wering 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.'

"She had but twice or thrice spoken to me so many words together as
this; but I answered never a word, but stood watching her warily. And
of a sudden she gave forth a dreadful screaming roar, wherewith all the
wood rang again, and rushed at me; but my hand came from behind my
back, and how it was I know not, but she touched me not till the blade
had sunk into her breast, and she fell across my feet, her right hand
clutching my raiment. So I loosed her fingers from the cloth,
shuddering with horror the while, and drew myself away from her and
stood a little aloof, wondering what should happen next. And indeed I
scarce believed but she would presently rise up from the ground and
clutch me in her hands, and begin the tormenting of me. But she moved
no more, and the grass all about her was reddened with her blood; and
at last I gathered heart to kneel down beside her, and found that she
no more breathed than one of those conies or partridges which I had
been used to slay for her.

"Then I stood and considered what I should do, and indeed I had been
pondering this all the way from the Dale thereto, in case I should
escape my mistress. So I soon made up my mind that I would not dwell
in that house even for one night; lest my mistress should come to me
though dead, and torment me. I went into the house while it was yet
light, and looked about the cha