 
 
 was like to fall from her horse, for there came into 
 her mind what the townsman had said, that the 
 Black Squire had gone into religion. But the 
 hermit came towards her with a cup of water in 
 his hand, and he cast his hood aback from him, 
 and she saw at once that it was Leonard the priest, 
 and though it was not the friend whom she sought, 
 yet was she glad that it was a friend ; but he came 
 and stood by her, and said : Hail, wayfarer ! wilt 
 thou drink of our well and rest thee a while ? So 
 she took the cup and drank of the water, looking 
 kindly on him, while he wondered at the beauty of 
 her hand, and misdoubted him. Then she gave 
 him back the cup and lighted down off her horse, 
 and took the sallet from her head, and spake : I 
 may not pass by a friend without a word ; think if 
 thou hast not seen me before .'' 
 
 Then he knew her, and might not refrain him, 
 but cast his arms about her and kissed her, weep- 
 ing ; and she said : It is sweet to me to find a friend 
 after what I have been told of yonder house. Yea, 
 said he, and art thou going up thither ? Certes, 
 said she, and why not ? Said he : They are gone, 
 and all gone ! How and whither ? said she. But 
 I must full certainly go thither at once ; I will go 
 afoot with thee ; do thou tether my horse till thou 
 comest back. 
 
 He said : But wilt not thou come back ? I 
 know not, she said : I know nought save that I 
 would go thither ; let it be enough that I suffer 
 thee to go with me, and on the way thou shalt tell 
 me what thou canst of the tale. 
 
408 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Then went Leonard and tethered the horse, and 
 they went together afoot to the gate ; and Birdalone 
 told what she had heard of Arthur and Hugh ; and 
 Leonard said : This is true, and there is not much 
 else to be said. When the Blaclc Squire came back 
 from the leaguer of the Red Hold, and had heard 
 before of thy departure, he was heavy of mood and 
 few-spoken, and wandered about as one who might 
 find no rest ; yet was he not stern with Atra, who 
 for her part was no less heavy-hearted : soothly a 
 sad company we were, and it was somewhat better 
 when my Lord Arthur went his ways from us ; and 
 indeed eager he was to be gone ; and it could be 
 seen of him that he was fain of the toil and peril 
 which they of Greenford offered him. Then in 
 some four months spake my lord Hugh that he 
 also would be gone to a place where were both a 
 land and folk that would look friendly on him ; so 
 he went with my lady Viridis and my lady Aurea, 
 and they had Atra also with them ; and me also 
 they would have had, but my heart failed me to 
 leave the place where I had been so glad and so 
 sorry with thee ; death had been better ; wherefore 
 in yonder bower as in an hermitage I serve God 
 and abide my time. But though I wot nought of 
 where is gone the Black Squire, I know whereto 
 those four are gone, and it is but a seven days' 
 ride hence, and the land is goodly and peaceable, 
 and if they be not dead, most like they be there 
 yet. How sayest thou then, thou dearest and 
 kindest, wilt thou thither to them ? For if so, I 
 may well lead thee thither. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 409 
 
 Birdalone shook her head. Nay, she said, I 
 deem that I am drawn elsewhither, but soon I shall 
 tell thee. Lo now the gate. But ere we enter, tell 
 me of Sir Geoffrey of Lea, and why it was that 
 they might not abide the uncouth things, or if there 
 were any such. Spake Leonard : Things uncouth 
 there were, and I was called upon to lay them, and 
 I did as biddeth Holy Church in all wise, but pre- 
 vailed not against them, and still were they seen 
 and heard, till folk might endure it no longer. 
 
 And what like were these things ? said Birda- 
 lone, and are they yet seen and heard ? Said Leon- 
 ard : Strange it is, but last night I went into the 
 great hall where they mostly betid, and laid me 
 down there, as whiles I do, for I fear them not, and 
 would see if they yet appear ; but all night came 
 nothing at all. As to the likeness of them . . Then 
 he stopped, but said presently : Hard it is to tell 
 thee of them, but needs must L There be two of 
 these things ; and one is an image of a tall woman 
 of middle-age, red-haired, white-skinned, and mea- 
 gre, and whiles she has a twiggen rod in her hand, 
 and whiles a naked short sword, and whiles nought 
 at all. But the voice of her is cursing and blas- 
 pheming and ill-saying. 
 
 Said Birdalone : This is then a fetch of my 
 witch-mistress of whom I told thee erst, and the 
 image of her ; what is the other ? Said Leonard : 
 I were fain not to tell thee. Yet needs must thou, 
 said Birdalone. Dear lady, said Leonard, the other 
 is an image of thee, and even most like unto thee ; 
 but whiles clad in a scanty grey coat and barefoot. 
 
4IO THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 and whiles clad in a fair green gown goodly broid- 
 ered, and broidered shoon; and whiles all mother- 
 naked. 
 
 And what voice cometh from mine image ? said 
 Birdalone, smiling, yet somewhat pale withal. Said 
 Leonard : One while a voice of sweet singing, as 
 of a bird in the brake, and that is when thou art 
 clad ; and again, when thou art naked, a voice of 
 shrieking and wailing, as of one enduring torments. 
 
 Spake Birdalone : And when did these wonders 
 begin ^ Said he : Not till after Sir Hugh and thy 
 she-friends were gone hence. 
 
 Pondered Birdalone a little ; then she said : I 
 see herein the malice of my witch-mistress ; she 
 would not send these fetches while Hugh was here, 
 lest he should turn to seeking me with all his might. 
 But when they departed, she would have the castle 
 waste, and then she sent them, wotting that thereby 
 she would rid her of Sir Geoffrey of Lea ; while, 
 on the other hand, I was nought so much unto 
 him that he would spend all his life seeking me. 
 But now I deem I know so much of her that I may 
 bid thee to look on her as dead if these fetches 
 come not again within a little while. Then mayst 
 thou send and do Sir Geoffrey to wit thereof, and 
 belike he will come back again ; and fain were I 
 thereof, for it will be merrier if the Castle of the 
 Quest be dwelt in once more. 
 
 Yea, verily, said Leonard ; but far merrier yet 
 wert thou to dwell there. Nay, she said, but now 
 I see that it is not fated for me. Let us go in, for 
 I would get to what I would do. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 4I i 
 
 So therewith they passed under the shadow of 
 the archway, and Birdalone stayed not but went 
 straightway into the hall, and through it ; and the 
 priest, who lagged somewhat behind her speedy 
 feet, cried out unto her : Whither wilt thou ? what 
 chamber wilt thou visit first ? But she stayed not, 
 and spake to him over her shoulder as she went : 
 Follow me if thou wilt ; I have but one place only 
 to come to ere I leave the Castle of the Quest, save 
 I must needs turn back on my footsteps. 
 
 Then Leonard came up with her, and she went 
 her ways out of the hall, and out on to the water- 
 swale of the castle, and so to the little haven of 
 the water-gate. There Birdalone looked about her 
 eagerly ; then she turned to Leonard and pointed 
 with her finger and said : Lo thou ! there yet lieth 
 my ferry of old time, the Sending Boat ; now wot 
 I wherefore I was drawn hither. And her eyes glit- 
 tered and her body quivered as she spake. 
 
 Yea forsooth, said Leonard, there it lieth ; who 
 of all folk in the castle had durst to touch it ? But 
 what hath it to do with thee, O kindest lady ? 
 
 Friend, she said, if this day weareth, and I am 
 yet within these walls, then meseemeth there must 
 I abide for evermore ; and there perchance shall I 
 meet that seeming of myself, maybe for this night, 
 maybe for ever, till I die here in this castle void 
 of all that I love, and I over-young for it, friend. 
 And I know now that there is hope within me ; 
 for I bethink me of a dear friend over yonder water 
 of whom I have never told any, nor will tell thee 
 now, save this, that she is the wisdom of my life. 
 
412 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Wherefore now I will try this ferry and wot if the 
 wight thereof will yet obey the voice of the speaker 
 of the spell, who has shed of her blood to pay 
 therefor. Put not forth a hand therefore nor speak 
 a word to let me, but take this farewell of me, with 
 my pity and such love as I may give thee, and let 
 me go, and think kindly of me. 
 
 Then she went up to him, and laid her hands 
 upon his shoulders, and kissed him, and turned 
 about without more ado and stepped into the boat; 
 then she sat down and stripped her arm of its 
 sleeve, and drew forth a knife and let blood of her 
 arm, and then arose and smeared stem and stern 
 therewith, and then sat down with her face to the 
 stern and sang : 
 
 The red raven- wine now 
 
 Hast thou drunk, stern and bow ; 
 
 Wake then and awake 
 
 And the Northward way take : 
 
 The way of the Wenders forth over the flood. 
 
 For the will of the Senders is blent with the blood. 
 
 Then she abode a little, while Leonard stood 
 staring on her speechless with grief and blinded 
 with his bitter tears, till the boat began to move 
 under her, and presently glided out of the little 
 haven into the wide lake ; then she turned her 
 face back unto him and waved her hand, and he 
 knelt down and blessed her, weeping. And so 
 she vanished away from before him. 
 
CHAPTER IX. BIRDALONE FINDETH 
 THE ISLE OF NOTHING GREATLY 
 BETTERED, AND IS KINDLY EN- 
 TREATED THERE. 
 
 NOW it was scarce noon when she departed, 
 and the dark night came upon her in the 
 midst of the water ; and she fell asleep in 
 the boat ere the night had grown very old, and 
 woke up in the morning, not exceeding early, 
 maybe about six o'clock ; then she looked ahead 
 and thought presently to see the ill-favoured blotch 
 of the Isle of Nothing on the bosom of the blue 
 waters, whereas it was a fair and cloudless morning 
 of latter May. Sure enough she saw land ahead, 
 and it lay low down on the water, but she deemed 
 from the first that it was green of hue, and as she 
 neared it she saw that it was verily as green as emer- 
 ald. Thereat she was a little troubled, because she 
 thought that mayhappen the Sending Boat had 
 gone astray, and that if the wight thereof were not 
 wending the old road, maybe he was not making 
 for the old haven. For now indeed she told her- 
 self right out that her will was to go back again to 
 the House under the Wood, and see what might 
 betide there, and if she and the wood-mother to- 
 gether might not overcome the witch. 
 
 But whatever might happen nought could she 
 do but sit in her place and wend as the Sending 
 Boat would ; and in an hour's space she was right 
 under the lee of the land, and she saw that it was 
 shapen even as the Isle of Nothing had been afore- 
 
414 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 time. But this made her wonder, that now the 
 grass grew thick down to the Hp of the water, and 
 all about from the water up were many little slim 
 trees, and some of them with the May-tide blos- 
 som yet on them, as though it were a fair and great 
 orchard that she was nearing ; and moreover, be- 
 yond all that she saw the thatched roofs of houses 
 rising up. 
 
 Presently then the Sending Boat had brought 
 her to the land, and she stepped ashore, but was 
 wary, and gat her bow bent and set an arrow thereto 
 ere she began to go up from the water. Yet she 
 thought within herself, it will be nought ill if I be 
 come amongst folk, so long as they be peaceful, or 
 else how might I live the journey out to all the 
 isles and so home to the House under the Wood ? 
 
 So she turned her face to where she had seen 
 those roofs, which now she saw no longer because 
 of the thick leaves of the little trees, and so went 
 along a narrow path, which grew to be more and 
 more closely beset with trees, and were now no 
 longer apple and pear and quince and medlar, but 
 a young-grown thicket of woodland trees, as oak 
 and hornbeam and beech and holly. 
 
 At last as she went she heard voices before her, 
 so she stole warily to the edge of the copse, finger 
 on shaft ; and presently could see clear of the 
 saplings and out on to a wide space of greensward, 
 beyond which was a homestead of many houses and 
 bowers, like unto that of a good yeoman in peace- 
 ful lands, save that the main building was longer, 
 though it were low. But amidst the said green- 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 415 
 
 sward was a goodly flock of sheep that had been 
 but of late washed for the shearing, and along with 
 the sheep four folk, two carles and two queans, all 
 of them in their first youth, not one by seeming 
 of over a score and two of summers. These folk 
 were clad but simply, man and woman, in short 
 coats of white woollen (but the women's coats a 
 little longer than the men's), without shoon or 
 hosen ; they had garlands of green leaves on their 
 heads, and were wholly unarmed, save that one of 
 the men bore an ashen wand in his hand. As for 
 their bodies, they were goodly of fashion, tanned 
 indeed by the sun's burning, but all sweet of flesh 
 were they, shapely and trim, clean-made, and light 
 and slim. 
 
 Birdalone's heart yearned toward them, and she 
 stepped straightway from out of the cover of the 
 coppice, and the sun flamed from her sallet and 
 glittered in the rings of her hauberk, so that the 
 folk might not fail to see her ; the sheep fled bun- 
 dling from her past their keepers, who stood firm, 
 but seemed somewhat scared, and moved not to- 
 ward Birdalone. She gave them the sele of the day 
 and stood still herself; but the man with the ash- 
 wand said : Hail, thou man ; but we would have 
 thee come no nearer a while, though thy voice be 
 sweet : for we know what things they be which thou 
 bearest, and that thou art a warrior. Wilt thou 
 hurt us ? 
 
 Birdalone laughed as sweetly as the blackbird 
 sings, and she did ofi^ her sallet and shook the plen- 
 teous hair down over her, and then drew forth her 
 
41 6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 sword and dagger and cast them to earth, and laid 
 her bow and quiver of arrows upon them, and said : 
 Now will I come to you, or ye shall come to me, 
 whereas I am unweaponed, and no warrior, but a 
 woman, and ye are four to one, and two of you 
 carles ; wherefore now ye may bind me or slay me if 
 you will ; but in any case I pray you first to give 
 me a mouthful of meat. 
 
 When she had done her speech, she went up to 
 the fairest of the women and kissed her ; but the 
 two carles made no more ado but came to Bird- 
 alone and kissed her one after other, and that as 
 men who needed nought to compel them therein, 
 and each thereafter took a hand of her and held it 
 and caressed it. But the other woman had run 
 into the house as soon as Birdalone spoke, and 
 came back again with a treen bowl full of milk and 
 a little loaf, not white but brown ; and there blun- 
 dered about her legs as she came a little lad of some 
 three winters old, naked and brown, who was shy 
 of the gleaming new-comer, and hid him behind 
 the woman one while, and the other while came 
 forth to see the new thing. But the woman said : 
 Dear woman, here is for thee some of the ewes' 
 milk, and a bite of bread, and a little deal of cheese; 
 the said milk is yet warm, so that it is not yet clot- 
 tered ; but if thou wilt come with us thou mayest 
 speedily drink cows' milk, and we be now at point 
 to go milk them. 
 
 Birdalone thanked her with a heart full of con- 
 tent, and was not ill-pleased to get her hands free 
 from the two carles ; so she sat down and ate her 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 417 
 
 breakfast while they talked with her, and told her 
 of diverse work of theirs ; as to how their trees 
 were waxing, and new tillage they had done the past 
 spring, and how it befell to the kine and the goats ; 
 of their children also they spake, and how there 
 were already four thereof, and one of the women, 
 the meat-bringer, already quickened with child once 
 more. So that ere we die, quoth the carle who was 
 speaking, we look to see many grandchildren, and 
 shall have some stout carles and queans here. And 
 by that time will some of the trees be well grown, 
 so that we may fell timber and make us some keel 
 that will wend the lake, and help us a-fishing ; or 
 we may go to other lands ; or whiles folk may 
 come to us, even as thou hast, thou dear-handed, 
 sweet-voiced woman. But wilt thou abide here 
 ever? 
 
 Yea, said the other, but that is looking forward 
 a long while, that building of ships. What is nearer 
 and well to think of is, that these apple and pear 
 trees be so well fruited, small as they be, that this 
 harvest we shall be able to make us cider and perry ; 
 yea, and no little deal thereof But art thou minded 
 to abide with us ever ? That were dear to us ; and 
 belike thou wouldest bear us children, thou also. 
 
 Then spake the meat-fetching woman and 
 laughed withal : Nay, thou also lookest aloof a 
 pretty deal ; whereas what is now to do is to go 
 milk the kine, and to take this guest with us, so that 
 she may drink somewhat better than ewes' milk 
 though the cider be not ready to hand. But tell 
 me, our dear guest, art thou verily going to abide 
 
 27 
 
41 8 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 with us a long while ? that were sweet to us, and 
 we will do all we may to pleasure thee. 
 
 Nay, said Birdalone, it will no better be but that 
 I depart on the morrow ; and all thanks do I give 
 you for your kindness. 
 
 The woman kissed her, and she arose, and all 
 they went together to the milking of the kine some 
 half mile inland; and they passed through much 
 of orchard, and some deal of tillage, wherein the 
 wheat was already growing high ; and so came they 
 to a wide meadow through which ran a little stream, 
 and therein was a goodly herd of kine. So they 
 fell to the milking, and made Birdalone drink of 
 the sweet cows' milk, and then went and lay down 
 under the shade of the little young trees, and talked 
 and were merry together. But the men were both 
 of them somewhat willing at first to kiss Birdalone 
 and toy with her, but when she let them know that 
 she desired it not they refrained them without 
 grudging. 
 
 All this while of their talk they asked Birdalone 
 nought of whence and whither, and she would not 
 ask them, lest it might stir their asking, and then 
 she would have to tell them some deal of her story ; 
 and telling it was now become unto her somewhat 
 weary work. 
 
 In a while they arose all, and the men and one 
 woman went their ways to deal with the acreland, 
 but the meat-fetcher went back with Birdalone into 
 the house ; and she showed her all that was therein, 
 which was for the more part, forsooth, the four 
 babes aforesaid. The others came back in the even- 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 419 
 
 tide, bearing with them foison of blue hare-bells, and 
 telling joyously how they had found them anigh the 
 coppice edge in such a place : and thereafter they 
 were merry, and sang and talked the evening away, 
 and showed Birdalone at last to a fair little cham- 
 ber wherein was a bed of dry grass, where she lay 
 down and slept in all content. 
 
CHAPTER X. OF BIRDALONE'S FLIT- 
 TING FROM THE ISLE OF NOTHING. 
 
 ON the morrow Birdalone arose betimes, and 
 would not tarry despite all the kindness of 
 that folk and the change which had come 
 over the Isle of Nothing ; so the friends saw her 
 down to the boat all together, and bore down with 
 them a deal of bread and cheese and late apples of 
 the last year, for her provision on the road, and 
 a pail of milk withal ; and men and women they 
 kissed her at departure, and the meat-fetcher said : 
 If by any means thou mayst find a keel which will 
 carry thee hither, at some time, I would thou 
 wouldst come ; for even if thou be old, and we 
 passed away, yet here shall be our children or our 
 grandchildren to welcome thee ; and we will tell 
 them the tale of thee that they remember it and 
 long for thee. 
 
 Then Birdalone kissed her again, and made much 
 of her, and so stepped into the boat, and fell to her 
 sacrifice to the wight thereof; and those others 
 stared at her and wondered, and spake nought 
 unto her till she was gone gliding over the face of 
 the waters ; but as they walked back to the house, 
 they spake amongst themselves that this must be 
 some goddess (for of Holy Church they knew 
 nought) who had come to visit them in her loveli- 
 ness ; and in after times, when this folk waxed a 
 many, and tilled all the isle and made ships and 
 spread to other lands and became great, they yet 
 had a memory of Birdalone as their own very lady 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 421 
 
 and goddess, who had come from the fertile and 
 wise lands to bless them, when first they began to 
 engender on that isle, and had broken bread with 
 them, and slept under their roof, and then de- 
 parted in a wonderful fashion, as might be looked 
 for of a goddess. 
 
 But as for Birdalone, she came not back ever, 
 nor saw that folk again, and now she sped over the 
 water toward the Isle of Kings. 
 
CHAPTER XI. COMING TO THE 
 ISLE OF KINGS BIRDALONE FIND- 
 ETH THERE A SCORE AND TWO OF 
 FAIR DAMSELS WHO WOULD FAIN 
 HAVE HER COMPANY. 
 
 BIRDALONE came ashore at the said isle at 
 the day-dawn, and saw but little change in 
 the isle when it grew light, and still the castle 
 stood looking down awfully on to the meadows. 
 But when she had set foot on the land, she handled 
 her bow lest the worst might befall, and looked 
 about her, deeming that this time she would not 
 go her ways to the dread show that was arrayed in 
 the castle, if forsooth those dead folk yet abode 
 there. 
 
 So now as she looked across the meadow, she saw 
 one with light and fluttering raiment come forth 
 from the trees, and look toward her whereas she 
 stood flashing and gleaming in the sun like an im- 
 age of the God of Love turned warrior. Now 
 Birdalone deemed for sure that this was a woman ; 
 she saw her come a little nigher to her, and then 
 stand looking at her under the sharp of her hand ; 
 then she turned about and ran back to the brake 
 whence she came ; and presently Birdalone heard 
 the sound of voices coming thence, and in a little 
 while thereafter came forth from the said brake a 
 rout of women (one score and two as they were told 
 thereafter) and walked over the meadow straight 
 unto her. She stood where she was, so as to be 
 nigh unto her ferry in case they willed her unpeace ; 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 423 
 
 for though they were weaponless by seeming, they 
 were a many. 
 
 When they were come near they stood about 
 her in a half ring, whispering and laughing each to 
 each. Birdalone saw that they were all young, and 
 that none of them might be called ungoodly, and 
 some were full fair. They were bright and fine of 
 array. Most bore gold and gems on fingers and 
 neck and arms ; they were clad in light, or it may 
 be said wanton raiment of diverse colours, which 
 had only this of their fashion in common, that they 
 none of them hid over-much of their bare bodies ; 
 for either the silk slipped from the shoulder of her, 
 or danced away from her flank ; and she whose feet 
 were shod, spared not to show knee and some deal 
 of thigh ; and she whose gown reached unsheared 
 from neck to heel, wore it of a web so thin and fine 
 that it hid but little betwixt heel and neck. 
 
 Birdalone stood gazing on them and wondering, 
 and she had a mind to think that they were some 
 show sent by her old mistress the witch for her 
 undoing, and she loosened her sword in its sheath 
 and nocked an arrow. 
 
 But then ran forward two of the damsels and 
 knelt before her, and each took an hand of her 
 and fell to kissing it, and she felt their hands that 
 they were firm and their lips that they were soft 
 and warm, and they were doubtless alive and real. 
 Then spake one of them and said : Hail our lord ! 
 How can words say how we rejoice in thy coming 
 this happy morn ! Now do all we give ourselves to 
 thee as thy slaves to do as thou wilt with. Yet we 
 ]iray thee be merciful to us and our longings. 
 
424 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Therewith all the sort of them knelt down on 
 the grass before Birdalone and joined their hands 
 as praying to her. And Birdalone was full ill at 
 ease, and wotted not where she was. But she said : 
 Hail ! and good days and fulfilment of wishes unto 
 you, fair damsels ! But tell me, is this the Isle of 
 Kings, as I deemed ; for strange it is for me to see 
 ye womenfolk here ? 
 
 Said she who had spoken afore : Yea verily this 
 is the Isle of Kings ; but long ago are the kings 
 dead, and yet they sit dead in the great hall of the 
 castle yonder, as thou mayst see if thou, who art 
 a man and a valiant warrior, durst follow up yon 
 mountain path thereto; but we, weak women and 
 little-hearted, durst not go anigh it ; and we trem- 
 ble when whiles a-nights cometh down thence the 
 sound of clashing swords and clattering shields, and 
 the cries of men in battle. But, praise be to the 
 God of Love, nought cometh down from thence 
 unto us. Therefore do we live peaceful lives and 
 pleasant here, lacking nought but thee, lord ; and 
 lo now thou hast come unto us, and we are happy 
 in our inmost hearts. 
 
 Now was Birdalone perplexed and knew not 
 what to do ; but at last she said : Gentle maidens, 
 I pray you pardon me, but I must depart straight- 
 way ; for I have an errand, and life or death lieth 
 on it. In all else than my abiding here may ye 
 have your will. 
 
 Therewith did she move a little way toward her 
 ferry ; but forthwith all they brake out weeping 
 and wailing and lamenting, and some of them came 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 425 
 
 up to Birdalone and cast themselves down before 
 her, and clasped her knees, and took hold of her 
 skirts, and besought her piteously to abide with 
 them. But she put them aside as well as she might, 
 and stepped aboard the Sending Boat, and stood 
 amidst it waiting on their departure; but they went 
 not, and stood along on the lip of the land crying 
 out and beseeching with much clamour. 
 
