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 meddled 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.
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