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that grows in the valley； none knows it but i。 it has purple
leaves； and a star in its heart； and its juice is as white as milk。
shouldst thou touch with this flower the hard lips of the queen；
she would follow thee all over the world。 out of the bed of the
king she would rise； and over the whole world she would follow
thee。 and it has a price； pretty boy； it has a price。 what dye
lack？ what dye lack？ i can pound a toad in a mortar； and make
broth of it； and stir the broth with a dead mans hand。 sprinkle
it on thine enemy while he sleeps； and he will turn into a black
viper； and his own mother will slay him。 with a wheel i can draw
the moon from heaven； and in a crystal i can show thee death。 what
dye lack？ what dye lack？ tell me thy desire； and i will give it
thee； and thou shalt pay me a price； pretty boy； thou shalt pay me
a price。
my desire is but for a little thing； said the young fisherman；
yet hath the priest been wroth with me； and driven me forth。 it
is but for a little thing； and the merchants have mocked at me； and
denied me。 therefore am i e to thee； though men call thee evil；
and whatever be thy price i shall pay it。
what wouldst thou？ asked the witch； ing near to him。
i would send my soul away from me； answered the young fisherman。
the witch grew pale； and shuddered； and hid her face in her blue
mantle。 pretty boy； pretty boy； she muttered； that is a
terrible thing to do。
he tossed his brown curls and laughed。 my soul is nought to me；
he answered。 i cannot see it。 i may not touch it。 i do not know
it。
what wilt thou give me if i tell thee？ asked the witch； looking
down at him with her beautiful eyes。
five pieces of gold； he said； and my nets； and the wattled house
where i live； and the painted boat in which i sail。 only tell me
how to get rid of my soul； and i will give thee all that i
possess。
she laughed mockingly at him； and struck him with the spray of
hemlock。 i can turn the autumn leaves into gold； she answered；
and i can weave the pale moonbeams into silver if i will it。 he
whom i serve is richer than all the kings of this world； and has
their dominions。
what then shall i give thee； he cried； if thy price be neither
gold nor silver？
the witch stroked his hair with her thin white hand。 thou must
dance with me； pretty boy； she murmured； and she smiled at him as
she spoke。
nought but that？ cried the young fisherman in wonder and he rose
to his feet。
nought but that； she answered； and she smiled at him again。
then at sunset in some secret place we shall dance together； he
said； and after that we have danced thou shalt tell me the thing
which i desire to know。
she shook her head。 when the moon is full； when the moon is
full； she muttered。 then she peered all round； and listened。 a
blue bird rose screaming from its nest and circled over the dunes；
and three spotted birds rustled through the coarse grey grass and
whistled to each other。 there was no other sound save the sound of
a wave fretting the smooth pebbles below。 so she reached out her
hand； and drew him near to her and put her dry lips close to his
ear。
to…night thou must e to the top of the mountain； she
whispered。 it is a sabbath； and he will be there。
the young fisherman started and looked at her； and she showed her
white teeth and laughed。 who is he of whom thou speakest？ he
asked。
it matters not； she answered。 go thou to…night； and stand under
the branches of the hornbeam； and wait for my ing。 if a black
dog run towards thee； strike it with a rod of willow； and it will
go away。 if an owl speak to thee； make it no answer。 when the
moon is full i shall be with thee； and we will dance together on
the grass。
but wilt thou swear to me to tell me how i may send my soul from
me？ he made question。
she moved out into the sunlight； and through her red hair rippled
the wind。 by the hoofs of the goat i swear it； she made answer。
thou art the best of the witches； cried the young fisherman； and
i will surely dance with thee to…night on the top of the mountain。
i would indeed that thou hadst asked of me either gold or silver。
but such as thy price is thou shalt have it； for it is but a little
thing。 and he doffed his cap to her； and bent his head low； and
ran back to the town filled with a great joy。
and the witch watched him as he went； and when he had passed from
her sight she entered her cave； and having taken a mirror from a
box of carved cedarwood； she set it up on a frame； and burned
vervain on lighted charcoal before it； and peered through the coils
of the smoke。 and after a time she clenched her hands in anger。
he should have been mine； she muttered； i am as fair as she is。
and that evening； when the moon had risen； the young fisherman
climbed up to the top of the mountain； and stood under the branches
of the hornbeam。 like a targe of polished metal the round sea lay
at his feet； and the shadows of the fishing…boats moved in the
little bay。 a great owl； with yellow sulphurous eyes； called to
him by his name； but he made it no answer。 a black dog ran towards
him and snarled。 he struck it with a rod of willow； and it went
away whining。
at midnight the witches came flying through the air like bats。
phew！ they cried； as they lit upon the ground； there is some one
here we know not！ and they sniffed about； and chattered to each
other； and made signs。 last of all came the young witch； with her
red hair streaming in the wind。 she wore a dress of gold tissue
embroidered with peacocks eyes； and a little cap of green velvet
was on her head。
where is he； where is he？ shrieked the witches when they saw her；
but she only laughed； and ran to the hornbeam； and taking the
fisherman by the hand she led him out into the moonlight and began
to dance。
round and round they whirled； and the young witch jumped so high
that he could see the scarlet heels of her shoes。 then right
across the dancers came the sound of the galloping of a horse； but
no horse was to be seen； and he felt afraid。
faster； cried the witch； and she threw her arms about his neck；
and her breath was hot upon his face。 faster； faster！ she cried；
and the earth seemed to spin beneath his feet； and his brain grew
troubled； and a great terror fell on him； as of some evil thing
that was watching him； and at last he became aware that under the
shadow of a rock there was a figure that had not been there before。
it was a man dressed in a suit of black velvet； cut in the spanish
fashion。 his face was strangely pale； but his lips were like a
proud red flower。 he seemed weary； and was leaning back toying in
a listless manner with the pommel of his dagger。 on the grass
beside him lay a plumed hat； and a pair of riding…gloves gauntleted
with gilt lace； and sewn with seed…pearls wrought into a curious
device。 a short cloak lined with sables hang from his shoulder；
and his delicate white hands were gemmed with rings。 heavy eyelids
drooped over his eyes。
the young fisherman watched him； as one snared in a spell。 at last
their eyes met； and wherever he danced it seemed to him that the
eyes of the man were upon him。 he heard the witch laugh； and
caught her by the waist； and whirled her madly round and round。
suddenly a dog bayed in the wood； and the dancers stopped； and
going up two by two； knelt down； and kissed the mans hands。 as
they did so； a little smile touched his proud lips； as a birds
wing touches the water and makes it laugh。 but there was disdain
in it。 he kept looking at the young fisherman。
e！ let us worship； whispered the witch； and she led him up；
and a great desire to do as she besought him seized on him； and he
followed her。 but when he came close； and without knowing why he
did it； he made on his breast the sign of the cross； and called
upon the holy name。
no sooner had he done so than the witches screamed like hawks and
flew away； and the pallid face that had