closely what is her manner of dealing with the said Sending Boat, so
that thou mayst do in like wise. Wilt thou risk the smart and the
skin-changing, or even if it were the stroke of the knife, to gather
this wisdom? And thereafter thou shalt come hither and tell me how
thou hast sped. With a good heart will I, dear sister, said
Birdalone.

Then Habundia kissed her and said: It is a joy to me to see thee so
valiant, but herein may I help thee somewhat; here is a gold finger-
ring, see thou! fashioned as a serpent holding his tail in his mouth;
whenso thou goest on this quest, set thou this same ring on the
middle finger of thy left hand, and say thou above thy breath at
least:


To left and right,
Before, behind,
Of me be sight
As of the wind!


And nought then shall be seen of thee even by one who standeth close
beside. But wear not the ring openly save at such times, or let the
witch have sight thereof ever, or she will know that thou hast met
me. Dost thou understand, and canst thou remember?

Laughed Birdalone, and took the ring and set it on her finger, and
spake aloud even as Habundia had given her the words. Then quoth
Habundia, laughing: Now have I lost my friend and sister, for thou
art gone, Birdalone. Take off the ring, sweetling, and get thee to