went to a mighty warlock and asked him what they should do. Then he
consulted his works and his familiar, and told them: "The Laidly Worm
is really the Princess Margaret and it is hunger that drives her forth
to do such deeds. Put aside for her seven kine, and each day as the
sun goes down, carry every drop of milk they yield to the stone trough
at the foot of the Heugh, and the Laidly Worm will trouble the country
no longer. But if ye would that she be borrowed to her natural shape,
and that she who bespelled her be rightly punished, send over the seas
for her brother, Childe Wynd."

All was done as the warlock advised, the Laidly Worm lived on the milk
of the seven kine, and the country was troubled no longer. But when
Childe Wynd heard the news, he swore a mighty oath to rescue his
sister and revenge her on her cruel stepmother. And three-and-thirty
of his men took the oath with him. Then they set to work and built a
long ship, and its keel they made of the rowan tree. And when all was
ready, they out with their oars and pulled sheer for Bamborough Keep.

But as they got near the keep, the stepmother felt by her magic power
that something was being wrought against her, so she summoned her
familiar imps and said: "Childe Wynd is coming over the seas; he must
never land. Raise storms, or bore the hull, but nohow must he touch
shore." Then the imps went forth to meet Childe Wynd's ship, but when
they got near, they found they had no power over the ship, for its
keel was made of the rowan tree. So back they came to the queen witch,
who knew not what to do. She ordered her men-at-arms to resist Childe
Wynd if he should land near them, and by her spells she caused the
Laidly Worm to wait by the entrance of the harbour.

As the ship came near, the Worm unfolded its coils, and dipping into