And the Water-midden looked up at him unfrightened, and saw the truth
and kindness in his eyes. "Be not angry with me, little brother," she
answered. "I did not pretend with you, sorrowful Nizza-neela!" And she
dropped the Wonderstone into his outstretched hand.

Tears sprang up into Nod's tired, aching eyes. He smoothed softly with
his hairy fingers the golden strands floating in the ice-cold water.
"Till I die, O beautiful one," he said, "I will not forget you. Tell me
your wish!"

Then the Water-midden looked long and gravely at him out of darkling
eyes. She put out her hand and touched his. "This shall be my sorrowful
wish, little Mulgar: it is that when you and your brothers come at last
to the Kingdom of Assasimmon, and the Valleys of Tishnar, you will not
forget me."

"O Midden," Nod answered, "it needed no asking--that. It may be we shall
never reach the Valleys. For now we must plunge into the water-cavern on
our floating rafts, and all is haste and danger. But I mind no danger
now, Midden. That Mulla-mulgar, my father Seelem, chose to wander, and
not to sit fat and idle with Princes. So, too, would I. Tell me a harder
wish. Ask anything, Water-midden, and my Wonderstone shall give it you."

And the Water-midden gazed sorrowfully into his face. "That is all I
ask, Mulla-mulgar," she repeated softly--"that you will not forget me. I
fear the Wonderstone. All day it has been crickling and burning in my
hair. All that I ask, I ask only of you." So Nod stooped once more over
that gold and beauty, and he promised the Water-midden.

And she drew out a slender, fine strand of her hair, and cut it through
with the sharp edge of a little shell, and she wound it seven times
round Nod's left wrist. "There," she said; "that will bid you remember
me when you come to the end. Have no fear of the waters, Nizza-neela; my
people will watch over you."

And Nod could not think what in his turn to give the Water-midden for a
remembrance and a keepsake. So he gave her Battle's silver groat with
the hole in it, and hung it upon a slender shred of Cullum round her
neck, and he tore off also one of the five out of his nine ivory buttons
that still clung to his coat, and gave her that, too.

"And if my brothers stay here one day more, come in the darkness, O
Water-midden; I shall not sleep for thinking of you." And he said
good-bye to her, kneeling above the dark water. But long after he had
safely wrapped his Wonderstone in th