Hast thou drunk, stern and bow;
Then wake and awake
And the wonted way take!
The way of the Wender forth over the flood,
For the will of the Sender is blent with the blood.


Therewithal began the boat to stir, and anon it glided forth out of
the creek into the waters of the lake, and the light of the lantern
died, and it was but a minute ere Birdalone lost all sight of it.
She abode a little longer, lest perchance boat and witch might come
back on her hands, and then turned and went swiftly back again. She
would have drawn off her ring straightway, but the thought came on
her, that she had seen the witch depart in her second semblance; how
if she were abiding her at home in her wonted skin? So she came to
the house even as she was, and opened the door, and looked in,
quaking; but there was no image of a child of Adam therein, and no
living thing, save the cat drowsing before the fire; wherefore
Birdalone took the ring from her finger and went to the hearth, and
stirred up the cat with her foot till he arose and fell to rubbing
himself against her legs, and she was fain of him.

Thereafter she made her ring fast to her smock again, and set the
smock under her pillow as her wont was, and betook herself to bed,
and fell asleep sweetly, leaving all troublous thoughts for the
morrow; and that the more as she was free of the witch-wife for that
night at least.