Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/380

 And she drew forth the pipe and set her lips to it and played, and there came from it that very same sweet old tune that had joyed him so much long aforetime. But when they looked to see what would happen to the sheep, lo and behold they stirred not at all for all the sweetness of the tune, nor made as if they heard it. So they laughed, albeit each of them, and Elfhild in especial, was a little grieved that the power had departed from the pipe. And they looked down towards the water, and Elfhild half thought to see a little brown man sitting at the door of the cave. But there was nothing; only it seemed to them both that there came up from the water a sound that said. Give it me back again. And Osberne said: Didst thou hear that? Yea, she said, I thought I heard something. What shall we do? Said he: Why should he have his pipe back again? She said: Let us see what will happen if we cast it down to him. Good, said Osberne. And he took the pipe, and as deftly as he might he cast it towards the mouth of the cave, but it fell a long way short. But lo, as it was on the very point of striking the water it seemed that it was wafted up to the cave's mouth, and it vanished away into the cave no slower than might have been looked for. And a faint voice came up from the water and said: I am pleased; good luck go with you.

So they sat down and pondered on these things awhile, till at last Elfhild said: Now will I tell thee a tale as in old days. And he said: That is