which she knew not how to call a boat, for such had she never seen,
nor heard of, but which was indeed a boat, oarless and sailless.

She looked on it all about, and wondered; yet she saw at once that it
was for wending the water, and she thought, might she but have a long
pole, she might push it about the shallow parts of the lake, and
belike take much fish. She tried to shove it somewhat toward the
lake, but with her little might could make nothing of the work; for
the craft was heavy, like a barge, if there were nothing else that
withstood her.

About this new thing she hung a long while, wondering that she had
never heard thereof, or been set to toil therewith. She noted that
it was mostly pale grey of hue, as if it had been bleached by sun and
water, but at the stem and stern were smears of darker colour, as
though someone had been trying the tints of staining there.

Now so much did this new matter take up all her mind, that she
thought no more of going up into the wood; but though she had fain
abided there long to see whatever might be seen, she deemed it would
go ill with her did the witch happen on her there; wherefore she
turned about, and went back the way she had come, going very slowly
and pondering the tidings. And ever she called to mind what Habundia
had said to her, that it was by water she must flee, and wondered if
she had sent her this thing that she might escape therein; so
different as her going would be thereby to swimming the lake with her
wet body. Then again she thought, that before she might let herself
hope this, it were best, if she might, to find out from the witch
what was the thing, and if she knew thereof. Yet at last she called
to mind how little patient of questions was her mistress, and that if