 Then Birdalone waxed somewhat wrath at their 
 noise and tumult, and she drew forth her knife and 
 bared her arm and let blood from it. But when 
 they saw the whiteness and roundness of it, and how 
 fine and sleek it was, straightway they changed their 
 tune, and cried out : A woman, a woman, a fool of 
 a woman ! and they laughed in scorn and mockery. 
 And the speaker of them said : Now there is but 
 one thing for thee to do, and that is to come forth 
 from thy boat and strip off thy stolen raiment, and 
 we shall make thee as fine as ourselves, and thou 
 shalt come with us, and with us abide the coming 
 of our lord. Nay, thou art so fair and lovely, that 
 thou shalt be the Lady and Queen of us, and we 
 will do after thy commands, and thou mayst chas- 
 tise us if we fail therein. But now if thou wilt not 
 come forth of the boat uncompelled, we shall pluck 
 thee forth of it. 
 
 And therewith she set her foot on the gunwale 
 of the boat, and two or three others did the like. 
 But now had Birdalone her sword naked in her 
 hand, and she waxed as red as blood, and cried out : 
 Forbear I bid you ! Yea verily I am a woman ; 
 but I will not take this offer either, whereas I have 
 
426 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 an errand, as I told you. And so stern it is, that 
 if ye now let my departure I will not spare to smite 
 with this sword whoso first cometh aboard my 
 ferry, and though I be not a man, yet shall ye find 
 that in this matter I shall be little worse, whereas 
 I am armed and ye be naked. 
 
 Then they drew back and stood gibing and jeer- 
 ing at her; but she heeded it no whit, but reddened 
 stem and stern of the Sending Boat, and sang her 
 spell, and forth glided the ferry, while the damsels 
 stood and stared astonished. As for Birdalone, 
 as she sped on her way she might not refrain her 
 laughter. Thus she wended the wet highway. 
 
CHAPTER XII. BIRDALONE COMETH 
 AGAIN TO THE ISLE OF QUEENS, AND 
 FINDETH A PERILOUS ADVENTURE 
 THEREIN. 
 
 IT was not yet daybreak when Birdalone came 
 ashore again, and the moon was down, and it 
 was dark; wherefore she durst not go up on 
 the land, but lay down in the ferry and fell asleep 
 there. When she woke again it was broad day- 
 light, the sun was up, and a little ripple was run- 
 ning over the face of the water. She stepped ashore 
 straightway, and looked up the land and to the 
 right hand and the left, and saw at once that it was 
 indeed the Isle of Queens, and the house stood trim 
 and lovely as of old time; then she longed some- 
 what to tread the green meadow a little, for yet 
 young was the day, and she saw nought stirring 
 save the throstle and a few small beasts. How- 
 ever, she said to herself that she would go nowhere 
 nigh to the goodly house wherein abode those 
 images of death. Yet her body longed so sore for 
 the springtide freshness of the grass, and was so 
 bewooed of the flowery scent thereof, that though 
 she durst not go unarmed, she did off her foot- 
 gear and went stealing softly barefoot and with 
 naked legs over the embroidered greensward, say- 
 ing aloud to herself: If run for the ferry I needs 
 must, lighter shall I run so dight. 
 
 Nonetheless, she had gone but a little way ere 
 a terror took hold of her, though she saw no child 
 of Adam anigh, and she turned and ran back swiftly 
 
428 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 to her old place and sat down under a twisted oak- 
 tree hard by the Sending Boat, and abode there 
 panting and quaking, and scarce daring to look up 
 from the grass for a while. Then her heart came 
 back to her, and she laughed, and said to herself: 
 I am a fool, for I need fear nought on this Isle of 
 Queens save women like myself. 
 
 Yet she sat there a little while longer without 
 stirring ; then she stood up and looked keenly 
 around, and, as aforesaid, exceeding far-sighted she 
 was ; but still she saw neither man nor maid nor 
 suckling child. 
 
 Then her eyes sought the lips of the lake, and 
 rested on a little bight some stone's throw ahead 
 of the Sending Boat, where, a little back from the 
 water, slim willows made a veil betwixt the water 
 of the meadow; and she looked, and saw how pleas- 
 ant a place it were for a one to stand and look on 
 the ripple just left, while the water dripped from 
 the clear body on to the grass. And her bare feet 
 fell to telling her clad sides of the sweet coolness 
 of the water, and waited for no naysay, but lightly 
 bore her toward the willowy bight. And when she 
 was there, she did off her sallet and ungirt her, and 
 laid her sword on the grass, and did off her sur- 
 coat and hauberk, and so was a woman again in 
 one white coat above her smock. Then she looked 
 heedfully betwixt the willow-boughs, and saw no 
 more than before, nought but a little whitethorn 
 brake, now white indeed with blossom, some fifty 
 yards landward from where she stood. So she 
 laughed, and did off her other raiment, and sUd 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 429 
 
 swiftly into the water, that embraced her body in 
 all its fresh kindness; and as for Birdalone, she 
 rewarded it well for its past toil by sporting and 
 swimming to her full. 
 
 Then she came forth from the water, and clad 
 herself in no great haste, and did on her hauberk 
 and sallet and sword, and so went back to her place, 
 and sat down and began to do on her foot-gear. 
 
 But as she looked up from her work a moment, 
 lo! a tall man coming toward her, and just about 
 the willows whereby she had bathed. Her heart 
 beat quick and her face changed, yet she hastened, 
 and was shod and stood up in knightly array by 
 then he stayed his steps some five paces from her, 
 and gave her the sele of the day in courteous wise; 
 and she strove to think that he had not seen her, 
 or at least noted her otherwise dight; yet her heart 
 misgave her. 
 
 He was a grizzled-haired man of over fifty sum- 
 mers by seeming, but goodly enough and well-knit; 
 he was clad in a green coat more than a little worn, 
 but made after the fashion of knighthood; he had 
 nought on his head but an oak-chaplet, and no 
 weapons but a short sword by his side and a stout 
 staff in his hand. 
 
 She gave back his greeting in a quavering voice ; 
 and he said : Welcome again, young man. Art 
 thou come to dwell with us ^ Truly thou art trim 
 now, but ere some few months thine attire will be 
 not so much fairer than ours, and thine hauberk 
 will be rusted, for here be no joyous tiltings nor 
 deeds of arms, and no kind ladies to give the award 
 
430 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 of honour, so that if we fight amongst ourselves it 
 will be because we have fallen out, and spitefully. 
 Yet (and he laughed, mockingly, as she thought) 
 thou mayst bring us luck, and draw some fair 
 damsels unto us, for that is what we await in this 
 isle, which is barren of their fair bodies, despite of 
 its deceitful name. 
 
 Thereat Birdalone reddened, deeming that he 
 divined her womanhood, but she enforced her to 
 speak hardily, and as manly as she might, and said: 
 Yea, fair sir, and if I be the God of Love, as thou 
 deemest, and not merely a poor squire (Louis De- 
 lahaye, at thy service), how many damsels shall 1 
 send thee if there must needs be one to each man 
 of you ? Quoth he : Thou must make up the tale 
 to a score or more, or some of us must lack. Sooth 
 to say, at this time thou needest not haste over- 
 much for all the tale, whereas there is but one 
 other of the company near at hand, a mere foolish 
 young man ; the others are gone to the leeward 
 side of the isle, to fetch us venison and fish, both 
 of which are more plenty there than here ; where- 
 fore are we two somewhat lonesome in this stead, 
 all the more as we be over-nigh to the sorcery in 
 the great house, which we durst not enter ; for 
 though nought cometh out thence down unto us, 
 yet hear we a-night-tides, first songs, and then cries 
 and shrieking, come out therefrom. 
 
 Then he stayed his speech, and drew a little 
 nigher to Birdalone, and then grinned, and said : 
 Forsooth we can spare him, we twain. And he 
 looked on her hard, and the colour came into her 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 43 1 
 
 cheeks, and she laughed uneasily, as a dainty lady 
 when she heareth some unmeet tale. 
 
 But again the old carle drew nigher to her, and 
 said : Thou seemest to have a good bow and store 
 of arrows ; if thou wouldst lend them to me for a 
 little, and come with me into the wood hard by, I 
 might shoot thee some venison with little toil to 
 thee ; whereas, forsooth, thou lookest scarce like 
 one who is meet for over-much toil. Again she 
 reddened, and spake nought this time ; and he said : 
 Deem not there be no deer this end of the isle be- 
 cause I said that the others were gone to fetch 
 home venison ; only the deer be tamer there and 
 more, and we have but evil shooting-gear, whereas 
 thou art well found therein. Wilt thou not come ? 
 we shall have merry feast after the hunt. 
 
 Now had Birdalone come to her wits again, and 
 she answered like a merry youth, with a flavour 
 of mockery in her speech : Fair sir, thou shalt not 
 deem that I need much help in slaying the dun 
 deer ; for I do thee to wit that I shoot not ill in 
 the bow ; neither am I heavy-footed. But I will 
 not hunt in your park to-day, for I have an errand 
 which calleth me away, so that I shall depart hence 
 presently. Besides, wise elder, there is thine er- 
 rand to see to ; and if I be the God of Love, as 
 thou sayest, I must not keep thee and thy valiant 
 fellows languishing mateless ; so with thy leave I 
 will now depart, that I may send you a score of 
 fair damsels for your company. 
 
 And she turned about and made a step toward 
 her boat ; but the carle drew nearer, laughing ; and 
 
432 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 he said : Truly sayest thou that thou art not heavy- 
 footed, for never saw I feet lighter or fairer than 
 glided over the meadow e'en now ; nor a fairer 
 body than came like rosy-tinted pearl fresh out of 
 the water while I lay hidden in yonder thorn-brake 
 that while. Wherefore trouble not thyself to bring 
 any more damsels than thyself, fairest Goddess of 
 Love, for thou art enough for me. 
 
 And therewith he ran forward, and stretched out 
 a hand to her ; but in that nick of time had she 
 her sword naked in her hand, and the carle drew 
 back before the glitter thereof, and cried out : Ho, 
 ho ! is it to be battle, my mistress ? Deemest thou 
 that thou wilt slay me as lightly as the dun deer, 
 and thou with thy bow unstrung at thy back ? 
 Now shall I show thee a trick of fence ; but fear 
 not that I shall hurt thee to spoil thee. 
 
 He advanced on her with his staff aloft, and her 
 heart failed her, and she quaked, and lightly he 
 beat down her guard and did the sword out of her 
 hand ; and again he turned on her to take her, but 
 she sprang aside and ran from him, but ran land- 
 ward perforce, as he was betwixt her and the boat ; 
 and he followed heavily, and had nought to do in 
 the race. 
 
 But she had not gone a two-score yards ere she 
 heard a great shout, and another man came running 
 over the meadow ; a slim young man was this, and 
 worse of attire than the old carle, for so tattered 
 was his raiment that he was half naked; but he was 
 goodly of fashion, fresh-coloured and black-haired. 
 Birdalone stayed her feet when she saw him, for 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 433 
 
 though she doubted not to outrun him, yet whither 
 should she run, since her ferry was behind her ? 
 
 So the young man came up to her, and the old 
 carle met him all panting, and the young man said : 
 How now, Antony ! what battle is this ? and where- 
 fore art thou chasing this fair knight ? And thou, 
 fair sir, why fleest thou this grey dastard ? 
 
 Said Antony : Thou art but a young fool. Otter, 
 this is no man, but a woman, and I have taken her, 
 and she is mine. 
 
 Well, said Otter, I say she is as much mine as 
 thine ; nay, more, if she will give herself unto me. 
 But if she will not, she shall go whither she will in 
 thy despite. Or art thou a woman ? 
 
 Yea, yea, said Birdalone ; and I pray thee, by thy 
 mother's head, suffer me to depart ; for heavy and 
 full of need is the errand that I am about. 
 
 Go thou shalt then, said Otter ; lead back to thy 
 place, and I will walk with thee. So did they : and 
 Birdalone went beside the young man quaking; but 
 he put out no hand unto her ; and sooth to say, she 
 deemed that she had seldom seen so fair a young 
 man, but it were Arthur or Hugh. 
 
 Now he, as Antony, was girt with a short sword, 
 but he let it be in its sheath ; and as they went, An- 
 tony drew his blade again, and hove it up to smite 
 Otter, but as it befell Birdalone saw him, and turned 
 round sharp upon him and gat hold of his wrist, 
 and therewith Otter turned also, and caught the old 
 carle by the nape as he turned away, and put a foot 
 before his and shoved mightily, so that he went 
 noseling to the earth. 
 
 28 
 
434 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Then turned Otter about again, laughing, and 
 he said to Birdalone : By Saint Giles ! thou art well- 
 nigh too valiant for a woman, and I would that we 
 two might be together ; and then between us we 
 might achieve the adventure of the dead ladies up 
 yonder. She hung her head, and said : Fair sir, it 
 may not anywise be ; yet I thank thee, I thank 
 thee. 
 
 So came they to the water-side and the Sending 
 Boat, and Birdalone stayed her feet there, and the 
 young man said : What is this keel, that seemeth 
 unto me as if it were a ferry for malefactors wend- 
 ing to a death of torment, so grey and bleared and 
 water-logged and sun-bleached as it is, and smeared 
 over with stains of I know not what ? 
 
 Said Birdalone : Such as it is, it is my ferry over 
 the water to where I would be. Strange ! said Otter ; 
 to my mind it is like to our fortunes on this isle, 
 we who were once knights and merry squires and 
 are now as gangrel men, and of ill conditions, think- 
 ing of nought save our first desires, even those 
 which we share with the wolf and the kite. 
 
 She said: But art thou of evil conditions, thou 
 who hast just delivered me from trouble? He 
 smiled grimly : Damsel, said he, I have not de- 
 livered thee yet from me, though I have from him. 
 But tell me, art thou a sorceress ^ Not a black one, 
 said Birdalone ; but I will tell thee at once that I 
 have been bred by a witch most mighty, and some 
 deal of lore have I learned. And therewith she told 
 him of the Sending Boat, and how she would have 
 to speed it on the way. 
 
 I 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 435 
 
 He looked on her a little and then turned away, 
 and saw her sword lying on the grass ; so he went 
 to it and picked it up and brought it to her, and 
 said : Thou mayst yet need this keen friend. So 
 she took it and thrust it back into the scabbard, 
 quaking somewhat because of him ; so feeble and 
 frail as she felt before him. Then he said : If thou 
 deemest thou hast somewhat to reward me for, I 
 have a boon to ask of thee, and granting that, we 
 shall be quits again. Yea, she said faintly, and what 
 is the boon ? He said : Art thou pressed to depart 
 now, this minute ? Nay, said Birdalone, not for 
 an hour if there be no peril here from other men, 
 and . . . and . . . And if I be true to thee and 
 will let thee go ? said he, laughing ; hah ! is that not 
 thy word ^ fear not, I swear by thine eyes that thou 
 shalt depart whenso thou wilt. Now then, the boon 
 I crave is, that thou wilt sit down here beside me 
 and tell me the tale of thy life that has been. Said 
 she : It wearies me to think thereof; yet hast thou 
 a right to crave somewhat of me, and this is not 
 hard to grant. 
 
 And she sat down by him ; but he said : Do this 
 also for me, take off thine headpiece, since now that 
 we know thee for a woman itserveth thee nought. 
 So did she, and began her tale straightway, and told 
 him all thereof, save as to the wood-wife, and he 
 sat hearkening and watching her face ; and when she 
 had made an end, he said : Now shall I ask none 
 other boon of thee, though I long sore for it ; but 
 best it is that we sunder straightway, else maybe I 
 might yet be for hindering thee. 
 
436 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Therewith he stood up, and Birdalone also, and 
 he looked on her eagerly, and said : I am now to 
 bid thee farewell, and it is most like that I shall 
 never see thee again, wherefore I will ask thee yet 
 to let one thing come from thy mouth ; for I deem 
 thee the dearest of all women I have ever seen. 
 What shall I say ? said Birdalone, smiling on him 
 kindly; must thou needs put the word in my 
 mouth ? Thou hast been friendly with me here 
 when need was to me of friendliness ; wherefore I 
 say, I would I might see thee again, and thou better 
 bestead than now thou art. 
 
 The young man's face brightened, and he said : 
 Spake I not that thou wert the dearest of all ? This 
 was even the word I would have put in thy mouth. 
 But now see thou, one goeth on from one thing to 
 another, and I must now ask thee, is there aught 
 which thou hast a mind to give me ere I depart, 
 some keepsake which I durst not ask for ? 
 
 She flushed red and said : I will with a good heart 
 give thee my bow and arrows for a keepsake ; 
 whereas the old carle told me that ye be ill fur- 
 nished of shooting-gear. 
 
 And she would have taken her bow from her 
 back, but he laughed aloud, and said : Nay, nay, 
 I will not have that ; for there be those who gird 
 them to a sword and know not how to use it, but 
 few will cumber their shoulders with bow and quiver 
 who cannot shoot therewith ; I deem it like that 
 thou art a fell bowman. Keep thy bow therefore, 
 and if thou wilt go without any other gift, even so 
 be it. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 437 
 
 And he made as if he would turn away ; but she 
 put forth both her hands and took his in them, and 
 lifted up her face and kissed him kindly, and then 
 turned away to her ferry ; while Otter stood still 
 and said in a merry voice : Now is it better than 
 well, for thou art in all ways what I would have 
 thee, and there is nought like unto thee. And 
 therewith he turned away and departed ere Bird- 
 alone had stepped into the Sending Boat, and she 
 blushing like a rose the while. Then she did due 
 sacrifice to the wight of the witch-ferry, and sped on 
 her way without any hindrance. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. COMING TO THE 
 ISLE OF THE YOUNG AND THE OLD, 
 BIRDALONE FINDETH IT PEOPLED 
 WITH CHILDREN. 
 
 AMIDST all this had worn some hours, but 
 yet it was barely noon ; wherefore it was yet 
 dark by then Birdalone made the Isle of the 
 Young and the Old ; so she stepped out of the 
 boat, and lay down on the grass and abode the dawn 
 sleeping. And she awoke with the clatter of shrill 
 voices, and she rose up and looked, and lo a mul- 
 titude of children all about her, both men and 
 women children, and, as it seemed, from five years 
 old upward to fifteen. They cried and crowed 
 merrily when they saw her stand up, and pressed 
 on her to see her the nearer and to touch her hands 
 or her raiment. They were but little clad, and the 
 younger ones not at all, but were goodly young- 
 lings and merry. So great was the noise they raised, 
 that loud were the thunder which had not been 
 hushed thereby ; and Birdalone stood looking on 
 them, smiling, and knew not what to do. Anon 
 she turned to a tall thin lad of some fifteen winters, 
 and said unto him : Wilt thou now take me unto 
 the house, and the place where dwelleth the old 
 man ? Quoth he : I neither know of an old man, 
 nor rightly what it means, the word. Am not I 
 old enough for thee ? I am the oldest of these 
 here. But belike thou art hungry ; wherefore if 
 thou come to the place where we sleep a-nights, 
 and where we shelter us from the storm and the 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 439 
 
 rain when need is, I will give thee to eat ; for we 
 have both bread and milk and cheese, and raisins 
 of the sun. 
 
 So he took her hand and led her along, and asked 
 her by the way concerning her armour and weapons, 
 and of the fashion of battle, and she told him 
 thereof what she would. 
 
 Thus came they to the place where erst had been 
 the cot under the ruin of the great ancient house ; 
 but now was gone all that ruin and the great grey 
 walls, though the cot was left ; and all about it were 
 low bowers built of small wood and thatched un- 
 deftly. But the lad smiled when he saw it, as if 
 the sight thereof made him happy ; and he said : 
 All these have we made since I have dwelt here, 
 and no other home have I known. 
 
 And he led her into the cot, and set her down 
 to eat and to drink, and through the open door 
 she could see the children swarming, and they that 
 were nighest thrusting each other this way and that 
 to catch a sight of her. 
 
 Now she said : Fair child, how gattest thou this 
 victual if there be no older folk to help you ? 
 Said he : We dig the ground and sow it, and the 
 wheat comes up, and we reap it in harvest, and 
 make bread of it ; and we have goats and kine, and 
 we milk them, and turn the milk with a little blue 
 flower, which is fair to see. And there are in this 
 isle little hills where the grapes grow plenty ; and 
 some we eat and some we dry for store. Lo thou, 
 such be our ways for victual. But tell me, said 
 he, thou sayest old, and I know not the word ; art 
 
440 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 thou old ? She laughed : Not very, said she, yet 
 older than thou. 
 
 Said the lad : Thou art fair and dear to look 
 on, and thy voice is sweet ; wilt thou not abide with 
 us, and teach us what it is to be old ? Nay, said 
 she, I may not, for I have an errand which driveth 
 me on ; wherefore I must be gone within this 
 hour. 
 
 Forsooth, she was growing eager now to be done 
 with her journey and come to the House under the 
 Wood, whatever should befall her there. More- 
 over she deemed it would not be restful to her to 
 abide among all these restless children, with their 
 ceaseless crying and yelping : if rest she might, she 
 would rest, she deemed, in the Isle of Increase 
 Unsought, if there were no ill things abiding there. 
 
 Wherefore now she arose, when she had sat 
 hearkening the sound of the lad's prattle for a 
 while, for as to the sense thereof she might not 
 heed it over-much. The youngling would not 
 leave her, but led her, holding her hand, down to 
 her ferry again ; she kissed him in thanks for his 
 meat, and he reddened thereat but said nought. 
 All the whole rout of little ones had followed her 
 down to the water, and now they stood, as thick 
 as bees on a honeycomb, on the bank, to watch 
 her departure. But if they were keen to see her 
 doings before, how much keener were they when 
 it came to the baring of her arm and the smearing 
 of the Sending Boat. To be short, so keen were 
 they, and pushed and shoved each other so stur- 
 dily, that more than one or two fell into the water, 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 441 
 
 and Birdalone was frighted lest they should drown ; 
 but they swam like ducks, and got on to the land 
 when they would, which was not so very soon, 
 for some of them hung unto the gunwale of the 
 boat, and hove their faces up to look over into it, 
 and left not hold till the ferry was fairly under 
 weigh and beginning to quicken its speed. 
 
 So left Birdalone the isle, and nought befell her 
 on the way to the Isle of Increase Unsought. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. THE SENDING BOAT 
 DISAPPEARETH FROM THE ISLE OF 
 INCREASE UNSOUGHT, AND BIRDA- 
 LONE SEEKETH TO ESCAPE THENCE 
 ,BY SWIMMING. 
 
 IT was as before that Birdalone came to the 
 shore of the isle while it was yet night ; but the 
 wizard keel was so loathsome to her, that she 
 stepped out of it and laid her down on the land for 
 what was left of the night ; yet hard she found her 
 bed, and neither grassy nor flowery. 
 
 For all that, she slept, for she was weary, and 
 it was broad day and not very early when she 
 awoke. She stood up trembling, for she fore- 
 boded evil, so near as she was to the dwelling of 
 her old mistress ; and she looked up to where in 
 time past was the fair and wicked house, and saw 
 that all was changed indeed ; for no longer was the 
 isle goodly with meadow and orchard and garden, 
 but was waste and bare, and nought grew on it save 
 thin and wiry grass, already seeding even ere June 
 was born, and here and there hard and ugly herbs, 
 with scarce aught that might be called a flower 
 amongst them. Trees there were yet, but the most 
 of them stark dead, and the best dying fast. No 
 beasts she saw, nor fowl ; nothing but lizards and 
 beetles, and now and again a dry grey adder coiled 
 up about a sun-burned stone. But of great carrion 
 flies, green and blue, were there a many, and whiles 
 they buzzed about her head till she sickened with 
 loathing of them. All this she found on her way as 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 443 
 
 she went up toward the place where erst was the 
 great perron. But when she came to the top there 
 was no sign either of the stairs or the house, or 
 aught that ever was builded ; there was nought 
 but the bare bent top, ungrassed, parched by wind, 
 scorched by sun, washed by rain. 
 
 She wandered about the isle, to places where she 
 had not been herself, but which she deemed she 
 might have known by the telling of the Green 
 Knight's tale, had there been no change since those 
 days ; but now was all changed, and the whole isle 
 was a mere waste, and withal poisonous of aspect 
 to her mind, as if many corpses lay underneath the 
 wretched stones of it. Nevertheless, though it 
 seemed so evil unto Birdalone, she lingered on it, 
 wandering about till she was to-wearied, for she had 
 no will to depart at such time as she would be like 
 to come to her old abiding-place by night and 
 cloud ; wherefore she dallied with the time, and 
 came not back to the haven of her ferry till it was 
 nigh sunset, and the westering sun was in her eyes 
 when she came there ; and she said to herself that 
 this was the cause why she might not see the 
 Sending Boat. 
 
