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And when that the twelfth hour did be come, we made halt again and eat and
drank; and the Maid to serve me very intent, and hand me the water, the while
that she went down upon her knee, as a slave; but when I would have laughed
gently at her mockings, and taken her into mine arms, she went from me very
sudden and cold, and was afterward silent and did sit apart from me.
Now I also did be silent, and in the first because that I was a little pained,
and also because that I did be new touched with the lovefoolishness that did
trouble Mine Own.
But afterward, I ceased from these feelings, and did be intent to another
matter; for it did seem to my spirit that there was some danger anigh to us;
and I had a thought of the Humpt Men, and lookt well about, and did beckon the
Maid to come nigh, because that the trees did be plentiful thereabout, to hide
any creature.
The Night Land
XIII. HOMEWARD BY THE SHORE
196
But Mine Own came not over to me, so that I loosed the Diskos from mine hip,
and went that I be nigh to her.
And she made that she saw me not; but did set the gear together, and had it
presently aready for the journey, the while that I did look allways among the
trees; but indeed I saw naught.
And when that I had the gear upon me, and the Maid her bundle, we went forward
again; and I to be very wary, and bid the Maid keep close to my side; but
indeed, she would not obey, and went offward among the trees, so that I was
all anhaunted with dread for her, and ran and caught her, and talkt wisely
with her; but indeed she did not hark to me; but did run off in the moment
that I loost her.
And I caught her again, and I took one of the straps from around the Scrip and
the Pouch, and set it about her pretty waist, and the end I held in my hand,
and so had her to obey me in this thing which did be needful to her safety.
And the Maid to go with me very husht for two great hours, and I alway to look
well about. And in the end of that time, the Maid did begin to sing
impudently, and I did ask her that she be a quiet maid, lest that she bring
danger upon us; but she to be the more impudent.
And lo! as I did strive that I look allways, lest any harm did come upon us,
and in the same moment to reason Mine Own from her pretty folly, she did grow
very husht, so that I lookt round upon her in an instant.
And truly, she had cut the strap with her beltknife, and did run away very
swift among the trees. And surely my heart did slow a little in my breast,
because that there did seem something amove in the dark of the shadows, where
the trees did grow thick, and the Maid did run that way in her foolishness and
waywardness.
And I ran hard after the Maid, and did call her, not overloud, lest I bring
somewhat upon her; but she to have no heed, and to run very light and swift,
so that I caught her not for the half of a minute, as it might be; for she was
gone ahead, and I did be a little cumbered with mine armour.
And lo! when I caught her, I shook her, and pointed inward among the trees,
for it did seem even then to me that something moved there; but she to
struggle in my hand a moment, and afterward to be still, and to ask with an
insolence and a defiance whether that I did mean to flog my chattel, the which
she did call herself in her naughtiness.
And, in verity, ere I did know, she had twist from me, and did run with a true
wickedness straight toward that place where somewhat had seemed to be amove.
And I ran then with all my strength, and with a fearful and an anxious heart.
And because I put all my strength to the matter, I caught the Maid in a
moment, ere she did be gone any way; and she again to fight to be gone from
me. But I took her into mine arms, very strong, and I
ran outward from that place where the trees made a darkness.
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And surely, when I was come again to where the trees did be more spare, I saw
that I was come nigh to that river which I crost on the raft, as you shall
mind; and truly I did be glad, and to feel safe in a moment. Yet I
was firm now to my purpose; for I set the Maid to the earth upon her feet, and
kept my hold very sure upon her; for I did mean that I whip her, before that
her lovefoolishness bring her needless unto death.
And I took the belt from her pretty waist, for it did be but a light strap,
and I whipt her very sharp over her shoulders with the belt. And, truly, she
did make to nestle unto me in a moment, as that other time when that I
whipt her; but I stayed her from this, and I set the belt thrice more across
her shoulders, very sharp, so that she to learn wisdom at once, and I to be
free for ever of this need to pain her, which did hurt me very strange.
And the Maid to stand very quiet, now that I did keep her from coming unto me;
and her head did be something bent, so that I knew not whether I did mayhap
have flogged her overhard; for I did be something lacking in knowledge whether
that a maid be very easy hurt.
The Night Land
XIII. HOMEWARD BY THE SHORE
197
And I stooped and lookt into her face; and lo! she did be smiling naughtily,
and kist me in a moment very saucy upon the mouth, ere I did be aware; and
afterward, she laughed and made try to make a bitter mock upon me, and askt
when that I should be pleased to cease from whipping my chattel; for that then
she should run away immediately into the wood, and to trust the Humpt Men that
they protect her from me.
And surely, I lookt at her very grave; for I perceived that she did not truly
jest, but made to anger me, and did be half in a strange anger herself, and
something adrift; for she had not been whipt enough, but only to stir her
rebellion utterly. And I saw that if she be not set right then, ere she leave
my hand, she to be like to have some new foolishness that should take her unto
her death, even as she had come overnear already, as you to know.
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