Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/154

 two doves in its branches and they were building a nest.

John Ball was there and Baldwin, the old mill horse, and Golden Hood was overjoyed to see them both. She clasped John Ball's hand, and she put her arm around the neck of old Baldwin. Then they went on their journey. Greatly surprised they were to find after a few turnings that they were back in the Deep Wood and near where the children were.

They were to meet with the hag again. Before they reached the first white-thorn tree she stood before them. "There will be separation for two of the three of you," she said, "short, or long, or forever as I can make it." Saying that she ran from them, and her raven flapped after her.