 So she cleared her eyes and looked on the thin 
 grass awhile, and then down over the edge of the 
 land, and still she saw not her boat. She turned pale, 
 and a pang of anguish went to her heart ; but she 
 walked a little east, deeming that perchance she had 
 erred as to the place of the haven on that dull and 
 empty shore ; but yet there was no boat. Then 
 she turned back wild with terror, and sought where 
 
444 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 erst she had missed it, and found neither boat nor 
 the world's end. And she deemed that there might 
 be some devilish malice of the wight of the Send- 
 ing Boat, to torment her with fear, and she walked 
 along the land's edge up and down, and down and 
 up, further each time, and still there was no boat. 
 
 Then she stood still and strove to think, and 
 might not, nor might she do aught, but spread 
 abroad her hands and moaned in her agony ; for 
 now indeed she felt herself in the trap ; and she 
 said that all her past life of hope and desire and 
 love and honour was all for nought, and that she 
 was but born to die miserably in that foul ruin of 
 an isle envenomed with the memories of bygone 
 cruelty and shame. 
 
 But in a little while she came somewhat to her- 
 self, and she said : At least this hideous land shall 
 not mock my dying anguish; I will give myself to 
 the water and let it do with me as it will. 
 
 Therewith she cast off her helm and hauberk 
 first, and her weapons, and her pouch with the 
 treasure that could buy nought for her now, and 
 thereafter all her raiment, till she was as naked as 
 when she first came aland there that other time. 
 Again she moaned, and put up her hand to her 
 bosom and felt a little gold box lying there betwixt 
 the fragrant hills of her breasts, which hung to a 
 thin golden thread about her neck ; and a thought 
 came into her mind, and she stooped adown and 
 drew from her pouch flint and fire-steel, and then 
 opened the said golden box and drew thence the 
 tress which Habundia the wood-wife had given to 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 445 
 
 her those years agone, and all trembling she drew 
 two hairs from it, as erst she did on the Isle of 
 Nothing, and struck fire and kindled tinder and 
 burnt the said hairs, and then hung the golden box 
 with the tress therein about her neck again ; and 
 she said : O wood-mother, if only thou couldst 
 know of me and see me, thou wouldst help me ! 
 
 Thereafter she sought along the bank for bread 
 which she had taken from her store that morning, 
 and she found it, and compelled herself to eat of 
 it for the strengthening of her body, and then she 
 stood and abode tidings; and by then the sun had 
 just sunk below the rim of the lake, and the stars 
 began to twinkle, for the night was cloudless, and 
 exceeding fair, and very warm. 
 
 No visible token came to her, but her heart grew 
 stronger, and she seemed to see herself yet alive and 
 in hope on the other side of the water ; and she 
 said : Who wotteth what Weird may do, or where 
 the waters may bear me? and there is no swimmer 
 stronger than I. 
 
 So then without more ado Birdalone slipped 
 into the water, which lay before her as calm and 
 plain as a great sheet of glass, and fell to rowing 
 with her arms and her legs as though she were but 
 swimming from Green Eyot to the mainland, as 
 so oft she had done in the other days. 
 
CHAPTER XV. BIRDALONE LACKETH 
 LITTLE OF DROWNING, BUT COM- 
 ETH LATTERLY TO THE GREEN 
 EYOT. 
 
 ON swam Birdalone, not as one who had a 
 mind to drown her for the forgetting of 
 troubles, but both strongly and wisely ; 
 and she turned over on to her back, and looked on 
 the stars above her, and steered herself by them 
 thitherward whereas she deemed was the land under 
 the wood. When she had been gone from the evil 
 isle for an hour or so, there rose a fair little wind 
 behind her, which helped her forward, but scarce 
 raised the water more than a little ripple. 
 
 Still she swam on, and it was some three hours 
 ere she began to weary, and then she floated on 
 her back and let the wind and water have its way 
 with her; and now the night was as dark as it 
 would be ere dawn. 
 
 Thus it went for another hour, that whiles she 
 swam on and whiles she floated; and now her heart 
 began to fail her, and the great water was no longer 
 unto her a wet highway, but a terrible gulf over 
 which she hung fainting. 
 
 Nevertheless she did not give up doing what she 
 might: she floated supine a long while, and then, 
 when she had gathered a little strength, turned over 
 again and struck out, still steering her by the stars. 
 But she had scarce made three strokes ere her arms 
 met something hard and rough; and at first in her 
 forlornness she deemed she had happened on some 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 447 
 
 dread water monster, and for terror of it she sank 
 down into the deep, but came up presently bHnded 
 and breathless, and spread abroad her arms, and 
 again they came on the thing aforesaid, and this 
 time found that it was nought alive, but the bole of 
 a tree sitting high out of the water. So she clomb 
 up on to it with what might she had left, and sat 
 her down, and saw in the dim light that it was big, 
 and that there was a fork betwixt two limbs reaching 
 up into the air, and she thrust herself in between 
 these two limbs and embraced one of them, so that 
 she might scarce tumble off; and a great content 
 and happiness came over her that she had thus es- 
 caped from the death of the deep; but therewithal 
 weariness overcame her, and she slept, whether she 
 would or not ; and the bole went on over the waters 
 no slower than might have been looked for, whether 
 it were by the pushing on of the south wind, or by 
 the hand of Weird that would not have her die. 
 
 Long she slumbered, for when she awoke it was 
 broad day and the sun was shining high in the 
 heavens, and she cleared her eyes and looked around, 
 and saw before her the land, but yet blue in the 
 offing. And the tree-bole was yet speeding on to- 
 wards the shore, as if it were being drawn there 
 by some bidding of might. 
 
 Now indeed grew Birdalone happy, and she 
 thought if any had helped her it must have been 
 the wood-mother once again; and she said to her- 
 self that she should soon meet with that helper ; 
 nor heeded she that she was naked and unfur- 
 nished of any goods, whereas she deemed indeed 
 that it was but to ask and have of her friend. 
 
448 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 For a while indeed she knew not whither she 
 was wending, and if her face were verily turned to- 
 ward the land under the wood ; but as the morn- 
 ing wore the blue distance began to grow green, 
 and then she saw that a great wood was indeed be- 
 fore her, and thereafter, as it cleared yet more, she 
 knew the land she was nearing for the meadows of 
 the House under the Wood, and it was not long 
 thence ere she saw clear and close Green Eyot and 
 Rocky Eyot, though the house was yet hidden from 
 her by the green shores of the first of those two isles. 
 
 Shortly to tell it, her tree-bole floated with her 
 past the outer ness of Green Eyot, and came ashore 
 in that same sandy bight where erst she was wonted 
 to make her body ready for the water. She stepped 
 ashore all glad to feel the firm warm sand under- 
 neath her foot-soles, and as one drunk with joy she 
 was when the tall flowery grass of the latter May 
 was caressing her legs as they shook the seed-dust 
 off the bents, and smote the fragrance out of the 
 blossoms ; and she might scarce at first lift her eyes 
 from their familiar loveliness. Glad she was indeed, 
 but exceeding worn and weary with the long voy- 
 age, and all the longing and fear and hope which 
 had encompassed her that while. She lifted up her 
 eyes but once, and saw the witch's house standing 
 where it was wont, but no shape of man moving 
 about it; then she turned aside to a little brake of 
 thorn and eglantine in the meadow hard by, and 
 laid her down on the grass in the shade thereof, and 
 almost before her head touched the ground she fell 
 asleep, and slept there long and peacefully. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. BIRDALONEFINDETH 
 HER WITCH-MISTRESS DEAD. 
 
 IT was some while after noon when she wakened, 
 and the sun was shining bright and hot. Some- 
 what she felt the burden of fear upon her, even 
 before she was fully come to herself, and knew not 
 what it was that she feared ; but when she called 
 to mind that it was even the meeting with her old 
 mistress, her flesh quaked indeed with the memory 
 of bygone anguish, but valiantly she arose and faced 
 the dwelling of the witch despite her naked help- 
 lessness. As she went she looked up unto it, and 
 saw no smoke coming from the chimney, but mar- 
 velled little thereat since it was not yet cooking- 
 time and the weather hot. She drew nigher, and 
 saw someone sitting on the bench without the 
 door whereas the witch was wonted; and her heart 
 beat quick, for she saw presently that it was none 
 other than her mistress. Moreover, near to her 
 stood three of the milch-kine lowing uneasily and 
 as in reproach, even as such beasts use when their 
 udders be full and they desire to be milked. 
 
 Birdalone stayed a minute, and her legs nigh 
 failed her for fear, and then because of the very fear 
 she hastened on till she came within ten paces of 
 the said witch ; and sore she missed her bow and 
 arrows, and the cutting blade of her feigned squire- 
 hood, lest the carline should arise and come raging 
 and shrieking at her. 
 
 Then spake Birdalone in no feeble voice, and 
 said : Dame, I am come back unto thee, as thou 
 
 29 
 
450 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 seest, in even such plight as I fled from thee ; and 
 I have a mind to dwell in this land : what sayest 
 thou ? The witch neither moved nor spake at her 
 word ; and the kine, who had held silence when 
 she first came up, and had turned from her, fell to 
 their peevish lowing again. 
 
 Birdalone drew a step nigher, and said : Dost 
 thou hear me, dame, or art thou exceeding wroth 
 with me, and art pondering what vengeance thou 
 wilt take on me ? Still no answer came from the 
 carline, and the kine kept on lowing now and again. 
 Once more Birdalone drew nigher, and spake loudly 
 and said : Tell me at least, is it peace between us 
 or unpeace ? 
 
 But now when she looked she saw that the eyes 
 of the witch were open and staring, and her lips 
 white, and her hands hard writhen ; and she cried 
 out and said : Is she dead ? or will she waken pres- 
 ently and beat me ? surely she is dead. And she 
 put forth her hand and touched her face, and it was 
 stone-cold ; and she found that she was dead be- 
 yond any question. 
 
 Then was a great weight lifted off her heart, and 
 she turned about and looked on the meadows and 
 up to the trees of the wood and down to the rippling 
 stream before her, and fair and sweet and joyous 
 were they gotten unto her ; and she looked at the 
 kine who were drawing up towards her, and she 
 laughed merrily, and went to the out-house hard by 
 and took forth a milking-pail and a stool and fell to 
 milking them one after the other, and the beasts 
 went off down the meadow lowing in a changed voice. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 451 
 
 for joy to wit, this time. But Birdalone knelt down 
 and drank a long draught of the sweet warm milk, 
 and then arose and went swiftly into the house, and 
 saw nought changed or worsened so far as she could 
 see. There was her own bed in the corner, and 
 the mistress's, greater and much fairer, over against 
 it ; and the hutch by the door wherein the victual 
 was kept : she opened it now, and found three loaves 
 there on the shelf, and a meal-tub down below, and 
 she took a loaf and broke it and fell to eating it as 
 she walked about the chamber. There was her bow 
 standing in a nook beside the hutch, and the quiver 
 of arrows hanging on the wall above it. There was 
 the settle lying athwart from the hearth ; and she 
 smiled, and fitted her wrists to the back of the carven 
 bear which made its elbow, whereto the witch was 
 wont to tie them when she chastised her. 
 
 Then she went to the coffers that stood against 
 the wall behind it, and threw up the lid of one of 
 them, and found therein a smock or two of her own, 
 yellowed by the lapse of time, and her old grey coat, 
 ragged as it was when last she wore it, and now some- 
 what moth-eaten withal ; and she drew forth both 
 smocks and coat and laid them on the settle. Then 
 she opened another coffer, and therein were gay 
 and gaudy gowns and gear of the witch's wear ; but 
 lying amongst them, as if the witch had worn them 
 also, her green gown and shoon which her own hands 
 had broidered. But she said: Nay, ye have been 
 in ill company, I will wear you not, though ye be 
 goodly, at least not till ye have been fumigated and 
 hallowed for me. 
 
452 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Therewith she turned back to the settle and did 
 on her her old smock and her ragged grey coat, and 
 said: To-day at least will these be good enough 
 for to-day's work. And she knit her brow withal, 
 and walked with a firm step out-a-doors and stood 
 a while gazing on the dead corpse of her enemy ; 
 and she thought how that here was that which once 
 was so great a thing unto her for the shaping of 
 her life-days, and which so oft came to her waking 
 thoughts after she had escaped from her hands, 
 (though, as aforesaid, she seldom dreamed of her 
 a-night-time), and moreover an hour ago she yet 
 feared it so sore that she scarce might stand for the 
 fear of it ; and now it was nought but a carven log 
 unto her. 
 
 But she told herself that the work was to be 
 done; so she dragged the body away thence, and 
 across the brook, and a little way into the meadow, 
 and then she went back and fetched mattock and 
 spade from the outhouse, where she knew they lay, 
 and so fell to digging a grave for the corpse of her 
 dead terror. But howso hard she might toil, she 
 was not through with the work ere night began to 
 fall on her, and she had no mind to go on with her 
 digging by night. Wherefore she went back into 
 the house, and lighted candles, whereof was no lack, 
 and made her supper of the bread and the milk ; and 
 then sat pondering on her life that had been till 
 the passion arose in her bosom, and the tears burst 
 out, and long she wept for desire of others and pity 
 for herself. Then she went to the bed she had been 
 erst wont to, and laid her down and fell asleep. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 453 
 
 And her mistress walked not, nor meddled with 
 her peace ; nor did Birdalone so much as dream of 
 her, but of her mother and Master Jacobus in the 
 fair city of the Five Crafts ; and in her sleep she 
 wept for thinking of them. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. BIRDALONE LAY- 
 ETH TO EARTH THE BODY OF THE 
 WITCH, AND FINDETH THE SEND- 
 ING BOAT BROKEN UP. 
 
 WHEN morning was, Birdalone awoke, and 
 felt a weight upon her heart, and called 
 to mind the task which lay before her. 
 So she arose and clad herself, and went straight to 
 the grave begun, and toiled hard till she had digged 
 it out deep, and sithence she dragged the witch 
 thereinto and heaped the earth upon her. Then 
 she bathed her in the nighest pool of the brook, 
 and went back into the house and made her break- 
 fast on the bread and milk, and it was then about 
 mid-morning. Thereafter she went about the house, 
 and saw to the baking of bread, and so out to the 
 meadow to see to the kine and the goats, and then 
 stored the milk for making butter and cheese, and 
 did in all wise as if she were to dwell long in that 
 stead ; but thereafter she rested her body, whiles 
 her thought went wide about. But she said to her- 
 self that she would not go up to the Oak of Tryst 
 to meet the wood-mother that day, but would abide 
 the night, in case aught befell that she should tell 
 her. 
 
 But when the sun was getting low she roused her- 
 self and went out, and walked about the meadow, 
 and hearkened to the birds' song, and watched the 
 kine and the goats as they fed down the pasture ; 
 and now a soft content came over her, that all this 
 was free unto her to hold in peace, and to take her 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 455 
 
 pleasure in, as much as one lone child of Adam 
 might do. 
 
 At last she wandered down to the sandy bight of 
 the lake and stood gazing on Green Eyot, where 
 the osiers and willows were grown wild and long 
 in all these years, and she said that she would swim 
 over to it on the morrov/. But now her feet took 
 her eastward thence toward the haven of the Send- 
 ing Boat amongst the alders ; for in her heart she 
 would fain know if there were any tidings for her. 
 
 So she went softly along the path by the water, 
 where she had sped so swiftly that last time, and 
 came at last to the creek-side, and looked down on 
 to the water somewhat timorously. There then 
 she saw what she deemed was the very boat itself 
 lying as she had known it ; but when she looked 
 again she saw that it lay from stem to stern all loose 
 staves with the water betwixt, and the thwarts and 
 ribs all sundered and undone, so that never again 
 might it float upon the waves. Then she said in 
 a soft voice : Art thou dead then, as thy mistress 
 is dead ? was it not so that thou wert at the point 
 of death, and she also, when thou failedst me at the 
 Isle of Increase Unsought ^ No voice came to her 
 as she spake ; and she said again : Must I then 
 bury thee as I have buried thy mistress ? Nay, that 
 will I not until thou compellest me ; belike in a 
 short while little of the staves of thee shall be left 
 now that the life is out of thee. Let thy ghost and 
 hers foregather if ye will. 
 
 As she spake the last word, she saw a stir about 
 the stern which lay furthest in up the creek, and 
 
456 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 while she quaked with failing heart, lo ! a big ser- 
 pent, mouldy and hairy, grey and brown-flecked, 
 came forth from under the stern and went into the 
 water and up the bank and so into the dusk of the 
 alder-wood. Birdalone stood awhile pale and heart- 
 sick for fear, and when her feet felt life in them, she 
 turned and stole away back again into the merry 
 green mead and the low beams of the sun, ponder- 
 ing whether this evil creature were the fetch of the 
 wight who drave the ferry under the blood of the 
 sender. 
 
 So she hastened back again to the house, and lit 
 a fire on the hearth, and fell to cooking her some- 
 what of grout to her supper ; and she watched the 
 fire, thinking withal : Now if some poor soul be 
 abroad, they may see the smoke and seek hither, 
 and I may comfort them with food and shelter and 
 converse ; or when night darkens, they may see the 
 litten windows and come to me ; wherefore shall 
 the fire burn yet and the candles be lighted, for as 
 warm as is the evening, even as if it were Yule-tide 
 and the snow deep without, and the wind howling 
 in the woodland trees. And therewith she wept 
 for longing of them that she loved. 
 
 But in a little she dried her tears, and reproached 
 herself for her much softness ; and she ate her sup- 
 per when she had lighted a candle (for it was now 
 dark), and again sat looking at the hearth, till she 
 said : Now am I getting soft again, and who knows 
 but my softness may tempt the ghosts to come 
 in to me. I will give my hands somewhat to 
 do. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 457 
 
 Therewith her eye caught sight of the rents and 
 rags of her old grey gown, and she smiled some- 
 what ruefully as she called to mind her gallant 
 knight's array, which lay now on the shore of the 
 evil and ruined isle ; and her goodly attire of the 
 days of the Five Crafts ; and the rich raiment 
 wherein her friends of the Castle of the Quest had 
 clad her. Then she arose and sought needle and 
 thread and some remnants of green cloth, and did 
 off the ragged coat and fell to patching and mend- 
 ing it, and so sat at her work in smock-sewing till 
 the night was old and she was weary and sleep over- 
 came her, and she lay down in her bed and slept 
 dreamlessly till the sun was high next morning. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. THE WOOD-MOTH- 
 ER COMETH TO BIRDALONE AND 
 HEARETH HER STORY. 
 
 NOW Birdalone arose and bathed her and 
 broke her fast, and then went about her 
 work with the beasts and the dairy ; but 
 all that time seemed long to her till she had bow 
 in hand and quiver on back, and was wending her 
 way to the Oak of Tryst ; and swift were her feet, 
 and her heart beat quick with hope of pleasure. 
 
 Forsooth no long tarrying had she, for scarce 
 had she set her down beneath the oak, ere the wood- 
 mother came forth from the thicket even as the 
 first time when Birdalone saw her, and presently 
 she had her arms about Birdalone and was kissing 
 and clipping her. Then they sat down together 
 in the shade of the great tree, and the wood-mother 
 made much of her friend with few words and those 
 but simple, while Birdalone wept for joy. 
 
 At last spake Birdalone : Wood-mother, my 
 dear, I look in thy face, and I see thee that thou 
 art nowise changed, so that thou callest to my 
 mind the Birdalone that met thee here ^hen she 
 was straying from the House of Captivity like to 
 a bird with a string to its leg. 
 
 Habundia smiled on her and said : So it is that 
 now thou lookest older than I. Rounder and 
 fuller is thy body, and thy limbs greater and fairer, 
 and thy flesh sleeker; lovelier art thou in all wise, 
 and such as I have thought of thee during these 
 years, save that thy face is grown wiser and sadder 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 459 
 
 than might be looked for. Mother, she said, I am 
 grown older than I should be by the tale of the 
 years, for I have had joy and grief, and grief and 
 joy, and grief again ; and now that the years have 
 worn, the grief abideth and the joy hath departed, 
 save this joy of thee and the day of the meeting I 
 have so often thought of 
 
 Said the wood-wife : Were I to hear the story 
 of thee, I deem it most like that I would fain buy 
 thy joy with thy grief, both that which has been 
 and that which is to come. And now I will ask 
 thee right out to tell me all thy tale, as much as 
 thou canst ; and all thou canst tell to me, who am 
 thine other self: and I wot moreover that thou 
 hast not told of me to any whom thou hast 
 met in the world since we were last together : is it 
 not so ? In faith and in troth so it is, said Bird- 
 alone. Said Habundia, after she had looked hard 
 on Birdalone a while : Now there is this I find in 
 thee, that though thou callest me wood-mother 
 still, thou art not my daughter as thou wert ere- 
 while, nor 1 thy mother ; and 1 know not whether 
 to be glad or sorry thereof, since thou art even as 
 much my friend as ever thou wert. But much do 
 I rejoice herein that thou hast not told any one 
 soul of me. 
 
 Said Birdalone : I must tell thee that part of the 
 tale I shall tell thee is how I have found my mother 
 in the flesh, and loved her sorely ; and then I lost 
 her again, for she is dead. 
 
 Ouoth the wood-wife, smiling on her lovingly : 
 Then should I be even more thy mother than erst 
 
460 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 I was : there will be something else in thy tale, 
 sweetling. 
 
 Then Birdalone flushed very red, and she smiled 
 piteously in Habundia's face ; but then she put 
 up her hands to hide the change therein which the 
 anguish of longing wrought, and her shoulders 
 shook and her bosom heaved, and she wept bit- 
 terly ; but the wood-wife still looked on her smil- 
 ing, and said softly at last : Yea, how sweet it were 
 to be grieved with thy pain. 
 
 But in a while Birdalone grew calm again and 
 the very smile blossomed out in her face, and they 
 kissed together. Then Habundia rose up and 
 looked on her, and said at last and laughed out 
 withal : One thing I must needs say, that thou hast 
 not fetched thee raiment of price from the knight- 
 hood and the kings' houses ; or have I not seen thy 
 grey coat of old time, while thou wert living amidst 
 the witch's cruelty ? Yea forsooth, said Birdalone ; 
 thou needest not to ask this. Verily not, said Ha- 
 bundia, nor why thou art not clad in the fair green 
 gown which thou didst broider ; for whiles I have 
 seen the witch flaunting it on the wooden ugly body 
 of her, and thou wouldst not wear it after she had 
 cursed it with her foulness. Is it not so ? Yea, it 
 is even so, said Birdalone ; dost thou love me the 
 less therefor ? Habundia laughed again : Were I 
 a man of Adam's sons, said she, I might make thee 
 many words on the seemliness of thy short coat, and 
 the kindness of it, that it will be for ever slipping 
 oflFone or other of thy shoulders. But now am I at 
 least enough thy mother, and thou art dwelling even 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 461 
 
 SO much in my house, that the next time we meet 
 (and that shall be to-morrow) I shall fetch thee rai- 
 ment which shall make us forget that thou earnest 
 back again to this land as naked as thou didst 
 depart thence. 
 
 Birdalone reddened and hung down her head, but 
 the wood-mother sat down beside her and kissed 
 her and said : But now forget all save thy tale, and 
 tell all as closely as thou mayest, for I would lose 
 nought thereof. Yea, said Birdalone ; and where 
 shall I begin ? Said Habundia : I know nought 
 thereof save the beginning, that thou fledst away 
 naked and escaped the witch ; and the ending, to 
 wit, that the Sending Boat failed thee at the last of 
 the Wonder Isles, and that thou calledst on me not 
 wholly in vain, whereas the witch was dead, and 
 therefore there was nought to stay me from send- 
 ing thee one of my trees and the wight thereof 
 (whom belike I may show to thee one day) to save 
 thee from the bottom of the deep water. 
 
 At that word Birdalone threw herself on the 
 wood-wife and clipped and kissed her, and thanked 
 her for the helping with all the dearest words she 
 might. But the wood-mother laughed for joy, and 
 stroked her cheeks and said : Now I deem thee my 
 daughteragain, whereas thou thankestmewith such 
 sweet passion for doing to thee as a kind mother 
 needs must withoutany thought thereof. And I bid 
 thee, my dear, never again to go so far from me as 
 that I may not easily help thee and comfort thee 
 from out of my realm wherein I am mighty. And 
 now tell me all in thy dear speech. 
 
