For lo! when she looked around for her raiment 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 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 running 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.
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