“Therewith he arose to his feet and leapt on his horse, and rode his ways speedily:  and I went upon my way with my goats, and came down into the Dale of Lore, and found the old woman abiding me; and she came to me, and took me by the hands, and touched the collar (for I had done it about my neck), and said: 

“’Dear child, thou needest not to tell me thy tale, for I have seen him.  But if thou must needs wear this necklace, I must give thee a gift to go with it.  But first sit down by the old carline awhile and talk with her; for meseemeth it will be but a few days ere thou shalt depart from this uttermost wilderness, and the woods before the mountains.’

“So I sat down by her, and in spite of her word I told her all that had befallen betwixt me and the king’s son:  for my heart was too full that I might refrain me.  She nodded her head from time to time, but said naught, till I had made an end:  and then fell to telling me of many matters for my avail; but yet arose earlier than her wont was; and when we were about sundering on the path which I had trodden above the Dale, she said:  ’Now must I give thee that gift to go along with the gift of the lover, the King’s son; and I think thou wilt find it of avail before many days are gone by.’  Therewith she took from her pouch a strong sharp knife, and drew it from the sheath, and flashed it in the afternoon sun, and gave it to me; and I took it and laid it in my bosom and thanked her; for I thought that I understood her meaning, and how it would avail me.  Then I went driving my goats home speedily, so that the sun was barely set when I came to the garth; and a great horror rather than a fear of my mistress was on me; and lo! she stood in the door of the house gazing down the garth and the woodland beyond, as though she were looking for my coming:  and when her eyes lighted on me, she scowled, and drew her lips back from her teeth and clenched her hands with fury, though there was nought in them; and she was a tall and strong woman, though now growing somewhat old:  but as for me, I had unsheathed the carline’s gift before I came to the garth, and now I held it behind my back in my left hand.

“I had stayed my feet some six paces from the threshold, and my heart beat quick, but the sick fear and cowering had left me, though the horror of her grew in my heart.  My goats had all gone off quietly to their house, and there was nothing betwixt me and her.  In clearing from my sleeve the arm of me which held the knife, the rough clasp which fastened my raiment together at the shoulder had given way, and the cloth had fallen and left my bosom bare, so that I knew that the collar was clearly to be seen.  So we stood a moment, and I had no words, but she spake at last in a hard, snarling voice, such as she oftenest used to me, but worse.

“’Now at last the time has come when thou art of no more use to me; for I can see thee what thou hast got for thyself.  But know now that thou hast not yet drunk of the Well at the World’s End, and that it will not avail thee to flee out of this wood; for as long as I live thou wilt not be able to get out of reach of my hand; and I shall live long:  I shall live long.  Come, then, and give thyself up to me, that I may deal with thee as I threatened when I slew thy friend the white goat; for, indeed, I knew then that it would come to this.’