462 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Therewith Birdalone began her story without 
 more ado, even as ye have heard it afore. Yea and 
 many more things than we can set down did she tell, 
 for full filled she was with the wisdom of the wood. 
 And between whiles the wood-mother fed her with 
 dainty meat and drink, such as Birdalone had never 
 erst tasted the like of. And by then she had got so 
 far as her flight from the Isle of Increase Unsought, 
 the sun was set and the twilight begun. And the 
 wood-wife said : Now shalt thou go home to thine 
 house ; and have no fear of witch or evil thing, for 
 I am not far from thee and will watch over thee. 
 Sweet is thy tale, my daughter, and dear are thy 
 she-friends ; and if ever it may be that I may do 
 them any pleasure, fain were I ; and that especially 
 to thy Viridis, who meseemeth is both sweet and 
 wise even as thou thyself art. Nay, dost thou be- 
 grudge my loving her ? Nay, nay, said Birdalone, 
 laughing ; but I rejoice in it. And hereafter when 
 I tell thee how sorely they paid for helping me, I 
 will bid thee to love them yet more than now thou 
 dost. Therewith they parted, and Birdalone came 
 to her house ; and on the way she made as it were 
 a feigned tale in mockery of her old trouble, that 
 there would be the witch-mistress awaiting her to 
 whip her. So that when she came to the door she 
 was half frighted with her own mock, lest the witch 
 might now at last have taken to walking. 
 
 But all was quiet when she entered with the last 
 of the twilight, and she rested that night in all peace, 
 as in the best of her days in the Five Crafts. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. HABUNDIA HIDETH 
 BIRDALONE'S NAKEDNESS WITH FA- 
 ERY RAIMENT. 
 
 NEXT morning Birdalone tarried about the 
 house as little a while as she might, and 
 then went hastening up to the wood ; and 
 when she came within sight of the Trysting Tree, 
 lo! there was Habundia before her, and the hands 
 of her busy turning over goodly raiment, so that 
 it was well-nigh as if the days had gone back to 
 the time of the Captivity, and the sitter under the 
 oak was Birdalone herself dealing with her half- 
 finished gown. 
 
 Joyously they met and embraced each other, 
 and then spake the wood-wife : Now, thou darling 
 of the world, I have been no worse than my word, 
 and if thou durst wear web of the Faery thou shalt 
 presently be clad as goodly as ever thou wert down 
 there amongst the knighthood ; and then thy tale, 
 my dear, and, if it may be, the wisdom of the barren 
 wood-wife set thereto. 
 
 And therewith she laid on Birdalone's out- 
 stretched arms the raiment she had brought with 
 her, and it was as if the sunbeam had thrust through 
 the close leafage of the oak, and made its shadow 
 nought a space about Birdalone, so gleamed and 
 glowed in shifty brightness the broidery of the 
 gown ; and Birdalone let it fall to earth, and passed 
 over her hands and arms the fine smock sewed in 
 yellow and white silk, so that the web thereof 
 seemed of mingled cream and curd ; and she 
 
464 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 looked on the shoon that lay beside the gown, that 
 were done so nicely and finely that the work was 
 as the feather-robe of a beauteous bird, whereof one 
 scarce can say whether it be bright or grey, thou- 
 sand-hued or all simple of colour. Birdalone quiv- 
 ered for joy of the fair things, and crowed in her 
 speech as she knelt before Habundia to thank her: 
 then in a twinkling had she done off her beggar's 
 raiment, and then the smock clung about her dar- 
 ling nakedness, and next the gown was shimmering 
 all over her, and the golden girdle embraced her 
 loins as though it loved them worthily; and Birda- 
 lone looked to the wood round about her and 
 laughed, while Habundia lay in her place and 
 smiled upon her with gentle loving-kindness. 
 
 But in a little while was Birdalone sobered ; for 
 the thought of how fair she should look to the 
 eyes of her beloved when she was shown unto him 
 on the day of days, thrust her light and eager 
 pleasure aside ; and she took up her shoes from 
 the ground (for she had not done them on), and 
 sat down beside the wood-wife and fell a-toying 
 with the marvel of them ; and thus without more 
 ado began her tale again, whereas she had left it 
 last even, when she had told of how the Sending 
 Boat was speeding her over the waters toward the 
 Isle of the Young and the Old. 
 
CHAPTER XX. BIRDALONE TELL- 
 ETH HABUNDIA OF HER LOVE FOR 
 ARTHUR, AND GETTETH FROM HER 
 PROMISE OF HELP THEREIN. 
 
 LONG they sat there that day, and until the 
 sun was down, and by then had Birdalone 
 but little to tell of her story, for she was 
 gotten therein to the days of the Five Crafts. 
 Many times had she wept and turned to Habun- 
 dia for solace as she told, not without shame, but 
 without any covering up, all the tale of her love 
 for Arthur the Black Squire, and how she was 
 surprised by the love of him, and of his wisdom 
 and grace and loveliness. And the wood-mother 
 was ever as sweet and kind unto her as could be ; 
 yet might another than a lover have seen that much 
 of all this was strange unto her, and she looked 
 upon Birdalone as a child who has broken her toy, 
 and is hard to comfort for the loss of it, though 
 there be a many more in the world. But when it 
 grew dusk as aforesaid, and it was time to part, 
 she spake to Birdalone, and said : True it is, my 
 child, that thou hast lived long in these six years' 
 time ; neither do I wonder at the increase of thy 
 beauty, and the majesty thereof; for fair is the life 
 thou hast lived, although thou hast been grieved 
 and tormented by it at whiles. And now I know 
 what it is for which thou longest ; and herein again 
 will I play the mother unto thee, and seek about 
 to fetch thee that thou wouldst have ; so be not 
 over-anxious or troubled ; and thou mayest be 
 
 30 
 
466 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 good herein, as my fair child should be ; for this 
 I have noted in thee, that Love is not so tyran- 
 nous a master but that his servants may whiles 
 think of other matters, and so solace their souls, 
 that they may live despite of all. 
 
 Now was Birdalone arisen, and stood before her 
 friend confused and blushing. But Habundia put 
 her two hands on her shoulders and kissed her, and 
 said : Go home now and sleep, and come again to- 
 morrow and let us hear the last of thy tale ; and 
 when that is done, maybe 1 shall be able to do 
 something for thine avail. 
 
 So they parted, and on the morrow Birdalone 
 came again and told the remnant of her story, 
 which was not so long now that the Black Squire 
 was out of it. And when she had done, Habundia 
 kept silence awhile, and then she said : One thing 
 I will tell thee, that whereas erewhile it was but 
 seldom indeed that any son of Adam might be seen 
 in the woodland here, of late, that is, within the 
 last three years, there be many such amongst us ; 
 and to our deeming they be evil beasts, more piti- 
 less and greedy than any bear ; and but that we 
 have nought to do with them, for they fear us and 
 flee from us, we should have destroyed them one 
 and all. And now that I have heard all thy story, 
 it seemeth unto me not so unlike but these may 
 be the remnants of the bands of the Red Hold, 
 and that they have drifted hither fleeing before the 
 might of thy friends of the knighthood. Where- 
 fore now, trust me that I will look into this, but 
 I must needs be away from here for a little ; so 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 467 
 
 hold thy soul in patience though thou hear 
 nought of me, and dwell quietly at home for seven 
 days' space, and then come hither and find me, 
 farewell now, my child ! 
 
 So they kissed and departed ; and Birdalone 
 went home to the house, and wore the days there- 
 after doing what was needful about the stead, and 
 wandering through the meadows, and swimming 
 the waters about Green Eyot ; and the days were 
 not unrestful unto her. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. HOW THE WOOD- 
 WIFE ENTERED THE COT, AND A 
 WONDER THAT BEFELL THEREON. 
 
 BUT when it was the sixth day since those 
 two had met, Birdalone arose in the morn- 
 ing and stood in the door of the house, and 
 she looked toward the bent which went up to the 
 wood and saw one coming down it, and knew it 
 for Habundia clad in her huntress' raiment and 
 bearing something over the left arm, for her bow 
 was in her right hand. So Birdalone ran to meet 
 her, and embraced and kissed her, and was merry 
 over her, and said : Dear mother, thou farest far 
 from thy fastness to-day. Said Habundia : There 
 is nought in the meadows now save the neat and 
 the goats and thou ; of none of that folk am I 
 afraid. But mayhappen thou shalt be afraid to 
 come with me into the depths of the wild-wood, 
 for thither would I lead thee. I will be afraid of 
 nought with thee beside me, said Birdalone. But 
 come now and look upon the house that I have 
 won for me. And she took her hand and led her 
 along ; and the wood-wife said no more till they 
 were across the brook and standing by the porch. 
 Then said Birdalone : Thou hast a green gown 
 over thine arm ; is that also for me ? Yea, certes, 
 said Habundia ; the old rag which thou hast on 
 thee, and which thou lovest so sore, is not fine 
 enough for my company ; and the glitter-gown I 
 gave thee may be too fine for the thorns and the 
 briarsj and moreover thou mayst be over-easily 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 469 
 
 seen if thou bear that broidered sunshine mid the 
 boughs. Wherefore go in now and do on this 
 other coat, though the faery have made it, and 
 then come out to me with thy bow and thy qui- 
 ver, and I shall find thee sandal-shoon and girdle 
 withal. 
 
 Nay, wood-mother, said Birdalone, hallow my 
 house by entering it, and eat a morsel with me 
 and drink the wine of the horned folk ere we go 
 our ways. 
 
 Habundia shook her head and knit her brows 
 somewhat as she looked hard on the house ; then 
 she said : I know not, Adam's daughter ; I have 
 little to do with houses, and doubt if a house be 
 safe for me. And this one that the witch builded ! 
 and belike she buried some human being at one 
 of its four corners. Tell me, fair child, sawest 
 thou ever here at night-tide the shape of a young- 
 ling crowned with a garland straying about the 
 house .'' 
 
 Nay, never at all, said Birdalone. Said the 
 wood-wife : Then maybe thou hast hallowed it 
 with the wisdom and love of thee, and I may ven- 
 ture ; and moreover I note that it is all builded of 
 trees and the grass of the earth ; and thou art free 
 to use them by my leave. But if aught befall of 
 my coming under thy roof, heed it not too much, 
 but think, whatsoever my aspect may be, I am 
 thy wood-mother and wisdom-mother that loveth 
 thee. And I bid thee also wish with all thy might 
 that my aspect may not change to thee. Also, if 
 I eat, thou wert best not to sign the meat as 
 
470 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Adam's sons are wont. Lead in then ; for now 
 am I grown wilful, and will enter whatever betide. 
 
 Birdalone marvelled at those words, but she fell 
 to wishing strongly that her friend might not lose 
 her lovely youthful shape either then or ever, and 
 she took her hand, which trembled somewhat, and 
 led her over the threshold ; and when they were 
 under the roof herseemed that the wood-mother 
 dwindled in a wondrous way, though her face was 
 as sweet and her limbs as shapely as ever ; and she 
 laughed shrilly yet sweetly, and spake in a thin 
 clear voice : Birdalone, my dear, wish strongly, wish 
 strongly! though thou shalt see nothing worse of 
 me than this. And she was scarce three feet high, 
 but as pretty as a picture. 
 
 Thereat indeed was Birdalone affrighted, but she 
 wished all she might, and stooped down to kiss this 
 little creature ; and therewith again the wood-wife 
 seemed to wax again as great and tall as ever she 
 was, and her voice came full and strong again, as 
 she laughed and said : Now is it all over for this 
 time, and I see how well thou lovest me ; and I 
 pray thee love me no less for this wonder thou hast 
 seen in me. But now it were better that I never 
 go under a roof again. And she took her arms 
 about Birdalone and clipped her lovingly ; and glad 
 was Birdalone to feel her so strong and solid again. 
 
 Then they sat to the board and ate a simple 
 meal of bread and cheese and wood-berries, and 
 drank milk withal ; and the wood-mother was 
 merry, and the smiles danced over her face as she 
 looked on Birdalone with all loving-kindness, so 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 471 
 
 that Birdalone wondered what was toward; but so 
 light-hearted and happy she grew, that she deemed 
 it might be nought save good. 
 
 But when they had eaten, then Birdalone did off 
 her old coat, which she said was meet enough for 
 her daily toil, and did on the fair green hunting- 
 gown and the sandal-shoon, and girt her with the 
 fair girdle which Habundia had fetched her, and 
 drew up the laps of her gown therethrough till her 
 legs were all free of the skirts. And Habundia 
 looked on her, and laughed and said: Now are 
 these white and smooth legs as bad as the gleam- 
 gown for the lying hid ; but it may no better 
 be, and thou must draw thy skirts down and 
 stumble, if needs must be, when we come to the 
 ambushment. 
 
 Birdalone reddened as she laughed at the word, 
 and took down her bow and hung her quiver at her 
 back and thrust her sharp knife into her girdle, and 
 forth they went both of them, and were presently 
 past the bent which went up from the meadows and 
 in amongst Habundia's trees. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. BIRDALONE WEND- 
 ETH THE WILDWOOD IN FELLOW- 
 SHIP WITH HABUNDIA. 
 
 NOW as they went their ways lightly through 
 the wood, spake Habundia and said : Bird- 
 alone, my child, fair is the gold ring with 
 the sapphire stone that the third finger of thy right 
 hand beareth ; seldom have I seen so fair a stone 
 as that deep blue one ; hangeth any tale thereby ? 
 Said Birdalone : Did I not tell thee thereof, wood- 
 mother, how that my beloved who is lost gave it 
 unto me the very last time I saw him, woe worth 
 the while ? Nay, said Habundia, I mind not the 
 tale. But deemest thou he would know it again if 
 he saw it ? Yea, surely, said Birdalone, hanging 
 her head ; for when first he gave it, the gift was 
 not to me, but to another woman. And she held 
 her peace, and went on with hanging head and all 
 the glee faded out of her a while. 
 
 At last she turned to Habundia, and said : I have 
 now bethought me to ask thee whither we be go- 
 ing and on what errand ; for at first I was so glad 
 at heart, I know not why, and it was so merry to 
 be wending the wood with thee freely, that I had 
 no thought in me as to whither and wherefore. 
 But now wilt thou tell me ? 
 
 Said the wood- wife: How if I were to tell thee 
 we were going a-hunting ? Birdalone said : Then 
 I should ask thee what like the quarry were. 
 And suppose it were men ? said the wood-wife. 
 Birdalone turned somewhat pale. My mother, she 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 473 
 
 said, if we be going against some of those men of 
 the Red Bands, I am not happy over it. I am no 
 warrior, and fear strokes. Said Habundia, laugh- 
 ing : Yet art thou a fell archer ; and thou mayest 
 shoot from an ambush of the thick leaves, since 
 June is in to-day. But neither would I slay or hurt 
 any man, said Birdalone, but it were to save me 
 from present death. 
 
 Habundia looked on her with a sly smile and 
 said : Well maybe though we take cover and get 
 within wind of our quarry thou shalt not need to 
 speed an arrow to him. Have patience therefore. 
 For this is a strange beast which I have marked 
 down ; he is not ill to look on, and his voice, which 
 we may well hearken, for whiles he singeth, is rather 
 sweet than surly. What meanest thou, mother? 
 said Birdalone, growing red and then paler yet; 
 what man is it ? since thy calling him a beast is a 
 jest, is it not ? 
 
 Nay, said Habundia, I neither name him nor 
 know him ; only I deem him by no means to be 
 one of the Red Band. For the rest, he maybe a 
 man in a beast's skin, or a beast in a man's skin, 
 for aught I know ; whereas he seems, so far as I 
 have seen him, to be not wholly man-like or wholly 
 beast-like. But now let us hold our peace of him 
 till we be come nigher to his haunt. 
 
 So they went on their way, and Birdalone said 
 but little, while the wood-wife was of many words 
 and gay. They made all diligence, for Birdalone 
 was not soon wearied, and moreover as now she 
 was anxious and eager to see what would befall. 
 
474 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 which she might not but deem would be something 
 great. 
 
 They went without stay till past noon, when 
 they were come to a little shady dale wherethrough 
 ran a clear stream ; there they rested and bathed 
 them, and thereafter sat under the boughs and ate 
 the dainty meat which the wood-wife provided, 
 howsoever she came by it ; and when they had 
 rested a while, the wood-wife turned the talk once 
 more unto Arthur the Black Squire, and would 
 have Birdalone tell her all nicely what manner 
 of man he was ; and Birdalone was nothing loth 
 thereto ; for had she her will she had talked of him 
 day-long. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. THE WOOD-WIFE 
 BRINGETH BIRDALONE TO THE 
 SIGHT OF ARTHUR IN THE WILD- 
 WOOD. 
 
 NOW they go on again, no less speedily than 
 before, and rest but little, until it was hard 
 on an hour before sunset. And now Ha- 
 bundia began to go warily, as if they were come 
 anigh to their journey's end and the thing that they 
 sought. They were come by now to a long bent 
 of the forest well grown with big-boled oak-trees, 
 not very close together, so that short fine green- 
 sward was all underneath them ; and Habundia 
 went heedfully from bole to bole, as if she would 
 be ready to cover herself if need were ; and Birda- 
 lone went after her, and was now flushed of face, 
 and her eyes glittered, and her heart beat fast, and 
 her legs trembled under her, as she went running 
 from tree to tree. 
 
 So came they nigh to the crown of the bent, 
 and before them were the oak-trees sparser and 
 smaller as they went down the further side, which 
 seemed by their sudden shortening to be steeper 
 than the hither side ; and betwixt them showed the 
 topmost of thorn and whitebeam and logwood, 
 intertwined with eglantine and honeysuckle and 
 the new shoots of the traveller's joy. There the 
 wood-wife put forth her hand to bid Birdalone stay, 
 who came up to her friend and stood before her 
 eager and quivering: and anon came the sound of 
 a man's voice singing, though they could hear no 
 
476 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 words in it as yet amidst the rustle of the trees and 
 the tumult of song which the blackbirds and thros- 
 tles raised in the dale below them. 
 
 Then spake the wood- wife softly : Hearken, we 
 are right and the time is good, our beast is giving 
 tongue : now below us is the bent-side steep, and 
 goeth down into a very little dale with a clear 
 stream running amidst ; and therein is the very 
 lair of the thing that we are hunting. Wherefore 
 now let us slip warily down between the bushes 
 till we get close to the bottom, and then belike we 
 shall see the very creature quite close, and we shall 
 then consider and think what we shall do with him. 
 
 Birdalone had no voice wherewith to answer her, 
 but she stole quietly along by her side till they 
 came to the bank of the dale and plunged into the 
 thicket that flourished there, and fell to threading it, 
 making them as small as might be. But ere they 
 had gone but a httle way the wordless song of what 
 was below had ceased, and they heard the sweet 
 tingle of the string-play, and the wood-wife stayed 
 her to hearken, and the smiles went rippling over 
 her face and she beat time with her fingers ; but 
 Birdalone, she stared wildly before her, and would 
 have scrambled down the bank straightway at all 
 hazards, for that string-play was a melody of the 
 Castle of the Quest, but Habundia withheld her by 
 the arm. And then suddenly the music died, and 
 there came up a voice of wailing and lamenting, 
 and Birdalone put her hands and held the palms 
 tight against her ears, and was at point to cry out 
 aloud herself; but Habundia drew a hand of her 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 477 
 
 down and whispered into her ear : Child, child, 
 make thyself strong and forbear, and then per- 
 chance joy may come to thee ; hold thy peace and 
 come softly along with me ! 
 
 So Birdalone forbore, and strove with her pas- 
 sion, though the sobs rent her bosom for a while; 
 and by then the loud lamenting waned and was 
 done, and the sound of sobbing came up from be- 
 low, as it had been an echo of Birdalone's grief 
 
 Then Habundia drew her on again till they saw 
 the level of the dale and its stream piecemeal be- 
 twixt the leaves, and they had a glimpse of a man 
 on the hither side of the stream ; and again they 
 went lower, till they were well-nigh on a level with 
 the greensward of the dale; and as Birdalone knelt 
 with head bent low, and her hands covering her 
 eyes, the wood-wife put away from before her the 
 thick leaves of a hazel-bush, and whispering said : 
 Child, child ! look forth now and see what is before 
 thee, and see if thou knowest him, or if he be strange 
 to thee, and thy mother hath done nought for thee 
 when all is said. 
 
 Birdalone looked up, pale and wild-eyed, and 
 into the dale, and saw a man sitting on the grass 
 by the stream-side with his head bowed down on 
 to his knees and his face covered with his hands ; 
 he was clad but in two or three deerskins hung 
 about him, with a strip of skin for a girdle, where- 
 in was thrust a short sword ; his brown hair hung 
 down long and shaggy over his face. Close by his 
 side lay a little harp, and further off a short spear 
 roughly hefted with an ash-staff. He was beating 
 
478 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 the earth with his feet and writhing him about over 
 them. And Birdalone looked, and her breath well- 
 nigh failed her. For presently he sat more quietly, 
 and lifted up his head, and she saw his face that it 
 was Arthur, her beloved ; and now she durst not 
 move lest he should spring up and flee away; and 
 the mingled pain and longing within her was sweet 
 indeed, but well-nigh deadly. 
 
 Now his hand sought round to his harp, and he 
 took it in his arms and fondled it as it were, and 
 his fingers went among the strings, and anon the 
 voice of it came forth, and it was nought changed 
 from the last time it spake, and Birdalone heark- 
 ened breathlessly, till the melody died again and 
 Arthur looked about him and raised his face as a 
 dog when it fares to howl. 
 
 Then Birdalone gave a great cry, and leapt forth 
 out of the thicket and stood on the greensward with 
 nought betwixt them two, and she stretched out 
 her arms to her beloved and cried out: O! no, no, 
 no! do it not, I beseech thee, lest I deem that thou 
 art all changed, and that the man and the dear heart 
 beloved of thee has gone out of thee and left thee 
 but a beast in a man's shape ! 
 
 He leapt up as she spake, and thrust forward his 
 head and looked fierce at her, and cried out: What! 
 art thou come again ? This is the second time I 
 have seen thee, thou imao;e of her that hath tor- 
 mented me so long; of her that left me in my most 
 need and hid herself away from me. Hah! a man, 
 sayest thou ? Did I not strive with it, and hold my 
 manhood so long as I might ; and at last it might 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 479 
 
 no longer be, and I became a beast and a man- 
 slayer ? But what avails it to talk with thee, since 
 thou art but the image of her that hath wasted my 
 life. Yet perchance of the image I may make an 
 end since I may not lay hand on the very destroyer 
 herself; and, woe's me, how I loved her ! yea, and 
 do still ; but not thee, O false image ! 
 
 And forthwith he drew the blade from his girdle 
 and sprang forward at Birdalone; and she cowered 
 and cringed, but moved not else. But therewithal 
 the wood-wife came leaping through the bushes, 
 and she nocked an arrow on her bended bow, and 
 threatened him therewith, and cried out : Thou 
 man-beast, I will slay thee if thou hurt my child 
 and my dear ; so forbear ! Nay, I tell thee more, 
 unless thou make her as glad at the sight of thee 
 as I meant her to be, I will in the long run slay 
 thee ; so look to it. 
 
 He laughed and said : What ! there is another 
 image of the love that wasted me, is there ! Nay, 
 but by the Hallows, this new-comer is the first one, 
 and the one who chattered at me is the second. 
 Or is it this, that all women now have the sem- 
 blance of the evil one that has undone me, and 
 there is nought else left ? 
 
 And he stood staring at Birdalone and moved 
 not a while ; and she stood with her hands before 
 her face cringing before him. Then he raised his 
 arm and cast the weapon far into the bushes of the 
 bank-side, and then came forward and stood before 
 Birdalone, and drew down her hands from her face 
 and stared in the eyes of her, holding her by the 
 
480 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 two arms; and he said: Thou hast forgotten now, 
 belike, how fair a Hfe we two might have lived if 
 thou hadst not fled from me and spoiled me. 
 
 And thou ! by the looks of thee, for thou art 
 sleek and fair, though this moment thou art pale 
 for fear of me, thou hast lived a happy life through 
 all these years, with many a merry thing to think 
 of: and dost thou deem that my life was happy, 
 or that I thought of any merry thing, or of any- 
 thing save my sorrow ? Dost thou doubt it ? go 
 ask the good spears of Greenford, or the Riders of 
 the Red Hold, and the field of the slaughter ! If 
 there was little joy there, less was there elsewhere. 
 
 He left go of her therewith and stood trembling 
 before her, and she bowed down and put palm to 
 palm and held them out to him as one who prays ; 
 and she knew not what she did. 
 
 Then he cried out with a lamentable cry and 
 said : O woe's me ! for I have frighted her and 
 scared the wit out of her, so that she knows not 
 who I am nor what I would ; and I would pray to 
 her and beseech her to pity me, and not depart from 
 me again or mock me with images of herself. 
 
 Then he went down on his knees to her, and he 
 also joined his hands to pray to her; but it seemed 
 as if she was stricken to stone, so wholly she moved 
 not. But for him, he sank his forehead to earth, 
 and then he rolled over and his limbs stretched out, 
 and his head turned aside and blood gushed out 
 from his mouth. But Birdalone shrieked out and 
 cast herself on his body, and cried : I have found 
 him, and he is dead ! he is dead, and I have slain 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 481 
 
 him, because I was a timorous fool and feared him ; 
 and he was coming to his right mind and knew me 
 for what I was ! 
 
