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 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 different 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 heedfully, and go thither
from Rock Eyot, which now and again she visited.
By this she was come back to the sandy bight, and
the sun was westering; and she looked up toward the
house 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 even
therewith came these words into Birdalone’s mouth,
she scarce knew how: 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 swimming thereover?
And now in that same creek whereas the serpent used
to lurk when I was little, we have a thing come, which
is made to swim on the water; and I, could I have
a long pole to shove withal.
