Now never had Birdalone gone so far east as to be over against Rock
Eyot. In her childish days the witch had let her know that she might
go where she would, but therewith had told her a tale of a huge
serpent which dwelt in the dark wood over against Rock Eyot, whose
wont it was to lap his folds round and round living things that went
there, and devour them; and many an evil dream had that evil serpent
brought to Birdalone. In after days belike she scarce trowed in the
tale, yet the terror of it abode with her. Moreover the wildwood
toward that side, as it drew toward the water, was dark and dreary
and forbidding, running into black thickets standing amidst
quagmires, all unlike to the sweet, clean upland ridges, oak begrown
and greenswarded, of the parts which lay toward the north, and which
she mostly haunted.

But this summer day, which was so bright and hot, Birdalone deemed
she might harden her heart to try the adventure; and she had a mind
to enter the wood thereby, and win her way up into the oakland
whereas she had met Habundia, and perchance she might happen on her;
for she would not dare to summon her so soon after their first
meeting. And if she met her, there would be the holiday worthily
brought to an end!

On went Birdalone, and was soon at the narrowest of the greensward,
and had the wood black on her left hand, for the trees of it were
mostly alder. But when she was come just over against Rock Eyot, she
found a straight creek or inlet of the water across her way; and the
said creek ran right up into the alder thicket; and, indeed, was much
overhung by huge ancient alders, gnarled, riven, mossy, and falling
low over the water. But close on the mouth of the creek, on
Birdalone's side thereof, lay a thing floating on the dull water,