 But Habundia came and stood over them, and 
 drew up Birdalone, and said : Nay, nay, be com- 
 forted ! for now he is thus, and the strength is gone 
 out of him for a while, we may deal with him. 
 Abide, and I will fetch the blood-staunching herb 
 and the sleepy herb, and then we will heal him, and 
 he will come to his right mind and be a man again. 
 
 Therewith she hastened away and was gone but 
 a little; and meanwhile Birdalone knelt down by 
 her love and wiped the blood from him, and caressed 
 his sword-hardened hands and moaned over him. 
 But when the wood-wife came back she put Bird- 
 alone aside once more, and knelt down by the squire 
 and raised his head, and laid the blood-stauncher 
 to his mouth and his heart, and muttered words 
 over him, while Birdalone looked over her shoulder 
 with her pale face; then the she-leech fetched water 
 from the stream in a cup which she drew from her 
 wallet, and she washed his face, and he came some- 
 what to himself, so that she might give him drink 
 of the water ; and yet more he came to himself 
 So then she took the sleepy herb and bruised it in 
 her hands and put in his mouth and again said 
 words over him, and presently his head fell back 
 and his eyes closed and he slept peacefully. 
 
 She stood up then and turned to Birdalone and 
 said : Now, my child, have we done all that we may 
 do, save that we shall bring him to a place where 
 the dew and the sun shall not torment him and 
 
 31 
 
482 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 sicken him ; for he shall lie thus till the sun comes 
 up to-morrow, or longer ; and fear not, for when 
 he awaketh he shall be in his right mind, and shall 
 know thee and love thee. This I swear to thee 
 by the earth and the sun and the woodland. 
 
 Said Birdalone, trembling yet : O mother, but 
 may I kiss him and caress him ? Yea, surely, said 
 the wood-mother, smiling in her face, but be not 
 too long over it, for lo ! the last of the sun, and it 
 were better that he be under cover ere the twilight 
 falls. 
 
 Birdalone knelt down by her love quietly at that 
 word, and fell to kissing him softly, and laid her 
 cheek to his, and called him gentle names such as 
 none can tell again without shame, till the wood- 
 wife laid her hand on her shoulder and said kindly 
 and sweetly : Rise up now, for thou must make it 
 enough for this present ; thou shalt have time 
 enough hereafter for more and much more. 
 
 So Birdalone arose and said : How shall we bear 
 him to his place .? Shall I not take him by the shoul- 
 ders and thou by the legs ? For I am stronger than 
 thou after all these years. 
 
 Laughed the wood-wife : Nay, little one, said 
 she ; thou knowest me not utterly as yet. Thou 
 shalt not bear him at all, nor any part of him ; I 
 am strong enough for more than that ; see thou ! 
 And she stooped down and took him up in her 
 arms as if he were a little child, and stepped off 
 lightly with him ; but looked back over her shoul- 
 der and said to Birdalone : But thou mayest walk 
 by me and hold a hand of him as we go, though it 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 483 
 
 will hinder me somewhat ; but I know thine heart 
 and would pleasure thee, my child. 
 
 Birdalone ran up to her and thanked her and 
 kissed her, and took Arthur's left hand, while Ha- 
 bundia bore him on down the dale and out of it, 
 and still along the stream till they came to a place 
 where it was narrow on either side thereof, and a 
 sheer rock came down so near to the water that 
 there was but a strip of greensward three yards 
 wide betwixt water and rock ; and in the face of 
 the rock was a cave wide enough for a man to 
 enter by stooping somewhat. Therein the wood- 
 wife lightly bore Arthur, and Birdalone followed ; 
 and they found the cave dry and roomy within ; 
 there was a bed therein of dry heather and bracken, 
 and thereon Habundia laid her burden, and said : 
 Now, my child, there is nought to do but abide 
 till he comes to himself again, which may be some 
 time to-morrow ; and be of good cheer, for he will 
 come to his right self, but he will be weak and 
 humble ; but I shall have meat and drink ready for 
 him. Now if thou wilt be ruled by me, thou wilt 
 keep out of the way when he awakens ; moreover, 
 be thou not scared if I meet his awakening with 
 another shape than that which thou hast known 
 of me ; for sure it is that it will trouble his wits 
 over-much if again he seeth the two of us alike. 
 But fear not ; for thy sake, my child, I will take no 
 ugly shape, though it may well be less beauteous 
 than thine. 
 
 I will do what thou wilt, mother, said Birdalone, 
 for I see that thou art helping me all thou mayest ; 
 
 J 
 
484 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 yet I beseech thee let me sit by him till the time 
 of his awakening draweth nigh. 
 
 The wood-wife smiled and nodded yeasay on 
 her, and they sat down, both of them, beside the 
 sleeping man, and the day died into the night as 
 they sat hearkening to the ripple of the brook and 
 the song of the nightingales. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. THE WOOD-MOTH- 
 ER CHANGETH HER FORM TO THAT 
 OF A WOMAN STRICKEN IN YEARS. 
 
 WHEN the morrow came, there yet lay 
 Arthur sleeping peacefully, and Birdalone 
 awoke from the slumber which had at last 
 fallen on her, and looked about her and saw not 
 Habundia in the cave; so she arose and bent over 
 Arthur and kissed him, and so went forth and stood 
 in the door and looked about her. And she was 
 still dim-eyed with her just departed slumber and 
 the brightness of the morning sunlight, and she 
 scarce knew whether it were a part of a dream, or 
 a sight that was verily before her, that she seemed 
 to see one coming across the brook toward her, 
 stepping heedfully from stone to stone thereof: a 
 woman stricken in years, but slim and trim and 
 upright, clad in a gown of green cloth, with a tippet 
 of some white fur. When she was come on to the 
 greensward she spake to Birdalone in a sweet voice, 
 but thin with eld, and gave her the sele of the day ; 
 and Birdalone was somewhat afraid to see a new- 
 comer, but she greeted her, drawing back a little 
 from her shyly. But the old woman said: What 
 maketh thee here, my daughter ? Dost thou not 
 know that this is my land and my house, and that 
 I am said not to be unmighty in these woods ? 
 
 I pray thee pardon me if I have done amiss, 
 said Birdalone ; but here have I a sick friend, a 
 young man, and I would pray thee suffer him to 
 abide here in this cave a little longer ; for there hath 
 
486 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 been also another friend, a woman, but she hath 
 gone out while I slept, belike to gather simples, 
 for she is wise in leechcraft, and is tending the sick 
 man. I pray thee humbly to suffer us lest we lose 
 our friend. 
 
 As she spake, she heard the carline chuckle 
 softly, and at last she said : Why, Birdalone, my 
 dear, dost thou not know me after all these years ? 
 Look on me again, look ! and thou shalt see that 
 I am not so much changed from what thou sawest 
 me last night. I am still thine image, my dear, 
 only I was the image of what thou wert, and now 
 am I the image of what thou shalt be when two 
 score years and ten of happy life have worn for 
 thee. Tell me, am I now aught like to thy mother 
 in the flesh ? 
 
 How hast thou frighted me, mother, said Bird- 
 alone ; I thought that my friend had forsaken me, 
 and that perchance the new-comer was another 
 witch like unto the old one, and that I was never 
 to be at rest and happy. But as to my mother in 
 the flesh, nay, thou art not now wholly like unto 
 her ; and sooth to say I shall be fainer when thou 
 hast thine own shape of me young back again, for 
 I love thee not so much as now thou art. 
 
 The wood-wife laughed : Well, she said, thou 
 shalt not see over-much of me in this shape ; and 
 that the less because of something I shall now tell 
 thee, to wit, that I have been thinking the matter 
 over, and I would have thee leave us twain together 
 alone before the young man awaketh. I would 
 have thee get thee home and abide him there ; it 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 487 
 
 shall not be long I promise thee ; and this also, 
 that he shall come home to thee sound in body 
 and whole in limb. 
 
 Birdalone's countenance fell, and she said : 
 Why this second mind, mother ? why, I pray 
 thee ? Said Habundia' : I fear for thy love lest 
 he be not strong enough to open his eyes upon 
 thy face ; but after he hath been a day in the 
 woods, and I have spoken to him diversely and 
 cheered him with the hope of meeting thee, he may 
 well be strong enough to seek thee for a mile's 
 length, and find thine house first and then thee. 
 So now wilt thou obey me ? Nay, if thou must 
 needs weep, I will be gone into the thicket till 
 thou hast done, thou wilful ! Birdalone smiled 
 through her tears, and said : I pray thee pardon 
 my wilfulness, mother, and I will depart without 
 turning back into the cave. Nay, said Habundia, 
 there is no need for so much haste as that : I will 
 in now, and do my leechdoms with the sick man. 
 But do thou go across the stream, thou barefoot, 
 and thou wilt find on the other side, by the foot 
 of the quicken-tree yonder, honeycombs and white 
 bread and a bicker of wild goats' milk. Bathe 
 thee then if thou wilt, and bring those matters over 
 hither ; and then shalt thou go in and kiss thy 
 mate's sick face with thy fresh one, and thereafter 
 shall we sit here by the ripple of the water and 
 break our fast ; and lastly, thou shalt go in and 
 kiss again and then take to the road. But tell 
 me, deemest thou surely that thou canst find it 
 again ? Yea, surely, mother, said Birdalone ; I am 
 
488 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 wood-woman enough for that ; and now I will 
 do all thy will. And therewith she stepped out 
 lightly on to the greensward, and sought up the 
 stream till she found a smooth-grounded pool 
 meet for her bath, and when that was done, she 
 fetched the victual and came back to the wood- 
 wife ; then they two sat down together, and ate 
 and drank while the water rippled at their feet. 
 But when they were done, Birdalone gat her into 
 the cave again, and kissed the sleeping man fondly, 
 and came forth lightly and stood a moment be- 
 fore the wood-wife, and said : Tell me this at least, 
 mother, when shall he be there ? To-morrow, 
 quoth the wood-wife ; and, for my part, I would 
 keep thee within doors and abide him there, lest 
 there be trouble ; for he may not yet be as strong 
 as the strongest. Birdalone hung down her head 
 and answered not, but said presently : Farewell, 
 wood-mother, and be thou blessed. Then she 
 took up her bow and betook her lightly to the 
 woodland way, and the wood-wife stood looking 
 at her till the thicket had hidden her, and then 
 turned back and went into the cave. 
 
CHAPTER XXV. THE WOOD-WIFE 
 HEALETH AND TENDETH THE 
 BLACK SQUIRE. 
 
 SHE stood over Arthur for a minute or two, 
 and then stooped down and whispered a word 
 in his ear, and presently he stirred on the bed 
 and half opened his eyes, but straightway turned 
 on his side, as if to gather sleep to him, but she 
 took him by the shoulder and said in a clear 
 voice : Nay, knight, nay ; hast thou not slept 
 enough ^ is there nought for thee to do ? He sat 
 up in the bed and rubbed his eyes, and his face 
 was come to its wholesome colour, and his eyes 
 looked out quietly and calmly as he looked about 
 the cave and saw the wood-wife standing by him ; 
 and he spake in a voice which was somewhat weak, 
 but wherein was no passion of rage or woodness : 
 Where am I then ? and who art thou, dame ? 
 She said : Thou art in a cave of the woodland, 
 and I am for one thing thy leech, and meseemeth 
 thou desirest to eat and to drink. He smiled and 
 nodded his head ; and she fetched him the milk, 
 and he drank a long draught, and sighed there- 
 after, as one who is pleased ; and she smiled on 
 him, and fetched him the bread and the honey, and 
 he ate and drank again, and then lay down and fell 
 fast asleep. And she suffered his slumber for two 
 hours or so, and then awoke him again ; and again 
 he asked where he was and what was she, but she 
 said as before. And said she : The next thing thou 
 hast to do is to arise, as thou well mayest, and take 
 
490 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 this raiment, which is fair and clean, and go wash 
 thee in the brook and come back to me ; and then 
 we will talk, and thou shalt tell me of how it was 
 with thee, and peradventure I may tell thee some- 
 what of how it shall be with thee. As she spoke 
 she went to a coffer which stood in a nook of the 
 cave, and drew forth from it a shirt and hosen and 
 shoon, and a surcoat and hood of fine black cloth, 
 and a gilded girdle and a fair sword, red-sheathed, 
 and said : These may serve thy turn for the pres- 
 ent, so take them and don them, and thou shalt 
 look like a squire at least, if not a knight. 
 
 So he arose as one in a dream and went out; but 
 as he passed by her she saw something gleaming on 
 his breast, and noted that it was Birdalone's fair 
 sapphire ring which hung about his neck ; so she 
 smiled, and said under her breath : Crafty is my 
 dear daughter ! But that shall save me some words 
 at least. And she abided his return. 
 
 Anon he cometh back clad in the fair raiment, 
 with the sword by his side ; and the wood-wife smote 
 her palms together and cried out : Now indeed thou 
 art fair and well-liking, and a fair lady might well 
 take pleasure in beholding thee. 
 
 But his brow was knit, and he looked sullen and 
 angry, and he said : What is all this play ? and 
 where gattest thou this ring which I found e'en 
 now about my neck ? And who art thou, and why 
 have I been brought hither? 
 
 His eyes looked fiercely on her as he spake, 
 holding out his palm with the ring lying thereon. 
 But the wood-wife answered : Many questions, fair 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 491 
 
 youth ! but I will tell thee : the play is for thine 
 healing and pleasure, whereas both sick hast thou 
 been and sorry. As to the ring, it is thou hast got 
 it and not I. But I will tell thee this, that I have 
 seen it on the finger of a fair damsel who haunteth 
 the woodland not far hence. As to what I am, 
 that were a long tale to tell if I told it all ; but be- 
 lieve this meanwhile, that I am the lady and mis- 
 tress of hereabouts, and am not without power over 
 my folk and my land. And as to why thou wert 
 brought hither, I brought thee because I had no 
 better house handy for a sick man to lie in. 
 
 Then Arthur stood a long while considering the 
 ring that lay on his palm, and at last he put his 
 hand on the wood-wife's shoulder, and looked in- 
 to her face beseechingly, and said : O mother, if 
 thou be mighty be merciful withal, and have pity 
 on me ! Thou callest me a youth, and so I may 
 be in regard to thee ; but I tell thee it is five long 
 years and there hath been no other thought in my 
 heart but what was loathsome to me, and it hath 
 worn and wasted my youth, so that it waneth and 
 withereth and is nought. O, if thou be mighty, 
 bring me to her that I may see her at least one time 
 before I die. And therewith he fell down on his 
 knees before her, and kissed the hem of her gown, 
 and wept. But she drew him up and looked on 
 him with the merry countenance of a kind old wo- 
 man, and said : Nay, nay, I am not so hard to be 
 won to thy helping that thou needest pray so sore 
 and weep : here need we tarry no longer, and if 
 thou wilt come with me we shall go seek the damsel 
 
492 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 who bore this ring, though how it should come to 
 thee why should I know ? Neither do I know if 
 the said ring-bearer be the one woman whom thou 
 needest. But I v/ill tell thee at once that she is a 
 dear friend of mine. 
 
 Then Arthur threw his arms about her, and kissed 
 her cheeks and blessed her, while she laughed on 
 him and said : Nay, fair sir, if thou wilt do so much 
 with the withered branch, what wilt thou with the 
 blossom of the tree ? And he was abashed before 
 her, but hope made his heart to dance. 
 
 So the wood-wife took up her bow, slung her 
 quiver at her back, and girt her short sword to her, 
 and then led him forth, and so into the thicket out 
 of the dale and forth into the oaken bent, and 
 lightly she led him thereafter through the wood- 
 land. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. THE BLACK SQUIRE 
 TELLETH THE WOOD-WIFE OF HIS 
 DOINGS SINCE BIRDALONE WENT 
 FROM THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST. 
 
 AS they went Habundia said to Arthur : Now 
 shalt thou talk and tell for the shortening 
 of the way, and let us know somewhat of 
 thy story. But first I must tell thee, for thou 
 mayest not know it, so witless as then thou wast, 
 that yesterday we found thee down in the dale yon- 
 der, playing the string-play sweetly indeed, but 
 otherwise dight like a half beast more than a man, 
 so that we wondered at thee and pitied thee. 
 
 Arthur knit his brows as if he strove with some 
 memory and might not master it; then he said: 
 Thou sayest We, who then was the other ? Said 
 Habundia : I had a dear friend with me. Quoth 
 he : And did she pity me also ? Yea, said the wood- 
 wife, else scarce had she been a friend to me. O 
 let us on swiftly, said Arthur, so long as the time 
 may be ! And they quickened their pace and ate 
 up the way speedily. 
 
 Presently spake the wood-wife again : Now for 
 the tale of thee, fair sir ; yet will I shorten it some- 
 what by telling thee that I know thy name, that 
 thou art Arthur the Black Squire of the Castle of 
 the Quest. He stared at that word, and said: How 
 knewest thou this ? howcouldst thou guess it, who 
 hast never seen me erst? A friend told me, said 
 she ; too long it were as now to tell thee thereof 
 Rather do thou tell me how thou didst fare when 
 
 I, 
 
494 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 ye found thy friend gone from the castle that 
 time ye came home from the winning of the Red 
 Hold. 
 
 Arthur stared astonished, and said : What is it ? 
 Dost thou verily know my love ? or art thou a 
 sorceress and knowest somewhat of me by spell- 
 work ? I am somewhat more than a sorceress, may- 
 happen, said the wood-wife ; but heed it not, since 
 I am thy friend to-day, but tell me what I ask, 
 that I may have all the tale of thee ; it will serve 
 for the shortening of the way. Said Arthur : And 
 who but I needeth it as short as may be .? so stand 
 we not loitering here, and I will talk as we wend 
 on speedily. 
 
 On they sped therefore, and said Arthur : How 
 did I fare ? as one stunned, mother, and knew not 
 what had happened ; and when I heard their bab- 
 ble of how she had done wrong here and right 
 there, I was driven half mad by it, so that I hast- 
 ened back to the Red Hold, and became the cap- 
 tain of Greenford, to hunt down their scattered 
 foemen ; for I said to myself that needs must I 
 rage and slay, and that were worser amongst my 
 friends than mine unfriends. What then .? that 
 business came to an end ; though all the ill men 
 were not slain, but all were driven away from the 
 parts of Greenford ; and sooth to say they durst 
 not come anywhere nigh where they heard of me. 
 Then became each day like every other, and the 
 thought of my hope and my despair ate mine heart 
 out, and I was of no avail unto any. Now it so 
 happened, amidst my many battles and chases, I 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 495 
 
 had hunted the bands of the Red Hold into the 
 northwest marches of the woodland ; and I noted 
 that even they, howsoever hard bestead, and the 
 worst of men to boot, would scarce at the first be 
 driven into the thickets thereof, though at last, 
 whether or no they have made covenant with the 
 devils there I know not, they have betaken them 
 to the depths of the wood and have borne off wo- 
 men from the dwellings and got children on them, 
 and are like to breed an evil folk. That then I noted 
 that this Evilshaw was a dwelling loathed and des- 
 ert, and little like it was that any would meddle with 
 me there. Three years had worn since I was cast 
 away at the Castle of the Quest by her that loved 
 me, who must needs sacrifice both her and me to 
 the busy devil of folly ; and I also deemed that if I 
 sought for her I should not find her ; and yet more 
 forsooth, that if I found her she would be as hard 
 unto me as when she fled from me. And as for me, 
 I was gotten hard and crabbed, and no man, if his 
 heart would let him, would have aught to say to 
 me. So I gat me away from the Red Hold, as I 
 had from the Castle of the Quest, and I gave out 
 that I would enter into religion, and forbade any 
 man to follow me. Neither did any desire it. First 
 of all I set me down at the very outskirts of the 
 woodland, and raised me a bower there, rude and 
 ill-shapen. Few folk came anigh me, and yet some 
 few, charcoal-burners, and hunters of the edges of 
 the wood, and such-like. These deemed me a holy 
 man, whereas I was but surly. Somewhat also they 
 feared me, whereas in some of their huntings or 
 
496 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 goings and comings after prey I had put forth all 
 my strength, eked out by the lore of knighthood, 
 which was strange to them. One man there was of 
 them who was fashioned of the minstrel craft by 
 nature, and who forgathered with me specially, till 
 we became friends, and he was a solace to me, with 
 his tales and his songs of a rougher people than I 
 had been wont to deal with. But when I had been 
 in that place for two years he died of a sickness, 
 and I was left lonely, and my soreness of heart fell 
 upon me till I scarce knew what next I should do. 
 So I fared away yet deeper into the wildwood, tak- 
 ing with me the harp which my friend had given 
 me before he died. It was summer, and I wandered 
 about ever deeper into the wood, until belike I 
 had scarce been able to win out of it if I had tried. 
 At last, when the autumn came, I built myself 
 again some sort of a bower in a clearing of the 
 wood wherein was water, and the resort of plente- 
 ous venison. 
 
 What befell next ? My mind is not over-clear 
 concerning it all, for I was now becoming more of 
 a beast than a man. But this I know, that some 
 men of the bands whom I had chased happened on 
 me. They knew me not for their old foeman, but 
 of their kind it was to torment and slay any man 
 whom they might lightly overcome. Yet was not 
 the battle so over-light but that I slew and hurt 
 divers of them ere they got me under and stripped 
 me and bound my hands and tormented me, after 
 the manner that the devils shall do with them when 
 they shall go to their reward. Yet somehow I lived, 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 497 
 
 though they deemed me dead, and I crawled away 
 thence when they were gone ; and somehow I was 
 healed of my body, but I was confused of my wit 
 thereafter, and now can call to mhid but little of 
 what befell me as I strayed from place to place, save 
 that I remember I was hapless and heart-sore ever : 
 and also meseemeth that I saw visions at whiles, and 
 those who had been in my life before these things, 
 their images would come before me to mock me as I 
 sat singing whiles and whiles playing the string-play 
 (for my harp I bore ever with me) ; and whiles I be- 
 wailed me, and called for help on them that would 
 not or might not help me. And now I may not even 
 tell the years of my abiding in the desert, how many 
 they be. But I pray thee let us on more swiftly yet. 
 Said the wood-wife : Thou hast told me but little 
 of thy life, Black Squire, but it is enough maybe ; 
 and I see that thou mayst not tell me more because 
 thou hast thy mind set on what may betide thee 
 when this day is over. But thou must know that 
 thou hast come into the wood of Evilshaw, wherein, 
 besides those savage men who quelled thee and their 
 like, there be uncouth things no few, and wights 
 that be not of the race of Adam ; wherefore no great 
 marvel is it that thou sawest visions, and images of 
 them that were not by thee. Yea, said he, but 
 one vision had I that confused and overcame me 
 more than all others, and meseemeth that came to 
 me not long ago. For first I saw the shape of her 
 that my soul desireth ever, and it wept and lamented 
 for me ; and then for a httle I seemed as if I were com- 
 ing forth from my confusion of wit ; when lo ! there 
 
 32 
 
498 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 issued from the thicket another image of my be- 
 loved and blamed me and threatened me. God wot 
 good cause there Vv'as of the blame. But tell me, 
 mother, since thou callest thyself wise, what may 
 this portend ? 
 
 The wood-wife laughed : Since I am wise, said 
 she, I will foretell thee good days. And now we 
 will talk no more of thee or thy love or thy sorrow, 
 but since thou wilt so fiercely devour the way, I 
 will tell thee a tale or two of this wood and its wights 
 to save us from over-much weariness. 
 
 So did she, talking and telling as they went ; and 
 she went on a pace before him, and howsoever long 
 or hardly he might stride he might not overgo her. 
 And so fast they went, that they were within a little 
 way of the Oak of Tryst a good while before the 
 sun had set, though they had set out from the cave 
 three hours after the hour when Birdalone and the 
 wood-wife had left the House under the Wood on 
 the yesterday. They had come to a steep rock that 
 rose up from a water's side, and the wood-wife bade 
 stay, whether Arthur would or no, and she made 
 him eat and drink, bringing the victual and wine 
 from out of a cleft in the said rock. And she held 
 him there till the night was come and there was a 
 glimmer of the rising moon in the east, and he was 
 ill at ease and restless ; but still she held him there 
 till the moon rose high and shone upon them, and 
 the shadows of the oak-boughs lay black all around. 
 
