dom, and with it two hundred in silver."

Koll's eyes glistened. "What must I do, mistress?"

"To-day at the wedding-feast it will be thy part to pour the cups while
Asmund calls the toasts. Last of all, when men are merry, thou wilt mix
that cup in which Asmund shall pledge Unna his wife and Unna must pledge
Asmund. Now, when thou hast poured, thou shalt pass the cup to me, as I
stand at the foot of the high seat, waiting to give the bride greeting
on behalf of the serving-women of the household. Thou shalt hand the
cup to me as though in error, and that is but a little thing to ask of
thee."

"A little thing indeed," said Koll, staring at her, and pulling with his
hand at his red hair, "yet I like it not. What if I say no, mistress?"

"Say no or speak of this and I will promise thee one thing only, thou
knave, and it is, before winter comes, that the crows shall pick thy
bones! Now, brave me, if thou darest," and straightway Groa began to
mutter some witch-words.

"Nay," said Koll, holding up his hand as though to ward away a blow.
"Curse me not: I will do as thou wilt. But when shall I touch the two
hundred in silver?"

"I will give thee half before the feast begins, and half when it is
ended, and with it freedom to go where thou wilt. And now leave me, and
on thy life see that thou fail me not."

"I have never failed thee yet," said Koll, and went his ways.

Now Groa set the pot upon the fire, and, placing in it the herbs that
she had gathered, poured water on them. Presently they began to boil and
as they boiled she stirred them with a peeled stick and muttered spells
over them. For long she sat in that dim and lonely place stirring the
pot and muttering spells, till at length the brew was done.

She lifted the pot from the fire and smelt at it. Then drawing a phial
from her robe she poured out the liquor and held it to the sky. The
witch-water was white as milk, but presently it grew clear. She looked
at it, then smiled evilly.

"Here is a love-draught for a queen--ah, a love-draught for a queen!"
she said, and, still smiling, she placed the phial in her breast.

Then, having scattered the fire with her foot, Groa took the pot and
threw it into a deep pool of water, where it could not be found readily,
and crept back to the stead before men were awake.

Now the day wore on and all the company were gathered at the
marriage-feast to the number of nearly two hundred. Unna sat in the high
seat, and m