VI

Until the white moon went out in the sky; until the Secret People began to
whisper in the woods--so long did the King of Ireland's Son remain in the dry
water-tank that night.

And then, when it was neither dark nor light, he saw a crane flying towards
him. It lighted on the edge of the tank. "Have you a message for me?" said the
King of Ireland's Son. The crane tapped three times with its beak. Then the
King's Son got out of the tank and prepared to follow the bird-messenger.

This was the way the crane went. It would fly a little way and then light on
the ground until the Prince came up to it. Then it would fly again. Over
marshes and across little streams the crane led him. And all the time the King
of Ireland's Son thought he was being brought to the place where Fedelma was--
to the place where he would get food and where he could rest until just before
the sun rose.

They went on and on till they came to an old tower. The crane lighted upon it.
The King's Son saw there was an iron door in the tower and he pulled a chain
until it opened. Then he saw a little room lighted with candles, and he saw a
young woman looking at herself in the glass. Her back was towards him and her
hair was the same as Fedelma's.

But when the young woman turned round he saw she was not Fedelma. She was
little, and she had a face that was brown and tight like a nut. She made
herself very friendly to the King of Ireland's Son and went to him and took