Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/123

 and called after him. But the old mill horse never turned back. She stood under the tree with its green-leafed branches, and she watched Baldwin go into the Dark Forest.

She watched and she watched. And then she saw Baldwin come out of the Dark Forest. He came galloping toward her. He tossed his mane as if he had something good to tell her. Nearer and nearer to her Baldwin came. He could use human words, but he had never learnt to shout aloud. Golden Hood watched Baldwin come, and she saw that there were two behind Baldwin.

And then two great shadows came over her. A shadowy thing swept down, and there was a whirring all around her. And then Golden Hood felt herself caught up and lifted and carried away.

For two great eagles had flown down, and one caught Golden Hood and the other caught Golden Hood, and they flew up in the air with the maiden between them. Up, up, and away from the green