Yet would she not cast aside all hope, but clad herself in her
valiancy. Forsooth she knew it availed nought to try to move on in
the twilight; so she laid herself down on that waste, and made up her
mind to sleep if she might, and abide the new day there, and then to
strive with the way once more, for belike, she thought, it may be
fair to-morrow, and the sun shining. And as she was very weary with
tramping the waste all day, she fell asleep at once, and slept the
short night through.
But when she awoke, and saw what the new day was, her heart fell
indeed, for now was she encompassed and shut in with a thick dark
mist (though it seemed to be broad day), so that had there been aught
to see she would not have seen it her own length away from her. So
there she stood, hanging her head, and striving to think; but the
master-thought of death drawing nigh scattered all other thoughts, or
made them dim and feeble.
Long she stood there; but suddenly something came into her mind. She
set her hand to the fair-broidered pouch which hung from Viridis'
loin-girdle, and drew out thence flint and steel and tinder, which
matters, forsooth, had served her before in the boat to make fire
withal.
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