INGOLF [examining the stone].  So you think it will hold?  Well—­ [Takes the stone and flings it into the ravine.]

HADDA PADDA [smiling, she looks at Ingolf].  I shall take better care next time. [Running away, Ingolf and Steindor look after her.]

STEINDOR.  She is determined to go down.

INGOLF.  I will offer to go down again.  Let us both offer to go down.

STEINDOR.  She said she would go down anyhow, if we didn’t find the pearls.

INGOLF.  Just look how fast she is running!  She is holding her hand to her breast.

STEINDOR.  Now she is stopping ...  She is lifting a stone ...  Now she has thrown it away.

INGOLF.  She runs without stopping.

STEINDOR.  Now she has found a new stone.

INGOLF.  She is bending over it.  What is she doing?

STEINDOR.  She is tying the rope around it.  She won’t let you hurl this one over,

INGOLF.  She is lifting the stone, and carrying it in her arms.

STEINDOR.  She is strong, Hrafnhild is.  Now she is running with it.

INGOLF.  See how the earth is slipping from under her feet.  See how the pebbles pursue her!  She is running away from them with the big stone.  She is holding it in her arms as if it were a child she were rescuing.

HADDA PADDA [enters, carrying the stone which she cautiously places on the edge.  Smiles].  You haven’t gone yet!  What are you waiting for? [Takes the spade, and starts to deepen the hole.]

INGOLF.  Steindor and I will go down for you.  We will search as thoroughly as possible.

HADDA PADDA.  You are kind.  But now I will let nothing prevent me from going down.  Had you offered to do so before, I would have accepted; but when you say you forbid me to go down, I intend to go. [Steindor walks restlessly near the edge.]

INGOLF.  You know that we can prevent you from going down.

HADDA PADDA.  You can—­how?

INGOLF.  We can take the rope from you and go home.

HADDA PADDA.  Yes—­you can do that. [Turns away.]

INGOLF.  What would you do then?

HADDA PADDA [in same position].  Go home and get another rope.

INGOLF.  Don’t be so obstinate, Hrafnhild.

HADDA PADDA [in a low voice].  Why don’t you call me by my pretty name any more?  We aren’t enemies.  Promise to call me Hadda Padda always.  When I leave to-day, when I mount my horse, and ride away, wave your hat to me and call:  Good-bye, Hadda Padda.

INGOLF.  Are you determined to go to-day?

HADDA PADDA.  Determined. [Rolls the stone into the hole, takes it up again, and digs deeper.]

INGOLF.  You won’t accept our offer?

HADDA PADDA.  No, I won’t.

INGOLF.  Then stop your digging.  It is useless.

HADDA PADDA [looks at him, puzzled].

INGOLF.  You must understand that we will not stand by, and let you go down with only a loose stone to hold you up.