thereof; and now already meseemed that though the woman was hateful
and thick-hearted and cruel, yet she was become fairer, or seemed so,
than when we first came on her; and for my part I pondered on what it
might grow to, and fear of her came into my soul.

Now spake Baudoin: Fellows, let us get out into the garden at least;
for this place is evil, and meseems it smells and tastes of tears and
blood, and that evil wights that hate the life of men are lurking in
the nooks thereof. And lo, our very she-friend that was so kind and
simple and dainty with us, there is, as it were, the image of the
dear maiden standing trembling and naked before the stupid malice of
this lump of flesh. So spake he, Birdalone.

But I said to Arthur in a soft voice: And when shall we slay her?
Said he: Not until we have gotten from her all that may be gotten;
and that is the living bodies of our friends. But come we forth.

So did we, and came down to the orchard and did off our helms, and
lay down under a big apple-tree which was clear of cover all round
about, and so fell to our redes; and I asked Arthur what he deemed of
the story of our loves having been carried to the House under the
Wood, and if it might not be tried seeking thither; but he laughed
and said: Never would she have told us thereof had it been sooth:
doubtless our friends are here on this isle, but, as I deem, not in
the house, else had not the witch left all the house free for us to
search into. Yea, said I, but how if they be in her prison? Said
he: It is not hard to find out which is the prison of so dainty a
house as is yonder; and when we had found it, soon should we have hit
upon a way to break it, since we be three, and stout fellows enough.
Nay, I deem that the lovelings be stowed away in some corner of the