Page:Wood Beyond the World.djvu/164

 pardon me, and when thy spirit has come back to thee, thou shalt tell me thy tale in all friendship, and in all loving-kindness will I hearken the same.

Therewith he knelt before her and kissed her feet. But she said: Yea, yea; what thou willest, that will I do. But first tell me one thing. Hast thou buried this horror and hidden him in the earth?

He deemed that fear had bewildered her, and that she scarcely yet knew how things had gone. But he said: Fair sweet friend, I have not done it as yet; but now will I go and do it, if it seem good to thee.

Yea, she said, but first must thou smite off his head, and lay it by his buttocks when he is in the earth; or evil things will happen else. This of the burying is no idle matter, I bid thee believe.

I doubt it not, said he; surely such malice as was in this one will be hard to slay. And he picked up his sword, and turned to go to the field of deed.

She said: I must needs go with thee; terror hath so filled my soul, that I durst not abide here without thee.

So they went both together to where the creature lay. The Maid durst not look on