 Then she bade him arise, and let him on to the 
 Oak of Tryst, yea and somewhat beyond it toward 
 the great water. Then she spake to him : Black 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 499 
 
 Squire, I am now come home, and will lead thee 
 no further ; I was deeming that we should have 
 slept in the wood a good way from this, and then 
 would I have brought thee on thy way to-morrow 
 morning ; but the eagerness ofthine heart hath made 
 thy feet so speedy, that we be here somewhat rathe, 
 and yet I am not ill-pleased therewith. Then she 
 turned him about and said : Look down the bent 
 and tell me what thou seest. He said : I see the 
 boles of goodly trees, and betwixt them the gleam- 
 ing of a great water. She said : Go thitherward then 
 while the moon is yet at her brightest, and thou 
 shalt presently come to wide meads lying along the 
 water, and a stream running through them. Enter 
 then into the meads and look about thee, and thou 
 shalt see a little house (there is none other nigh) 
 standing just across the said stream ; go up thither 
 boldly and crave guesting from whomsoever thou 
 shalt find there, and maybe things shall go after 
 thy mind. More than this I may not do for thee. 
 Farewell then, and if thou wilt thou mayst meet 
 me again ; that is to say, that which is verily me: but 
 it is like that this shape which hath been striding on 
 with thee daylong thou shalt not see any more. 
 
 He looked on her wondering, for she seemed to 
 grow goodly and stately before his eyes. But even 
 as he stretched forth his hand to take hers, she 
 turned about suddenly and fared into the wood 
 out of his sight, wending full as swiftly as might 
 have been looked for. Then he drew his sword 
 and turned his face from the wood, and went down 
 toward the water. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. SIR ARTHUR COM- 
 ETH TO THE HOUSE UNDER THE 
 WOOD. 
 
 SO came Arthur into the meadows, and went 
 eagerly but warily over the dewy grass. And 
 here and there a cow rose before him and 
 went bundling down the mead a little way, and the 
 owls cried out from behind him, and a fox barked 
 from the thicket's edge. Then he found himself 
 on the stream-side, and he stayed and looked from 
 side to side, and lo ! on the other side of the stream 
 a little house that looked familiar to him as a yeo- 
 man's dwelling in the builded lands, and the thatch 
 thereon shone under the moon and its windows 
 were yellow with candle-light ; and so homely it 
 seemed to him, that he thrust his sword into the 
 sheath and lightly crossed the brook, and came to 
 the door and laid his hand upon the latch and lifted 
 it and shoved the door, and all was open before 
 him. 
 
 His eyes, coming from the night, dazzled with 
 the bright light of the candles, but he saw a fair 
 woman rising up in her place, and he said : May 
 a traveller in the woodland be welcome here to- 
 night, dealing with all in all honour? 
 
 But the woman came toward him holding out 
 her two hands, and ere he could cry out that he 
 knew her, she had thrown herself upon him, and 
 had cast her arms about him and was kissing his 
 face, and murmuring : O welcome indeed ! wel- 
 come, welcome, and welcome ! And so sore did 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 501 
 
 his past grief and his desire move him, that he was 
 weak before her, and held down his hands and let 
 her do. And both those were breathless with won- 
 der and joy and longing; and they stood aloof a 
 little in a while and looked on each other, she with 
 heaving bosom and streaming eyes, and he with 
 arms stretched forth and lips that strove with his 
 heart's words and might not utter them; but once 
 more she gave herself to him, and he took her in 
 his arms strongly now, so that she was frail and 
 weak before him, and he laid his cheek to her cheek 
 and his lips to her lips, and kissed her eyes and her 
 shoulders and murmured over her. And then again 
 they stood apart, and she took him by the hand 
 and led him to the settle, and set him down by 
 her, and herself by him ; and a while they said 
 nought. Then she spake as one who had come 
 to herself and was calm, though her heart was 
 aflame for love : Tell me, love, when thine hand 
 was on the latch didst thou look to find me here 
 in this house ? for thine hand it was that waked 
 me ; I heard not thy foot before the threshold, for 
 I was weary and slumbering. Alas ! that I lost 
 the sound of thy feet ! He spake, and his voice 
 sounded false unto him, as if it came from another's 
 mouth: I wot not; the woman that led me nearby 
 seemed to bid me hope. Then he said: Nay, the 
 sooth is that I should have died if I had not found 
 thee here ; I have been sick so long with hoping. 
 Again were they silent till she said : I would that 
 I had heard thee crossing the brook. But the 
 wood-wife bade me look for thee no earlier than 
 
502 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 to-morrow; else had I time enough; and I would 
 have made the house trim with the new green 
 boughs, and dighted our bed with rose blooms ; and I 
 would have done on me my shining gown that the 
 wood-wife gave me. For indeed she was but clad 
 in her scanty smock and nought else. 
 
 But he laid his head on her bosom and kissed 
 her all about, and said: Nay, my own love, it is 
 well, it is better. And she murmured over him : 
 O friend, my dear, think not that I had will to hide 
 me from thee. All that is here of me is thine, and 
 thine, and thine. 
 
 And she took his hand and they arose together, 
 and she said : O friend, I fled from thee once and 
 left thee lonely of me because I deemed need drave 
 me to it ; and I feared the strife of friends, and 
 confusion and tangle. Now if thou wilt avenge 
 thee on me thou mayest, for I am in thy power. 
 Yet will I ask thee what need will drive thee to 
 leave me lonely ? 
 
 He said : The need of death. But she said : 
 Mayhappen we shall lie together then, as here to- 
 night we shall lie. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII. FAIR DAYS IN THE 
 HOUSE OF LOVE. 
 
 ON the morrow it was sweet times betwixt 
 those twain, and what was hard and fierce 
 of their love they seemed to have put be- 
 hind them. A dear joy it was to Birdalone that 
 day to busy herself about the housekeeping, and 
 to provide whatsoever seemed now, or had seemed 
 to her in her early days, to be dainties of their 
 meadow and woodland husbandry, as cream and 
 junkets and wood-fruit and honey, and fine bread 
 made for that very occasion. 
 
 Withal she was careful as a mother with a child 
 that he should not over-weary himself with the sun 
 of the early summer, but rather to follow the brook 
 up into the wood and lie adown in the flecked 
 shadow and rest him wholly, as if there were nought 
 for him to do but to take in rest all that was done 
 for his service, both by the earth and by the hands 
 and nimble feet of Birdalone. And as she was wil- 
 ful in other ways of her cherishing, so also in this, 
 that for nought in that daylight would she go any- 
 wise disarrayed, nay not so much as to go bare- 
 foot, though he prayed her thereof sorely, and told 
 her that fairer and sweeter she was in her smock 
 alone than in any other raiment. For in the morn- 
 ing she went in her woodland green let down to 
 her heels, and when the day wore towards evening, 
 and the wind came cool from over the Great Water, 
 then she did on her wonder-raiment which the 
 wood-wife had given her, and led Arthur over the 
 
504 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 meadows here and there, and went gleaming by the 
 side of the bhick-clad man along the water's lip. 
 And they looked forth on to Green Eyot and Rock 
 Eyot, and stood by the shallow bight where she 
 had bathed those times ; and they went along to 
 the dismal creek where the Sending Boat was wont 
 to lie, and where yet lay the scattered staves of it ; 
 and then along the meadow-land they went from 
 end to end, resting oft on the flowery grass, till the 
 dews began to fall and the moon cast shadows on 
 the greensward. Then home they fared to the 
 house ; and again on the way must Birdalone feign 
 for their disport that the witch was come back again, 
 and was awaiting her to play the tyrant with her ; 
 and Arthur fell in with her game, and kissed her 
 and clipped her, and then drew his sword and said : 
 By All-hallows I shall smite oflfher head if she but 
 lay a finger on thee. 
 
 So they played like two happy children till they 
 came to the door of the house, and Birdalone 
 shoved it open, and they two looked in together 
 and saw nought worse therein save the strange 
 shadows that the moon cast from the settle on to 
 the floor. Then Birdalone drew in her love, and 
 went about lighting the candles and quickening a 
 little cooking fire on the hearth, till the yellow light 
 chased the moon away from the bed of their desire. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. THOSE TWAIN WILL 
 SEEK THE WISDOM OF THE WOOD- 
 WIFE. 
 
 AGAIN next day was their life such as it had 
 been the day before; and as they lay in cool 
 shadow of a great oak, Birdalone fell to tell- 
 ing Arthur all the whole story of her dealings with 
 the wood-wife, and how that she had so loved her 
 and holpen her, that through her love and her help 
 she had escaped the witch and her snares, who would 
 have turned her into a half-devil for the undoing 
 of manfolk. And how that the said wood-wife had 
 never appeared to her but as an image and double 
 of herself, save on the time when she played the 
 leech to him. Then she told him how all had gone 
 when the wood-v,'ife had sought him out for the 
 fulfilment of their love, and of the dreadful day 
 when they had come upon him out of his wit and 
 but little manlike. 
 
 Then she asked, would he, within the next day 
 or two, that they should go see the wood-wife to- 
 gether and thank her for her help, and bring him 
 within the ring of her love and guarding ; and he 
 yeasaid it with a good will. 
 
 After this she would have him tell her of how 
 things had gone with him since that evil day when 
 he had come home from the Castle of the Quest 
 and found her gone. So he told her somewhat, 
 and of his dole and misery, and his dealings with 
 the foemen of Greenford ; but yet scantly, and as 
 one compelled ; and at last he said : 
 
5o6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Dear love, since thou art cossetting me with all 
 solace of caresses, I pray thee remember my trouble 
 and grief, how sore they were, and do with me as 
 with a sick man getting well, as I wot surely thou 
 wouldest do ; and do thou that which is at this pres- 
 ent the softest and merriest to me, and that for- 
 sooth is, that thou shouldest talk and tell, and I 
 should hearken the sweetness of the music, and 
 only here and there put in a word to rest thee and 
 make thy tale the sweeter. 
 
 She laughed with love on him, and without more 
 ado fell to telling everything she might think of, 
 concerning her days in the House of Captivity, 
 both when she was but a bairn, and when she was 
 grown to be a young woman ; and long was she 
 about the tale, nor was it all done in one day; and 
 a multitude of things she told him which are not 
 set down in this book. 
 
 In the evening when they were going again to 
 and fro the meads, it was other talk they fell on, to 
 wit, of their fellows of the Quest, both of Sir Hugh 
 and the three lovely ladies : and now was Arthur 
 nought but kind when he spake of Atra, nor spake 
 Birdalone otherwise ; but she said : I shall now say 
 a hard word, yet must thou bear it, my loveling, 
 since we twain are now become one, and have but 
 one joy together and one sorrow. Deemest thou 
 that Atra is yet alive ? Sooth it is, said Arthur, it 
 may well be that I have slain her. And what may 
 we do by her if ever we fill in with her alive ? said 
 Birdalone. I wot not, said Arthur ; some would 
 say that we have done penance for our fault, both 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 507 
 
 thou and I ; and what other penance may we do, 
 save sundering from each other ? And by God 
 above I will not. By thine head and thine hands 
 I will not, said Birdalone. 
 
 So said they ; but therewith their eyes told tales 
 of the fair eve and the lovely meadows, and the 
 house, the shrine of the dear white bed no less sweet 
 to them than erst ; but then presently Birdalone 
 stayed her love, and took her arms about him, and 
 each felt the sweetness of the other's body, and joy 
 blossomed anew in their hearts. Then fell Arthur 
 to telling of the deeds and the kindness of Baudoin, 
 whom never again they should see on the earth ; 
 and they turned back home to the house, and on 
 the way spake Birdalone : This is what I would 
 we should do : whereas I have sought thee and 
 thou me, and we have found each other, whereas 
 ye sought me when I went astray in the Black Val- 
 ley of the Grey wethers, and before, when ye three 
 sought your own loves, now I would that we should 
 seek our fellows and have joy in them, and thole 
 sorrow with them as in days gone by. 
 
 Spake Arthur : Dear is the rest with thee In this 
 wilderness ; yet were it a deed of fame, and would 
 bring about a day of joy, might we find our friends 
 again, and knit up the links of the fellowship once 
 more. But thou the wise and valiant ! belike thou 
 hast in thine head some device whereby this might 
 be set about. 
 
 Birdalone said : Simple is my device, to wit, that 
 we ask one who is wiser than I. Let us tarry not, 
 but go to-morrow and see the wood-wife and talk 
 
5o8 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 with her concerning it. Then she smiled upon him 
 and said : But when thou seest her, wilt thou be 
 aghast if she come before us in my shape of what 
 I was five years agone, or six ? 
 
 Nay, nay, he said, thou art not so terrible as that; 
 not very far do I run from thee now. And there- 
 with they kissed and embraced, and so entered the 
 House of Love. 
 
CHAPTER XXX. THEY HAVE SPEECH 
 WITH HABUNDIA CONCERNING THE 
 GREEN KNIGHT AND HIS FELLOWS. 
 
 WH EN the morrow was they arose and went 
 their ways toward the wood, and Bird- 
 alone in her hunter's coat, quiver at back 
 and bow in hand. They came to the Oak of Tryst, 
 and Birdalone was at point to call on the wood-wife 
 by the burning of a hair of hers, when she came 
 lightly from out the thicket, clad as Birdalone, and 
 her very image. She stood before them with a glad 
 countenance, and said : Welcome to the seekers and 
 finders. But Arthur stepped forth and knelt before 
 her, and took her right hand and kissed it, and said : 
 Here I swear allegiance to thee, O Lady of the 
 Woods, to do thy will in all things, and give thee 
 thanks from my heart more than my tongue can 
 say. 
 
 Quoth the wood-wife : I take thine allegiance, 
 fair young man, and mine help shalt thou have 
 henceforward. Then she smiled and her eyes 
 danced for merriment, and she said: Yet thy thanks 
 meseemeth for this while are more due to the wise 
 carline who brought thee through the woods two 
 days ago, and only left thee when the way was easy 
 and clear to thee. 
 
 Lady, said Arthur, I know now how great is thy 
 might, and that thou canst take more shapes than 
 this only ; and humbly I thank thee that for us thou 
 hast taken the shape that I love the best of all on 
 the earth. 
 
5IO THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Said the wood-wife: Stand up, Black Squire, and 
 consider a little what thou wouldst have me do for 
 thee, while I have speech with mine image yonder. 
 And therewith she came up to Birdalone, and drew 
 her a little apart, and fell to stroking her cheeks and 
 patting her hands and diversely caressing her, and 
 she said to her : How now, my child, have I done 
 for thee what I promised, and art thou wholly happy 
 now ? O yea, said Birdalone ; if nought else be- 
 fell us in this life but to dwell together betwixt the 
 woodland and the water, and to see thee oft, full 
 happy should we be. 
 
 Nevertheless, said Habundia, art thou not come 
 hither to ask somewhat of me, that ye may be 
 happier ? So it is, wise mother, said Birdalone ; 
 grudge not against me therefor, for more than one 
 thing drives me thereto. I will not grudge, said the 
 wood-wife ; but now I will ask thy mate if he has 
 thought what it is that he will have of me. And 
 she turned to Arthur, who came forth and said : 
 Lady, I have heard thee, and herein would we have 
 thee help us : There were erst six fellows of us, 
 three carles and three queans, to whom was added 
 this sweetling here ; but one of them, to wit the 
 Golden Knight, was slain, and for the rest . . . Yea, 
 I know, said the wood-wife ; my child here hath 
 told me all ; and now ye wot not where they are 
 or if they be yet alive, all or any of them. Now 
 is it not so that ye would seek these friends, if it 
 were but to greet them but once, and that ye would 
 ask of the wise wood-wife help to find them ? Is 
 there any more of the tale ? Nay, lady, said Arthur. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 511 
 
 Said she : Well then, that help shall ye have, were 
 it but for the sake of that little Viridis whereof my 
 child hath told me. Wherefore abide tidings of 
 me for a fourteen days, and seek not to me ere 
 then ; and meantime fear not, nor doubt me, for 
 many messengers I have, and ever may I do some- 
 what if the end of the tale is to be told in these 
 woodlands : and I deem these friends will not be 
 hard to draw hither, for it is most like that they 
 be thinking of you and longing for you, as ye for 
 them. And now I will depart on my business, 
 which is yours, and do ye be happy to-day in the 
 woodland, and to-morrow In the meadows and by 
 the water ; and let no trouble weigh down your 
 happy days. 
 
 Therewith she flitted away from them, when she 
 had kissed them both. But when she was gone 
 they fared away together deep into the wood, and 
 were exceeding merry disporting them, and on their 
 return they gat them venison for their meat, and 
 so came back to the House of Love when the moon 
 was up and shining brightly. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI. HABUNDIA COM- 
 ETH WITH TIDINGS OF THOSE DEAR 
 FRIENDS. 
 
 WORE the days thenceforth merrily; and 
 one day it was dehght in the wide meads, 
 and another they went a long way west 
 along the water-side, and so into another meadow- 
 plain, smaller than their home-plain, which Birda- 
 lone had never erst come into ; and three eyots 
 lay off it, green and tree-beset, whereto they swam 
 out together. Then they went into the wood 
 thereby in the heat of the afternoon, and so wore 
 the day, that they deemed themselves belated, and 
 lay there under a thorn-bush the night through. 
 
 Another day Birdalone took her mate over on 
 to Green Eyot and Rock Eyot, and showed him 
 all the places she was used to haunt. And they 
 had their fishing-gear with them, and angled off 
 the eyots a good part of the day, and had good 
 catch, and swam back therewith merrily. And 
 Birdalone laughed, and said that it seemed to her 
 as if once again she were ransoming her skin of the 
 witch-wife by that noble catch. 
 
 Divers times also they fared into the wood, and 
 thrice they lay out the night there in some wood- 
 lawn where was water ; and on one of these times 
 it happed that Arthur awoke in the grey dawn, 
 and lay open-eyed but not moving for a little; and 
 therewith he deemed he saw the gleam of war-gear 
 in the thicket. So he kept as still as he might, 
 but gat his sword out of its sheath without noise. 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 513 
 
 and then leapt up suddenly, and sprang thither- 
 ward whereas he had seen that token, and again 
 saw armour gleam and heard some man crashing 
 through the underwood, for all was gone in one 
 moment. So he woke up Birdalone, and they 
 bended their bows both of them, and searched the 
 thicket thereabouts heedfully, arrow on string, but 
 found nought fiercer than a great sow and her 
 farrow. So came the full day, and they gat them 
 back to their meadows and their house ; but there- 
 after were they warier in going about the wood- 
 land. 
 
 In all joyance then wore the days till the fif- 
 teenth, and in the morning early they went their 
 ways to the Oak of Tryst, and had no need to call 
 Habundia to them, for presently she came forth 
 out of the thicket, with her gown gathered up into 
 her girdle and bow in hand. But she cast it down 
 and ran up to Birdalone, and kissed her and clipped 
 her, and then she took a hand of Arthur and a 
 hand of Birdalone, and held them both and said : 
 My child, and thou dear knight, have ye still a 
 longing to fall in with those friends of yours, and 
 to run all risk of whatsoever contention and strife 
 there may be betwixt you thereafter ? Yea, certes, 
 said Arthur ; and even so said Birdalone. Well 
 is that then, said the wood-wife ; but now and for 
 this time, ere I help you, I shall put a price upon 
 my help, and this is the price, that ye swear to me 
 never wholly to sunder from me; that once in the 
 year at least, as long as ye be alive and wayworthy, 
 ye come into the Forest of Evilshaw, and summon 
 
 33 
 
514 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 me by the burning of a hair of mine, that we may 
 meet and be merry for a while, and part with the 
 hope of meeting once more at least. And if ye 
 will not pay the price, go in peace, and ye shall 
 yet have my help in all other matters that may 
 seem good unto you, but not in this of joining your 
 fellowship together. How sayest thou, Birdalone, 
 my child ? How sayest thou. Black Squire, whom, 
 as meseemeth, I have delivered from a fate worse 
 than death, and have brought out of wretchedness 
 into bliss ? 
 
 Spake Birdalone : Had I dared, I would have 
 bidden thee to swear to me even such an oath, to 
 wit, that thou wouldst never wholly sunder thee 
 from me. How then may I not swear this that 
 thou biddest me, and that with all joy and trus- 
 tiness ? 
 
 Spake Arthur: Lady, had I no will to swear 
 this oath for thy sake, yet with a good will would 
 I swear it for my true-love's sake who loveth thee. 
 Yet verily of mine own will would I swear it joy- 
 fully, were it for nought else save to pleasure thee, 
 who hast done so kindly by me, and hath given me 
 back my manhood and my love, which else I had 
 miserably lost. 
 
 Spake the wood- wife : It is well again 'join hands 
 then, and swear as I have bidden you by the love 
 ye bear each other. 
 
 Even so they did, and then the wood-wife kissed 
 them both and said : Now do I deem you earth's 
 very children and mine, and this desire of yours is 
 good, and it shall be done if I may bring it about ; 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 515 
 
 yet therein the vaHance and wisdom of you both 
 may well be tried. For this have I found out 
 by my messengers and others, that your friends 
 are alive, all of them ; and they have thought of 
 you in their inmost hearts, and have long deter- 
 mined that they must needs go seek you if they 
 are to live lives happy and worthy. Furthermore, 
 their quest hath drawn them hither to Evilshaw 
 (nor say I that I have been nothing therein), and 
 they are even now in the wood. But ye shall 
 know that peril encompasses them ; for they fare 
 but a few, and of those few be there two traitors 
 who are minded to deliver them to the men of the 
 Red Company, unto whom three women as fair as 
 your she-friends were a prize indeed. Wherefore 
 the Red Folk are dogging them, and will fall upon 
 them when they find the occasion. But I shall 
 see to it that the occasion shall be in time and 
 place where they shall not be unholpen. Now 
 what ye have to do for your parts, is to waylay the 
 waylayers, and keep watch and ward anigh the road 
 they must needs take, and to fall on when need is. 
 But this again I shall see to, that your onset fail not. 
 But now ye may say : Since thou art mighty, 
 why shouldst not thou thyself take our friends 
 out of the hands of these accursed, as thou couldst 
 well do, and we to take no part therein ? My 
 friends, this might indeed well be ; but thou. Bird- 
 alone, hast told me the whole tale, and how that 
 there be wrongs to be forgiven which cannot be 
 made right, and past kindness to be quickened 
 again, and coldness to be kindled into love, and 
 
5i6 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 estrangement into familiar friendship ; and me- 
 seems that the sight of your bodies and your 
 hands made manifest to the eyes of them may 
 do somewhat herein. Yet if otherwise ye think, 
 then so let it be, and go ye back to the House 
 under the Wood, and in three days' time I will 
 bring you your friends all safe and sound. 
 
 Now they both said that they would not for aught 
 that they should have no hand in the deliverance 
 of them ; so the wood-wife said : Come with me, 
 and I shall lead you to the place of your ambush. 
 
 Then all they went on together, and fared a long 
 way west, and toward the place where erst they 
 two had found Arthur ; and at last, two hours 
 before sunset, they came to where was a glade or 
 way between the thickets, which was as it were a 
 little beaten by the goings of man-folk. And the 
 wood-wife did them to wit, that the evil folk afore- 
 said had so used it and beaten it, that it might just 
 look as if folk were wont to pass that way, where- 
 as it was not very far from their chiefest haunt and 
 stronghold. A little on the north side of this half- 
 blind way, and some ten yards through the thicket, 
 the ground fell away into a little dale, the bottom 
 whereof was plain and well grassed, and watered by 
 a brook. 
 
 Thither the wood-wife brought the twain ; and 
 when they all stood together on the brook-side, she 
 said to them : Dear friends, this is your woodland 
 house for this time, and I rede you go not forth of 
 it, lest ye happen upon any of those evil men ; for 
 nought have ye to fear from any save them. Here 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 517 
 
 amidst these big stones, which make, see ye, as it 
 were a cavern, have I stowed victual for you ; and 
 armour therewithal, because, though both of you 
 are in a manner armed, yet who knoweth where a 
 shaft drawn at a venture may reach. 
 
 And from the said stones she drew forth two 
 very fair armours, helm and hauberk, and leg and 
 arm wards ; and they were all of green, and shone 
 but little, but were fashioned as no smith of man- 
 folk could have done the like. 
 
 This is thine. Sir Arthur, said the wood-wife, and 
 thou wilt wear it like as it were silk ; and this thine, 
 my child, and thou art strong enough to bear such 
 light gear. And I charge you both to do on this 
 gear presently, nor do it off till ye have achieved 
 the adventure. And now this is the last word : here 
 is a horn of oliphant which thou shalt wear about 
 thy neck, Birdalone ; and if thou be sore bestead, 
 or thy heart faileth thee, blow in it, yet not before 
 the onfall ; and then, whether thou blow much or 
 little, thou shalt be well holpen. 
 
 Now be not downcast if nought befall to-night 
 or to-morrow, or even the day after; but if the third 
 day be tidingless, then at sunset burn a hair of my 
 head, Birdalone, and I will come to you. And now 
 farewell ! for I have yet to do in this matter. 
 
