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 thereafter, 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 aforesaid, 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 voyage 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.
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