Then they built a ship without delay, laying the keel with wood from the rowan tree.  And they made masts of rowan wood also, and oars likewise; and, so furnished, set forth.

Now the wicked Queen knew by her arts they were coming, so she sent out her imps to still the winds so that the fluttering sails of silk hung idle on the masts.  But Childe Wynde was not to be bested; so he called out the oarsmen.  Thus it came to pass that one morn the wicked Queen, looking from the Keep, saw the gallant ship in Bamborough Bay, and she sent out all her witch-wives and her impets to raise a storm and sink the ship; but they came back unable to hurt it, for, see you, it was built of rowan wood, over which witches have no power.

Then, as a last device, the Witch Queen laid spells upon the Laidly Worm saying: 

  “Oh!  Laidly Worm!  Go make their topmast heel,
   Go!  Worm the sand, and creep beneath the keel.”

Now the Laidly Worm had no choice but to obey.  So: 

  “The Worm leapt up, the Worm leapt down
   And plaited round each plank,
   And aye as the ship came close to shore
   She heeled as if she sank.”

Three times three did Childe Wynde attempt to land, and three times three the Laidly Worm kept the good ship from the shore.  At last Childe Wynde gave the word to put the ship about, and the Witch Queen, who was watching from the Keep, thought he had given up:  but he was not to be bested:  for he only rounded the next point to Budley sands.  And there, jumping into the shoal water, he got safely to land, and drawing his sword of proof, rushed up to fight the awesome Worm.  But as he raised his sword to strike he heard a voice, soft as the western wind: 

  “Oh quit thy sword, unbend thy bow,
     And give me kisses three,
   For though I seem a Laidly Worm
     No harm I’ll do to thee!”

And the voice seemed to him like the voice of his dear sister May Margret.  So he stayed his hand.  Then once again the Laidly Worm said: 

  “Oh quit thy sword, unbend thy bow,
     My laidly form forget. 
   Forgive the wrong and kiss me thrice
     For love of May Margret.”

Then Childe Wynde, remembering how he had loved his sister, put his arms round the Laidly Worm and kissed it once.  And he kissed the loathly thing twice.  And he kissed it yet a third time as he stood with the wet sand at his feet.

Then with a hiss and a roar the Laidly Worm sank to the sand, and in his arms was May Margret!

He wrapped her in his mantle, for she trembled in the cold sea air, and carried her to Bamborough Castle, where the wicked Queen, knowing her hour was come, stood, all deserted by her imps and witch-wives, on the stairs, twisting her hands.

Then Childe Wynde looking at her cried: 

  “Woe!  Woe to thee, thou wicked Witch! 
     An ill fate shalt thine be! 
   The doom thou dreed on May Margret
     The same doom shalt thou dree.