 With that she kissed Birdalone fondly and em- 
 braced Arthur, and went her way ; and those twain 
 abode in the dale, and slept and watched by turns, 
 and all was tidingless till the morrow's dawn ; neither 
 was there aught to tell of on that day and the night 
 that ended it. 
 
CHAPTER XXXII. OF THE FIGHT IN 
 THE FOREST AND THE RESCUE OF 
 THOSE FRIENDS FROM THE MEN OF 
 THE RED COMPANY. 
 
 LIGHT was growing on the dawn of the next 
 day, and the colours of things could be seen, 
 when Birdalone, who was holding this last 
 watch of the night, stood still and hearkened, deem- 
 ing that she could hear some noise that was neither 
 the morning wind in the tree-boughs nor the going 
 of the wild things anear them in the wood. 
 
 So she did off her helm to hear the better, and 
 stood thus a little ; then she turned about and stooped 
 down to Arthur, who was yet sleeping, and put forth 
 a hand to rouse him. But or ever she touched 
 him, broke forth a sound of big and rough voices 
 and laughter, and amidst it two shrieks as of 
 women. 
 
 Arthur heard it, and was on his feet in a moment, 
 and helmed, and he caught up his bended bow and 
 cast on the quiver (for Birdalone was already weap- 
 oned), and without more words they went forth 
 swiftly up the bank and through the thicket till 
 they were looking on the half-blind way, but under 
 cover, and there was nothing before them as yet. 
 
 There they stayed and hearkened keenly. There 
 were no more shrieks of women, nor heard they any 
 weapon clash, but the talking and laughter of men 
 went on ; and at last they heard a huge and grim 
 whoop of many men together ; and then thereafter 
 was less sound of talking, but came the jingle as of 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 519 
 
 arms and harness ; and Arthur whispered in Bird- 
 alone's ear : Stand close ! they have gotten to horse, 
 and will be coming our way. Nock an arrow. And 
 even so did he. 
 
 Therewith they heard clearly the riding of men, 
 and in less than five minutes' space they saw three 
 big weaponed men riding together, clad in red sur- 
 coats, and they were so nigh that they heard the 
 words of their speech. One said to the other : How 
 long shall the knight hold out, think ye ? Oh, a 
 week maybe, said the other. Meseems it was scathe 
 that we stayed not a while to pine him, said the first 
 man. Nay, said the second, we be over-heavy 
 laden with bed-gear to tarry. And they all laughed 
 thereat, and so went on out of hearing. 
 
 But then came four on together, whereof one, a 
 gaunt, oldish man, was saying : It is not so much 
 how long we shall be getting there, but what shall 
 betide when we get there. For this is not like lift- 
 ing a herd of neat, whereof sharing is easy, but with 
 this naked-skinned, two-legged cattle, which for- 
 sooth ye can eat and yet have, there may well be 
 strife over the sharing. And look to it if it hath 
 not begun already: we must needs dismount three 
 of our best men that these white-skinned bitches 
 forsooth may each have a horse to herself, or else 
 would they be fighting as to which should have a 
 damsel of them before him on the saddle : curse 
 the fools ! 
 
 l^aughed out they who were about him, and one 
 young man cast a jeer at him the meaning whereof 
 they might not catch, and again they laughed ; and 
 
520 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 that deal passed on. And next came a bigger rout, 
 a half score or so, and they also laughing and jeer- 
 ing ; but amidst them, plain to see riding a-strad- 
 dle, their ankles twisted together under the horses' 
 bellies, their hands bound behind them, first Atra, 
 black-clad as erst ; then Aurea, in a gown of wheat- 
 colour ; then Viridis, green-clad. Atra rode upright, 
 and looking straight before her ; Aurea hung her 
 head all she might, and her long red hair fell about 
 her face ; but Viridis had swooned, and was held 
 up in the saddle by one of the caitiffs on each side 
 of her. They were but little disarrayed, save that 
 some felon had torn the bosom of Viridis' gown, 
 and dragged down the cloth so that her left shoulder 
 was bare. 
 
 Arthur looked, and drew at the caitiff who went 
 afoot beside Atra, and Birdalone at him who went 
 by Viridis, for she wotted whitherward Arthur's 
 shaft would be turned. The loose of the two bows 
 made but one sound ; both men fell stark dead, 
 and the others huddled together a moment, and 
 then ran toward the thicket on either hand, and 
 they who ran north, two of them saw not Arthur, 
 because of his green armour, ere they felt the death 
 which lay in his sword. And then he brake out 
 amidst them, and there were three of them on him, 
 yet for no long while, whereas their weapons bit 
 not on the armour of the Faery, and his woodland 
 blade sheared leather and ring-mail to the fiesh and 
 the bone : mighty were his strokes, and presently 
 all three were wallowing on the earth. 
 
 Even therewith the seven who had passed on 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 511 
 
 had turned back and were come on him a-horse- 
 back ; and hard had it gone with him, despite of 
 his might and his valour and the trustiness of 
 Habundia's mail. But meanwhile Birdalone had 
 run to Viridis, who had fallen a dead weight aside 
 of her horse, and lay half hanging by the bonds of 
 her ankles. Birdalone swiftly cut the cords both of 
 her feet and her hands, and drew her off her horse 
 as best she might, and laid her down on the grass ; 
 and then ran to Arthur sword aloft, just as his new 
 battle was at point to begin. 
 
 But as she ran it came into her mind in a twink- 
 ling that her sword would be but weak, and the horn 
 hung about her neck. Then she stayed her feet, 
 and set the horn to her lips and blew ; and the oli- 
 phant gave forth a long singing note which was 
 strange to hear. But while it was yet at her lips 
 one of the caitiffs was upon her, and he cried out : 
 Hah the witch, the accursed green witch ! and fetched 
 her a great stroke from his saddle, and smote her 
 on the helm ; and though his sword bit not on that 
 good head-burg, she fell to the ground unwitting. 
 
 Yet was not the wood-wife's promise unavailing, 
 for even while the voice of the horn was in the air, 
 the way and thickets were alive with men-at-arms, 
 green-clad as those twain, who straightway fell on 
 the caitiffs, and with Arthur to help, left not one 
 of them alive. Then went some to Viridis, and 
 raised her up, and so dealt with her that she came 
 to herself again ; and the like they did by Birdalone, 
 and she stood, and looked about confusedly, but 
 yet saw this, that they had gotten the victory. Some 
 
522 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 went withal to Aurea, and cut her bonds and took 
 her off her horse and set her on the ground ; and 
 she was all bewildered, and knew not where she was. 
 
 But Arthur, when he saw Birdalone on her feet, 
 and unhurt by seeming, went to Atra, and cut her 
 bonds and loosed her, and set her on the earth, all 
 without a word, and then stood before her shyly. 
 Came the colour back into her face therewith, and 
 she flushed red, for she knew him despite his out- 
 landish green war-harness, and she reached out her 
 hand to him, and he knelt before her and took her 
 hand and kissed it. But she bent over him till her 
 face was anigh his, and he lifted up his face and kissed 
 her mouth. And she drew aback a little, but yet 
 looked on him earnestly, and said : Thou hast 
 saved my life, not from death indeed, but from a 
 loathsome hell ; I may well thank thee for that. 
 And O, if my thanks might be fruitful to thee ! 
 And her bosom heaved, and the sobs came, and 
 the tears began to run down her cheeks. And he 
 hung his head before her. But in a while she left 
 weeping, and turned about her face and looked 
 round the field of deed ; and she said : Who is 
 yonder slim green warrior who hath even now knelt 
 down by Viridis ? Is it not a woman ? Arthur red- 
 dened : Yea, said he ; it is Birdalone. Thy love ? 
 she said. He said swiftly : Yea, and thy friend, 
 and this time thy deliverer. So it is, she said. It 
 is five years since I beheld her. My heart yearns 
 for her ; I shall rejoice at the meeting of us. 
 
 She was silent, and he also a while ; then she 
 said : But why tarry we here in idle talk when he is 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 523 
 
 yet bound, and in torment of body and soul ; he the 
 valiant, and the kind and the dear brother ? Come, 
 tarry for no question. And she stepped out swiftly 
 along the green road going westward, and Arthur 
 beside her ; and as they went by Viridis, lo ! Aurea 
 had wandered unto them, and now was Birdalone 
 unhelmed and kissing and comforting her. Then 
 cried out Atra : Keep up thine heart, Viridis ! for 
 now we go to fetch thee thy man safe and sound. 
 
 So they went but a little way on the green road 
 ere they came to Sir Hugh bound hard and fast to 
 a tree-bole, and he naked in his shirt, and hard by 
 lay the bodies of two stout carles with their throats 
 cut ; for these honest men and the two felons who 
 had betrayed them were all the following where- 
 with the Green Knight had entered Evilshaw. And 
 as it fell, the traitors had been set to watch while 
 the others slept ; and sleeping the caitiffs found 
 them, and slew the said men-at-arms at once, but 
 bound Hugh to a tree that he might be the longer 
 a-dying ; since none looked for any but their own 
 folk to pass by that way. All this they heard after- 
 wards of Hugh. 
 
 But now the said Hugh heard men going, and 
 he opened his eyes, and saw Atra and a man-at- 
 arms with her ; and he cried out : Hah, what is 
 this now, sister ? a rescue ? Yea, she said, and look 
 thou on the face of the rescuer ; and there is an- 
 other hard by, and she is a woman. 
 
 Therewith was Arthur on him and cutting his 
 bonds, and when he was loose they fell into each 
 other's arms, and Hugh spake : Now then at last 
 
524 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 doth life begin for me as I willed it ! And hast 
 thou my sweet she-fellow, Birdalone, with thee ? 
 Yea, said Arthur. How good is that ! said Hugh. 
 And yet, if it might but be that Baudoin were yet 
 alive for us to seek ! Then he laughed and said : 
 These be but sorry garments wherewith to wend 
 along with dear and fair ladies, brother ! Nay, said 
 Arthur, that may soon be amended, for yonder, 
 where sword met sword, lieth raiment abundantly 
 on the grass. Fie on it ! said Hugh, laughing ; 
 shall I do on me the raiment of those lousy traitors? 
 Not I, by the rood ! Thou must seek further for 
 my array, dear lad ! So they all laughed, and were 
 glad to laugh together. But Atra said: It is easier 
 ev^en than that, for thine own fair garments and 
 weapons shall we find if we seek them. Sooth to 
 say there was none left to bear them off, save it 
 were this man, or Birdalone his mate. 
 
 With that word she looked kindly on Arthur, 
 and again they laughed all three ; though forsooth 
 they were well-nigh weeping-ripe ; one for joy, and 
 that was Hugh ; one for memory of the days gone 
 by ; and one for the bitterness of love that should 
 never be rewarded ; albeit dear even unto her was 
 the meeting of friends and the glory of forgiveness 
 and the end of enmity. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII. VIRIDIS TELLETH 
 THE TALE OF THEIR SEEKING. 
 
 NOW came they back to where were the three 
 others, and Viridis was quite come to her- 
 self and ran to meet her man, and he took 
 her in his arms and caressed her sweetly ; and then 
 he turned to Birdalone, and spared no sign of 
 friendly love to her; and Arthur, for his part, did 
 so much for Aurea and Viridis. No long tale there 
 was between them for that while, for they would 
 busk them to be gone. But first they dug a grave 
 for those two poor men who had been slain by the 
 felons, and prayed for them. As for the caitiffs who 
 lay slain there, one score and two of them, they left 
 them for the wolves to devour, and the tearing of 
 the kites and crows ; nor meddled they with any 
 of their gear or weapons. But they speedily found 
 Hugh's raiment, and his pouch, wherein was money 
 good store ; and they found also rings and ouches 
 and girdles, which had been torn from the damsels 
 in the first rage of their taking. 
 
 First though, when they had gathered together 
 such horses as they needed, and let the rest run 
 wild, Birdalone brought her she-friends down into 
 the dale, and did them to bathe in a pool of the 
 stream, and tended them as if she were their tire- 
 woman, so that they were mightily refreshed ; and 
 she made garlands for them of the woodland 
 flowers, as eglantine and honeysuckle ; and her- 
 self, she bathed her, and did not on her battle-gear 
 again, but clad her body in her woman's array. 
 
526 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Then she brought forth victual and wine from 
 Habundia's store, and set it out on the stream-side ; 
 and thereafter she went up the bent to the green 
 way and fetched down Hugh and Arthur, and 
 brought them to the ladies, and bade them note 
 how trim and lovely they were gotten again, and 
 again it could scarce be but that kisses and caresses 
 were toward ; and in all content and love they took 
 their breakfast, though bitter-sweet unto Atra had 
 been the holding of her hand by Arthur and the 
 kissing of her cheek, albeit not for worlds had she 
 foregone it. 
 
 So there they abode merrily for some three hours, 
 whereas the day was yet young ; and they asked 
 and told each other much, so that the whole tale, 
 both of the seekers from the world and of the seek- 
 ers from the water-side, came out little by little. 
 Now of the last ye have heard what there is to tell, 
 but for the others Viridis took up the tale, as erst 
 she did with the dealings of the Knights of the 
 Quest in the Isle of Increase Unsought; and it 
 seemed by her tale that Hugh and the ladies, though 
 they were living happily and prosperously in the 
 land of the Green Mountains, wherein Hugh had 
 wealth enow, yet the thought both of Arthur and 
 of Birdalone would not out of their minds, and 
 often it was that they thought of them, not as 
 friends think of friends of whom they are content 
 to know that they are yet alive and most-like thriv- 
 ing, but as friends think of friends whose absence 
 cuts a shard out of their lives, so that they long to 
 see them day by day. Wherefore it came to this 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 527 
 
 at last, after much talk hereof, that Hugh left his 
 possessions and his children (for he had two women- 
 bairns born of Viridis) in the keeping of trusty- 
 folk, and took with him Viridis his wife, and Aurea 
 and Atra, and they set out to seek those twain the 
 world over till they should find them. And first 
 by the rede of Atra they fared to Greenford, and 
 there tarried a month, and sought tidings of many, 
 and heard a word here and there whereby they 
 deemed that Birdalone had passed therethrough 
 some little time before. So they went thence to 
 the Castle of the Quest, and found it in such plight 
 as ye have heard, and it went sore to their hearts 
 to behold it and to be there. But therewithal they 
 happed upon Leonard the priest, and he was re- 
 joiced beyond measure to see them, and told them 
 all that ye have heard concerning Birdalone's coming 
 thither and departing thence; and he told them 
 therewith about those hauntlngs and sendings in 
 the hall of the castle, and that they came to an end 
 the very day that Birdalone departed thence in the 
 Sending Boat. Yet for the last three days there had 
 been visions therein ; but being questioned he was 
 loth to tell thereof, so they forbore him a while. 
 
 At these tidings they were sore moved, and they 
 talked the matter over betwixt themselves (and 
 Leonard also was in their redes), and they must 
 needs deem that either Birdalone was cast away, or 
 that she had come to her old dwelling, the House 
 under the Wood, and belike had fallen into the 
 hands of the witch once more, and thereat were 
 they sore downcast ; and yet somewhat it was, that 
 
528 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 they had heard sure tidings of her; though mean- 
 while of Arthur had they heard nought. 
 
 While they talked this over, Atra, who had been 
 somewhat silent, spake and said : Here are we 
 brought to a stop with the first tidings which we 
 have heard, whereas we know no manner of wend- 
 ing the Great Water. This seemeth evil, but let 
 us not be cast down, or die redeless. Ye have heard 
 of what sayeth Sir Leonard of these hauntings in 
 the hall, and how that they have come back again, 
 wherefore why should we not sleep in the hall this 
 night, those of us at least who have not so much 
 fear as not to note them well, to see if we may draw 
 any avail from them ? How say ye ? For my part 
 I will try the adventure, whatever may come of it. 
 
 Now they all yeasaid it, though Aurea was some- 
 what timorous, albeit she would not be parted from 
 the others ; so when night came there they made 
 their beds and lay down ; and the end of it was, 
 that a little before midnight Atra waked the others, 
 and did them to wit that by her deeming something 
 was toward ; and presently they were all four as 
 wide awake as ever they were in their lives ; and 
 next, without any sound that was strange, there 
 came the image of a woman on to the dais, clad in 
 green like to an huntress of ancient days, her feet 
 sandalled, her skirts gathered up into her girdle, so 
 that her legs were naked ; she had a quiver at her 
 back, and a great bow In her hand. 
 
 Now to all of them save Atra this appearance 
 seemed to be the image of Birdalone ; but she told 
 her fellows afterwards, that to her it seemed not 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 529 
 
 to be altogether Birdalone, but rather some other 
 one most Hke unto her, as it were her twin-sister. 
 
 Gazed the image kindly and sweetly on them, 
 so that they beheld it without fear ; and it seemed 
 to them that it gave forth speech ; yet not so much 
 that the sound of words was in the air about and 
 smote their ears, as that the sense of words reached 
 the minds of them. And this was the tale of it : 
 Ye, who are seeking the lost, have done well to 
 come hither, and now shall ye do well to wend the 
 straightest way to the dwelling of the wild-wood, 
 and that is by way of the western verge of Evil- 
 shaw the forest. Greenford is on the way. Way- 
 leaders ye shall get ; be wise, yet not prudent, and 
 take them, though they be evil, and your luck may 
 well avail. 
 
 Therewith the image vanished away as it had 
 come, and Leonard, who with the others took the 
 appearance for an image of Birdalone, said that it 
 was such as he had seen it the three last days. 
 So they lay not down again, but departed for 
 Greenford without tarrying, and rode the other end 
 of the short night through till they came to Green- 
 ford. But Leonard would not with them; and 
 Hugh behight him, if he lived and did well, to 
 come back somehow to the Castle of the Quest, 
 and so re-do it that it should be no longer desolate. 
 
 So to Greenford they came, and spared not to 
 do folk to wit that they would ride a pilgrimage 
 in Evilshaw, and were fain of wayleaders ; and there 
 they dwelt a day or two, and many would let them 
 of that journey, which, said they, was rather deadly 
 
 34 
 
530 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 than perilous only. But on the third day came to 
 Sir Hugh two stout carles well weaponed, who said 
 that they knew well all the ways that led to Evil- 
 shaw, and the ways that went therethrough, and 
 they offered themselves for a wage to Sir Hugh. 
 Now these said carles were not over fair of favour, 
 but seemed somewhat of ribalds, nor would Sir 
 Hugh have taken them to service in his house at 
 home ; but he called to mind that it were more 
 prudence than wisdom to spoil his journey and lose 
 the occasion of finding his dear friends for the hasty 
 judgment of a Vnan's face and demeanour, where- 
 fore he waged these two men, and they set out for 
 the western edges of Evilshaw. 
 
 Many towns and thorps they passed through, 
 and everywhere, when men knew whither they were 
 bound, they letted them all they might in words ; 
 but little heed they paid thereto, whereas they were 
 all fixed in their rede that nought was to be done 
 save the finding of their friends, and that their life- 
 days were spoiled if they found them not. And 
 moreover, each one of them, but especially Atra 
 and Viridis, had dreams of the night from time to 
 time, wherein they seemed to see the green-clad 
 woman, were she Birdalone or another, beckoning 
 and bidding them to enter the Wood of Evilshaw. 
 
 As to those two way-leaders withal, whether it 
 were that they got used to their faces, or that their 
 ways and manners were nought uncourteous or 
 fierce, they doubted them less and less as time wore ; 
 all save Viridis, whose flesh crept when they drew 
 anigh her, as will betide one who comes across an 
 
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE 531 
 
 evil-looking creeping thing. As for Atra, she now 
 began to heed little the things about her, as if her 
 heart were wholly set on the end of the journey. 
 
 But now at last were they come so far that they 
 had no choice but to use the said wayleaders, for 
 they were gotten to the edge of Evilshaw. So they 
 entered it, and those two led them by half-blind 
 ways and paths amongst the thickets, and fumbled 
 never with the road. 
 
 Five days they went thus, and on the fifth even- 
 ing they lay down to sleep in the wood, and it was 
 the turn of those two hirelings to keep watch and 
 ward, and they woke not the next morn save with 
 the hands of the Red Felons at their throats, so that 
 Hugh was bound, and his two trusty men who 
 came with him from the Green Mountains were 
 slain before a stroke might be struck. 
 
 This was the end of Viridis' tale, save that she told 
 how that it was she that had uttered those two 
 shrieks which Arthur and Birdalone had heard from 
 the thicket ; and that she had so done when the 
 two false wayleaders laid hold of her to drag her 
 away from her man, who stood there before her 
 bound to a tree that he might perish there, whereon 
 the two caitiffs had smitten her into unwit that they 
 might have no more of her cries. 
 
 Now when all this had been told, and they had 
 abided awhile in the fair little dale, and had said 
 many kind endearing words of friendship, they 
 went up on the green way again, and took what 
 of the horses they needed and trussed their goods 
 thereon (and Birdalone would not leave that brave 
 
^^2 TFIF, WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 armour which Habundia had given her), and they 
 dight others for their home-riding, and the rest 
 they turned loose into the woods, and so rode their 
 ways, Birdalone going ever with Atra, and Arthur 
 by Aurea; but Viridis must needs have Hugh with- 
 in reach of her hand all the way. 
 
 Good speed they made, so that ere the night had 
 fallen on them, though the sun was set, they had 
 come to the House under the Wood ; and there 
 again was joy and wondering of the new-comers, 
 and merry feasting on such simple victuals as were 
 there, and good-night and rest in all contentment 
 in the house where erst had Birdalone tholed so 
 many griefs and fears. 
 
 Here ends the Sixth Part of the Water 
 of the Wondrous Isles, which is called The 
 Days of Absence, and begins the Seventh 
 Part, which is called The Days of Returning. 
 
THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS 
 ISLES. THE SEVENTH PART: THE 
 DAYS OF RETURNING. 
 
 CHAPTER I. SIR HUGH ASKETH BIRD- 
 ALONE WHERE SHE WOULD HAVE 
 THE ABODE OF THEIR FELLOWSHIP 
 TO BE. 
 
 ON the next day, they arose and were glad, 
 and It was to them as if the sun of the early 
 summer had arisen for nought save to shine ' 
 on their happy day. And they went about from 
 place to place whereas tidings had befallen Bird- 
 alone ; and she served them one and all as if she 
 were their handmaid, and they loved her and ca- 
 ressed her, and had been fain to do all her will did 
 they but know it. 
 
 In this wise wore day after day till June began 
 to wane, and then on a time came Hugh unto Bird- 
 alone, and spake unto her and said : All we have 
 been talking together, and I am sent to ask thee 
 what is in thy mind as to abiding here or going 
 elsewhither. For now that we be come together 
 again, not for all the kingdoms of the world would 
 we sunder again ; and above all, none of us would 
 leave thee, O my sister. But if thou wilt come 
 with me to our land under the Green Mountains, 
 there is for thee a pleasant place and a fair dwell- 
 ing, and honour from all folk, and our love that 
 shall never leave thee; and I, and Arthur my 
 
534 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 brother, we shall win fame together amongst the 
 knighthood, and thou shalt be proud and glad 
 both of him and of me. 
 
 She said : And if I may not go with thee thither, 
 what other way is there to escape the sundering ? 
 Said Hugh : This, that thou choose in the world 
 what land liketh thee for a dwelling-place, and we 
 will go with thee and leave thee never, and thou 
 shalt be our lady and queen. Then he laughed and 
 said : Yet, our lady, I have left behind me under 
 the Green Mountains certain things which I love, 
 as two fair women-children, and a squire or two 
 whose fathers served my fathers, and whose chil- 
 dren I would should serve my children. And 
 moreover I have left there certain matters of avail, 
 my wealth and livelihood to wit. Wilt thou be- 
 grudge it if I must needs go fetch these, and bring 
 them to the land where thou dwellest, through 
 whatever peril we may have to face ? 
 
 Dear art thou, she said, and my very friend, but 
 tell me : how sorry wouldst thou be to leave thine 
 own land and follow after me for the sake of one 
 who is neither thine own true love nor of thy kin- 
 dred ? Said he : Not so sorry that I should grudge 
 against thee thereafter. Moreover if that much of 
 sorrow came to me, I should deem it not ill, lest I 
 grow so over-happy that the luck rise up against me 
 and undo me. 
 
