Straight before her on the way
that they were going went up into the air great masses of grey stone
builded 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
rabbits 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
Birdalone: 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.
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