 She said, smiling on him kindly : Meseems that 
 I am over-happy, whereas I have such dear cherish- 
 ing of noble friends. But now I will tell thee all, 
 and maybe thou wilt love me the less for the tell- 
 
THE DAYS OF RETURNING ^^^ 
 
 ing. In these woods here, and lady and mistress of 
 them, dwelleth one who is not of the race of Adam. 
 And she helped and cherished me and gave me 
 wisdom when I was tormented and accursed, and 
 she it was who saved me from the evil witch, and 
 gave me the good hap to meet your loves and to 
 fetch you to their helping; and twice hath she saved 
 me from mortal peril otherwise. And she hath 
 found me my love, thy brother Arthur, and deliv- 
 ered him from unwit and wanhope ; and she it is 
 who drew all you hither unto us, and who delivered 
 you from the felons who had mastered you. And 
 1 have sworn unto her that I would never wholly 
 sunder me from her ; and how shall I break mine 
 oath and grieve her, even had I the will thereto, as 
 God wot I have not ? And she wept therewith. 
 
 But Hugh kissed her and said : Birdalone, my 
 dear, why weepest thou? Didst thou not hear my 
 word, that thy people should be my people, and thy 
 land my land, and that whither thou goest I will 
 go ? Dost thou not trow me then ? Or how deem- 
 est thou I may tear thy friend Viridis from thee, 
 when she hath just found thee ? But tell me, hast 
 thou in thy mind any dwelling-place other than 
 this? 
 
 Yea, she said : I may not depart very far from 
 this forest of Evilshaw lest I grieve my wisdom- 
 mother overmuch. But if one go westward through 
 the wood, he shall happen at last, when he cometh 
 forth of it, on a good town hight Utterhay, which 
 lieth on the very edge thereof There was I born, 
 and there also I look to find three dear and trusty 
 
536 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 friends to whom I owe return of their much kind- 
 ness. It is a noble town in a pleasant land, and thou 
 and my lord Arthur may well win both honour and 
 worship and lordship there. And wholly I trust 
 in thy word that thou wilt not grudge against me 
 for dragging thee thither. 
 
 Therewith she gave him her hand, smiling on 
 him, though there was yet trouble in her face. But 
 he took the hand and held it, and laughed merrily 
 and said : Lo now ! how good it is for friends to 
 take counsel together ! What better may we do than 
 go with thee thither? And how greatly will Viridis 
 rejoice when she heareth of this. Now will I go 
 and tell her and the others. 
 
 Go then, dear lad, she said ; but as to the matter 
 of thy fetching thy children and livelihood hither, 
 that may be not so hard nor so perilous as thou 
 deemest ; and thou shalt go about it whenso thou 
 wilt, and the sooner the better, and we shall abide 
 thee here as long as need may be. And therewith 
 he went his ways to tell Viridis and the others of 
 this rede which they had come to between them. 
 
CHAPTER II. BIRDALONE TAKETH 
 COUNSEL WITH HER WOOD-MOTH- 
 ER CONCERNING THE MATTER OF 
 SIR HUGH. 
 
 ON that same day went Birdalone to the Oak 
 of Tryst and called her wood-mother to her, 
 and she came glad and smiling, and kissed 
 and embraced Birdalone, and said unto her : Now 
 I see that thou art well content with this last mat- 
 ter I have done for thee, whereas thou art come 
 to crave a new gift of me. How knowest thou 
 that ? said Birdalone, laughing. Said Habundia : 
 Wouldst thou have come to me so soon otherwise 
 from out of all that happiness ? I have come to 
 tell thee of my rede, said Birdalone, and to ask thee 
 if thou art like-minded with me thereon. Said 
 the wood-wife : And what is thy rede, my child ? 
 Wood-mother, said Birdalone, we deem that it were 
 good for us all to go down into Utterhay where I 
 was born, and to take up our abode therein. 
 
 Said the wood-wife : This rede I praise, and 
 even so would I have counselled you to do ; but I 
 abided to see if it should come from out of thy 
 breast, and now even so it hath done ; wherefore 
 I understand thy wisdom and rejoice in thee. And 
 now crave thy boon, my child, and thou shalt have 
 it without fail. 
 
 Yea, said Birdalone, that will I, and the more 
 that it is a simple one and easy for thee to do. 
 Thou knowest that Hugh the Green Knight hath 
 come with my she-friends seeking us all the way 
 
S3^ THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 from under the Green Mountains, and he hath 
 left there goods that he needs must have and folk 
 whom he loves ; and now he would go back thither, 
 and fetch all that away hither, and see to his mat- 
 ters as soon as may be. And I would have thee 
 counsel us what to do, whether to build a barque, 
 as perchance we may get it done, and sail the lake 
 therein to the Castle of the Quest or thereabout, 
 and thence to ride to his land ; or else to take thy 
 guidance and safe-conduct through the wood, and 
 to bring his folk back the same way. 
 
 Said the wood-wife : As to the way by water, I 
 may help you little therein, and meseemeth that 
 way be many traps and wiles and many perils. 
 Wherefore I bid you try it not, but let the Green 
 Knight come up hither to this tree to-morrow 
 before noon, all horsed and armed and arrayed, and 
 there shall he find three men armed in green gear, 
 horsed well, and leading two sumpter-beasts with 
 them ; and they shall be his until he giveth them 
 back unto me. But if he doubteth any thing be- 
 twixt the wood's end and under the Green Moun- 
 tains, let him wage what folk he will besides, for 
 these my men will have money enough of his with 
 them. But by no means let him send them away 
 till he hath done with the wood altogether, both 
 betwixt here and the western dwelt-land, and here 
 and Utterhay, save thou be with him. But while 
 these be with him, both he and whatsoever money 
 he bringeth shall be sure from all peril whiles they 
 be in the wood. Now, my child, was not this the 
 boon thou camest up hither to ask of me ? 
 
THE DAYS OF RETURNING 539 
 
 Yea verily, said Birdalone ; yet also I came up 
 hither to praise thee and thank thee and love thee. 
 And she threw herself into Habundia's arms and 
 kissed and caressed her, and Habundia her in like 
 wise. 
 
 Spake the wood-wife : Thou art the beloved 
 child of my wisdom ; and now I see of thee that 
 thou wilt be faithful and true and loving unto me 
 unto the end. And I think I can see that thou 
 and thy man 'shall do well and happily in Utter- 
 hay ; and the Green Knight also and thy she- 
 friends. And whatsoever thou wilt of me that I 
 may do for thee or thy friends, ask it freely, and 
 freely shalt thou have it. But this I will bid thee, 
 that the while the Green Knight shall be gone about 
 his matter, thou shalt come hither to me often ; and 
 thy friends also thou shalt bring to me, that I may 
 see them and talk to them and love them. And 
 specially shalt thou bid Atra unto me ; for me- 
 seems she is so wise already that I may learn her 
 more wisdom, and put that into her heart which 
 may solace her and make her to cease from fretting 
 her own heart, and from grief and longing over- 
 much. And I were fain to reward her in that she 
 hath forborne to grudge against thee and to bear 
 thee enmity. For I know, my child, not from 
 mine own heart, but from the wisdom I have learned, 
 how hardly the children of Adam may bear to have 
 that which they love taken away from them by 
 another, even if they themselves might in the long 
 last have wearied of it and cast it away their own 
 selves. Go now, my child, and do thy friend to 
 wit what I will do for him. 
 
540 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 Therewith they parted, and Birdalone fared home CI 
 
 to the house, and found the fellowship of them all 1^ 
 
 sitting by the brook-side, and talking sweetly to- E 
 
 gether in all joy and hope of what their life should 
 be in the new land whereto Birdalone would lead 
 them. Straightway then she told them of Hugh 
 and his journey, and how well he should be guarded 
 in the wood both coming and going. And they 
 thought that right good, and they thanked her 
 and praised her, and took her into their talk, and 
 she sat down by them happily. 
 
CHAPTER III. OF THE JOURNEY- 
 ING THROUGH THE FOREST OF 
 EVILSHAW UNTO THE TOWN OF 
 UTTERHAY. 
 
 ON the morrow in due time Birdalone, going 
 afoot, led Sir Hugh, all-armed and horsed, 
 to the Oak of Tryst, and there they found 
 the three men-at-arms, well-weaponed and in green 
 weed, abiding them. They did obeisance to Sir 
 Hugh, and he greeted them, and then without more 
 ado he kissed Birdalone and went his ways with 
 his way-leaders, but Birdalone turned back to the 
 house and her friends. 
 
 Next day Birdalone brought her three she- 
 friends unto the Trysting Oak, and showed them 
 to the wood-mother, and she was kind and soft 
 with them ; and both Aurea and Viridis were shy 
 with her, and as if they feared her, but Atra was 
 frank and free, and spake boldly. And thereafter 
 when Birdalone went to meet her wood-mother, 
 Atra would go with her if she were asked, and at 
 last would go alone, when she found that Ha- 
 bundia was fain of her coming, so that there were 
 not many days when they met not ; and the wood- 
 wife fell to learning her the lore of the earth, as 
 she had done aforetime with Birdalone ; and Atra 
 waxed ruddier and merrier of countenance, whereof 
 was Birdalone right glad, and Arthur yet more glad, 
 and the others well content. 
 
 So wore the time till Hugh had been gone for 
 twenty and three days, and as they walked the 
 
542 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 meadows anigh the house about undern, they saw 
 a knight riding down the bent toward them, and 
 presently they knew him for Hugh, and turned and 
 hastened to meet him, so that he was straightway 
 amidst them, and on foot. Dear then were the 
 greetings and caresses betwixt them, and when it 
 was over, and Birdalone had led away his horse and 
 dight it for him, and had gotten him victuals and 
 drink, and they were all sitting on the grass together, 
 he told them how he had fared. He had done all 
 his matters in the Land under the Green Moun- 
 tains, and had given over his lands and houses to 
 a man of his lineage, his cousin, a good knight, and 
 had taken from him of gold and goods what he 
 would. Then he had taken his two bairns and their 
 nurse, and an old squire and five sergeants, where- 
 of one was his foster-brother, and the others men 
 somewhat stricken in years, and had departed with 
 them. Sithence he had come his ways to Green- 
 ford, and had held talk therein with the prior of a 
 great and fair house of Black Canons, and had given 
 him no little wealth wherewith to re-do the Castle 
 of the Quest what was needed, and for livelihood 
 of four canons to dwell there, and Leonard to be 
 their prior, that there they might remember Sir Bau- 
 doin their dear friend daily in the office, and do good 
 unto his soul. Sithence he had ridden to the Cas- 
 tle of the Quest with the said Prior of St, Austin 
 of Greenford, and had found Leonard, and had set- 
 tled all the business how it was to be done. There- 
 after he had returned to Greenford, and gathered 
 his folk, and got him gone, under the guidance of 
 
THE DAYS OF RETURNING 543 
 
 Habundia's folk, by castles and thorps and towns 
 the nearest way to the edge of Evilshaw. And they 
 had come to the forest, and ridden It six days with- 
 out mishap ; and when they had come to the Oak 
 of Tryst once more, the wayleaders said that it were 
 well if all they together tarried not much longer in 
 the forest ; wherefore they had brought them to a 
 fair wood-lawn, and there they encamped, and were 
 there as now. And, said Hugh, there are they abid- 
 ing me, and it is in my mind that this very eve we 
 go, all of us, and meet them there, if ye may truss 
 your goods inthatv/hile; but as to victuals, we have 
 plenty, and it needeth not. And then to-morrow 
 shall we wend our way as straight as may be toward 
 the good town of Utterhay. 
 
 All they yeasaid it, though in her heart maybe 
 Birdalone had been fain of abiding a little longer in 
 her own land ; but she spake no word thereof And 
 they all set to work to the trussing up of their goods, 
 and then turned their backs on the Great Water, 
 and came up into the woodland, and so to the camp 
 in the wood-lawn. And there had Viridis a joyful 
 meeting with her babes, and she gladdened the hearts 
 of Sir Hugh's men-at-arms by her kind greeting ; 
 and they rejoiced in meeting Aurea and Atra 
 again, and they wondered at Birdalone and her 
 beauty, and their hearts went out to her, both the 
 old men's and the young ones'. But Habundia's 
 men looked on it all like images of warriors. 
 
 There then they feasted merrily that evening. 
 But when the morrow was come they were speedily 
 on the way toward Utterhay ; and the wayleaders 
 
^44 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 guided them so well and wisely, that by noon of 
 the fifth day they were come forth of the wood and 
 on to the bent that looked down upon the town of 
 Utterhay. There turned to Hugh the three way- 
 leaders, and spake : Lord, we have done thee the 
 service which we were bidden ; if thou hast no 
 further need of us, give us leave. 
 
 Said Hugh : Leave ye have, and I shall give 
 you a great reward ere ye go. Said the chief of 
 them : Nay, lord, no reward may we take, save a 
 token from thee that thou art content with us. 
 What token shall it be ? said Hugh. Quoth the 
 wayleader : That each of us kiss the Lady Birdalone 
 on the mouth, for she it is that is verily our mis- 
 tress under our great mistress. 
 
 Laughed Hugh thereat, but the men laughed 
 not ; then spake Hugh : This must be at the lady's 
 own will. Even so, said they. 
 
 Then Hugh brought Birdalone thither and told 
 her what was toward, and she consented to the kiss 
 with a good will, and said to each of the men after 
 they had kissed her : Herewith goeth my love to 
 the mistress and queen of the woods ; do ye bear 
 the same unto her. And thereafter those waylead- 
 ers fared back into the woods. 
 
 Now they gather themselves together and go 
 down toward Utterhay, and make a brave show, 
 what with the sumpter-horses, and the goodly ar- 
 ray of the four ladies, and the glittering war-gear 
 of the men-at-arms ; and Sir Hugh and Sir Arthur 
 displayed their pennons as they went. 
 
 All this saw the warders on the wall of Utter- 
 
THE DAYS OF RETURNING 545 
 
 hay ; and they told the captain of the porte, and 
 he came up on to the wall, and a man with him ; 
 and when he saw this bright company coming forth 
 from the wood, he bade men to him, two score of 
 them, all weaponed, and he did on his armour, and 
 rode out-a-gates with them to meet those new- 
 comers ; and this he did, not because he did not 
 see them to be but few, but because they came forth 
 out of Evilshaw, and then doubted if they were 
 trustworthy. 
 
 So he met them two bowshots from the gate, and 
 rode forward till he was close to the wayfarers ; 
 and when he beheld the loveliness of the women, 
 and especially of Birdalone, who wore that day the 
 gleaming-glittering gown which Habundia had 
 given her, he was abashed, and deemed yet more 
 that he had to do with folk of the Faery. But he 
 spake courteously, and said, turning to Hugh, who 
 rode the foremost : Fair sir, would ye tell unto the 
 man whose business it is to safeguard the good 
 town of Utterhay what folk ye be, and on what er- 
 rand ye ride, and how it is that ye come forth from 
 Evilshaw safe, in good case, with pennons dis- 
 played, as if the said wood were your very own 
 livelihood ? For, sooth to say, hitherto we have 
 found this, that all men dread Evilshaw, and none 
 will enter it uncompelled. 
 
 Thereto answered Hugh : I hight Sir Hugh the 
 Green Knight, and am come from under the Green 
 Mountain ; and this is Sir Arthur, called the Black 
 Squire, but a knight he is verily, and of great kindred 
 and a warrior most doughty. And he hath been 
 
 35 
 
546 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 captain of the good town of Greenford west away- 
 through the wood yonder a long way, and hath 
 done the town and the frank thereof mickle good 
 service in scattering and destroying the evil com- 
 panies of the Red Hold, which hold we took by 
 force of arms from the felons who held it for the 
 torment and plague of the country-side. 
 
 Now as to our errand, we be minded to dwell 
 in your good town of Utterhay, and take our part 
 with your folk, and we have wealth enow thereto, 
 so as to be beholden to none ; and as time goes 
 on we may serve you in divers wise, and not least 
 in this maybe, that with a good will we shall draw 
 sword for your peace and the freedom of them of 
 Utterhay. 
 
 When the captain heard these words, he made 
 obeisance to Sir Hugh, and said : Fair sir, though 
 we be here a long way from Greenford, yet have 
 we heard some tale of the deeds of you, and surely 
 the porte and all the folk shall be fain of your com- 
 ing. Yet I pray thee be not wrath ; for there is a 
 custom of the good town, that none may enter its 
 gates coming from out of this Forest of Evilshaw, 
 save he leave some pledge or caution with me, be 
 it his wealth, or the body of some friend or fellow, 
 or, if nought else, his very own body. Wherefore 
 if thou. Sir Green Knight, wilt but give us some 
 sure pledge, then will I turn about and ride with 
 you back and through the gate into Utterhay ; 
 and doubtless, when the mayor hath seen you and 
 spoken with you, the said pledge shall be rendered 
 to you again. 
 
THE DAYS OF RETURNING 547 
 
 Ere Hugh might answer, came Birdalone forth 
 and said : Sir captain, if I, who am the lady of 
 the Black Squire here, be hostage good enough, 
 then take me, and if need be, chain me to make 
 surer of me. And she drew near unto him smiling, 
 and held out her hands as if for the manacles. 
 
 But when the captain saw her thus, all the blood 
 stirred in his body for joy of her beauty, and he 
 might but just sit his horse for his wonder and long- 
 ing ; but he said : The saints forbid it, lady, that 
 I should do thee any hurt or displeasure, or aught 
 save the most worship I may. But thy hostage I 
 will take. Sir Knight, if thou be content to yield 
 her, whereas in an hour belike she shall be free 
 again. And now fare we all gateward again. 
 
 So then they all rode on together, Birdalone by 
 the captain's left hand ; and as they passed by the 
 poor houses without the wall, she looked and saw 
 the one which had been her mother's dwelling, so 
 oft and so closely had she told her all about it. 
 
 Thus then they entered Utterhay, and the cap- 
 tain led them straight to the mote-house whereas 
 the mayor and the porte were sitting ; and much 
 people followed them through the streets, won- 
 dering at them, and praising the loveliness of the 
 women, and the frank and gallant bearing of the 
 men-at-arms. 
 
 So they lighted down at the mote-house and were 
 brought to the mayor, and when he had spoken 
 them but a little, and had come to himself again 
 from the fear and abashment that he had of them, 
 he showed himself full fain of their coming, and 
 
548 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 bade them welcome to the good town, and took 
 them into his own house to guesting, until folk 
 might dight a very goodly house which the porte 
 did give unto them. 
 
 But some two hours afterwards, when they were 
 housed in all content, as they sat in the hall of the 
 mayor, which was great and goodly, talking and 
 devising with worthies of Utterhay, there entered 
 two fair and frank-looking young men, who went 
 straight up to Birdalone, and the first knelt down 
 before her and kissed her hand, and said : O our 
 lady, and art thou verily come to us ! O our hap- 
 piness and the joy of this day ! 
 
 But when she saw him and heard him and felt 
 the touch of his hand, she bent down to him and 
 kissed him on the forehead, for she knew him that 
 it was Robert Gerardson. 
 
 Then the other man came up to her as if he also 
 would have knelt to her, but his purpose changed, 
 and he cast his arms about her body and fell to 
 kissing her face all over, weeping the while, and 
 then he drew off and stood trembling before her ; 
 and she, all blushing like a red rose and laughing 
 a little, and yet with the tears in her eyes, said : 
 
 Giles Gerardson, and thou, Robert, how fain 
 
 1 am to see you twain; but tell me, is your father 
 well ? Yea, verily, our dear lady, said Robert, and 
 it will be unto him as a fresh draught of youth when 
 he wotteth that thou art come to dwell amongst 
 us ; for so it is, O lady beloved, is it not? said he. 
 Yea, forsooth, or even so I hope, said Birdalone. 
 But here be other friends that ye must needs know. 
 
THE DAYS OF RETURNING 549 
 
 if we come to dwell together here in peace; and 
 then go and fetch me hither your father. 
 
 Therewith she presented them unto Arthur and 
 Hugh and the three ladies of the Quest, and all 
 they greeted them kindly and in all honour ; and 
 the Gerardsons loved and worshipped them, and 
 especially the lovely ladies, the she-friends of their 
 lady. 
 
 And whiles they were about this, in cometh old 
 Gerard himself, and when Birdalone saw him at the 
 door, she arose and ran to meet him, and cast her 
 arms about him as if she were his own daughter ; 
 and most joyful was the meeting betwixt them. 
 
CHAPTER IV. OF THE ABIDING IN 
 UTTERHAY IN LOVE AND CONTENT- 
 MENT. 
 
 NOW when seven days were worn, the mayor 
 made a great feast at his house, and thither 
 were bidden all the men of the porte and 
 other worthies, and great merchants who had come 
 into their town ; and the said feast was given in 
 honour of these new-comers, and that day they sat 
 on the dais, and all the guests worshipped them and 
 wondered at their beauty ; and nought was spoken 
 of for many days save the glory and hope that there 
 was in this lovely folk. 
 
 But the next day after the feast were they brought 
 to their house in all triumph ; and it was as fair as 
 might be thought of, and there they dwelt a while 
 in rest and peace, and great recourse there was there 
 of Gerard and his sons. 
 
 But ere the winter was over, were Hugh and 
 Arthur and Gerard and his sons taken to the free- 
 dom of Utterhay ; and thereafter spake the chief 
 men of the porte and the m.asters of the crafts unto 
 the two knights by the mouth of the mayor ; and 
 he told them, what already they partly knew, that 
 the good town had of late gotten many enemies, 
 whereas it was wealthy and not very strong, and 
 that now two such warriors having come amongst 
 them, they were minded to strengthen themselves, 
 if only they two would of their gentleness and 
 meekness become their war-dukes to lead them 
 against the foemen. But the two friends answered 
 
THE DAYS OF RETURNING 551 
 
 that it was well their will to dwell there neigh- 
 bourly, and do them all the help they might, and 
 that they would not gainsay the worship they of- 
 fered them nor the work that should go with it. 
 
 With that answer were all men well content and 
 more : and then the mayor said that the mind of 
 the porte it was to strengthen the walls and the 
 gates, and to build a good and fair castle, meet for 
 any earl, joining on to the wall by the face that 
 looked west, that is to say, on to Evilshaw ; and 
 that liked the war-dukes well. 
 
 So when spring came it was set about, but it was 
 five years adoing, and before it was all finished the 
 war-dukes entered into it, and dwelt there with their 
 wives and their friends in all honour. And a little 
 thereafter, whether they would or no, the men of 
 Utterhay had to handle weapons and fare afield to 
 meet the foe with the valiant men of the crafts, and 
 what of waged men they might get. And well and 
 valiantly were they led by their dukes, and they came 
 to their above, and gained both wealth and honour 
 thereby ; and from that time forward began the in- 
 crease of Utterhay under those two captains, who 
 were unto them as in old time the consuls had been 
 unto the Roman folk, save that they changed them 
 not year by year as the Romans were wont. 
 
 So wore the days, and all those friends dwelt to- 
 gether in harmony and joy ; though the wearing 
 of time wrought changes amongst them. For 
 Robert Gerardson began in no long while to look 
 on Aurea with eyes of love ; and at last he came 
 to Birdalone and craved her leave to woo the said 
 
^^2 THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES 
 
 lady, and she granted it with a good will, and was 
 fain thereof, whereas she saw that Aurea sorely 
 lacked a mate ; and scarce might she have a better 
 than was Robert ; so in process of time they two 
 were wedded and dwelt together happily. 
 
 Forsooth Birdalone had been fainer yet might 
 she have seen Giles Gerardson and Atra drawn to- 
 gether. But though they were dear friends and 
 there was much converse betwixt them, this betid 
 not, so far as we have heard. 
 
 The old Gerard dwelt happily amongst them all 
 for fifteen years after they had come to Utterhay, 
 and then fell asleep, a very old man. 
 
 As to the wood of Evilshaw, it was not once a 
 year only that Birdalone and Arthur sought thither 
 and met the wood-mother, but a half-score of times 
 or more, might be, in the year's circle ; and ever 
 was she kind and loving with them, and they with 
 her. 
 
 But of all those fellows it was Atra that had 
 longest dealings with the wood-wife ; for whiles 
 would she leave Utterhay and her friends and fare 
 lonesome up into Evilshaw, and find Habundia and 
 abide with her in all kindness holden for a month 
 or more. And ever a little before these departures 
 betid would she fall moody and few-spoken, but 
 she came back ever from the wood calm and kind 
 and well-liking. 
 
 Amidst all these comings and goings somewhat 
 wore off the terror of Evilshaw ; yet never was it 
 accounted other than a daring deed to enter it alone 
 without fellowship ; and most had liefer that some 
 
THE DAYS OF RETURNING 553 
 
 man of religion were of their company therein, or 
 they would bear about them something holy or 
 blessed to hold the evil things. 
 
 Now when all this hath been said, we have no 
 more to tell about this company of friends, the 
 most of whom had once haunted the lands about 
 the Water of the Wondrous Isles, save that their 
 love never sundered, and that they lived without 
 shame and died without fear. So here is an end. 
 
Printed by John Wilson and Son at the 
 University Press in Cambridge U. S. A. 
 
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