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And lo! in that moment, the Maid ran right in among the Humpt Men, and she
struck the man that strove with me, and drove her beltknife once and again
through his arm, very savage and determined. And surely, the man turned upon
her, and he caught her by her garments, and he ript her two garments utter
from her, so that they came away and she did be free. And behold, mine utter
despair for her did give me a new strength, so that I shouted to her that she
run instant to the raft; and I cut the Humpt Man in twain, and did fall back
then into a part swoon against the rock. And lo! the Maid ran out from the
Humpt Men; but they neither to know whether that they follow her or that they
come in upon me; and as they did pause, she to call to them, and to try that
she tempt them from me toward the wood; for she had no thought of her life,
but only that she free me and save me; and I too weak even to have power to
command her to the raft; and she, truly, to have no heed to such command, even
did I thus to call again. And there I did be, halfgone out from this life, and
lookt at her with eyes that did scarce wot, save as in a dream.
And lo! the Humpt Men ceased sudden that they heed her; and the three that did
be left came very sly unto me, and with slowness and cunning; for they wotted
not whether I did be dead, or but await for them. And the Maid perceived that
they came not after her; and she let out a great cry that did be
distantseeming in my dulled ears, and came back, naked, and running very
swift. And she ran by me as death should run, white and silent and her face
set unto despair, and her eyes utter intent. And she struck her beltknife into
the shoulder of the near Humpt Man; and the Man howled and turned, and she did
leap to the side, and the Humpt Man ran at her. But lo! she leaped again this
way and that, and utter silent, and so quick as a light doth seem to dance all
ways in a moment. And the two other Men did join with the first, that they
catch her; and behold! she went about, and did run right away among the trees,
and the three Men did come after her, running very lumbersome, yet with a
great speed.
And the Maid had the knife in her hand, and I knew that she did mean to slay
herself presently, when that she could run no more; and in that moment it
seemed that my heart burst; for that I should never more see Mine
Own Maid forever. And there came some power of movement into me, and I came
forward from the rock and fell over upon my face. And I gat again to my knees,
and began that I creep after the Maid, and I did shout in
The Night Land
XIII. HOMEWARD BY THE SHORE
202
whispers, for my voice had no more power to call. And the Maid went from my
sight among the trees, as a far white figure, that did run very swift, and was
presently lost utter to my sight; and the Humpt Men did go after;
yet even in my weakness, I perceived that two did go something clumsy, as that
they had been hurt in the fight; and they to be the rearward of the chasing;
but he that the Maid did cut with the knife was to the fore, and did run very
strong; and surely they were all gone inward of the trees with a dreadful
speed, and were lost from me. And the world did become sudden an Emptyness and
a great Horror, and there was no sound in all the Earth, as it did seem. And I
knew that I was come to my feet, and did run toward the trees, and the Diskos
did trail from mine arm by the holdbuckle; and the ground did be as that it
moved and shifted under me, and
I not to feel where I trod, but did only peer desperate and lost among the
trees; and, as I to know now, I heard my voice calling strangely; and
afterward there was a thundering in mine ears, and I came downward upon my
face.
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And I did know presently that I was alive, and there to be some dreadful
terror at my heart; and surely I did remember and sickened and gat my head
from the ground. And I lookt among the trees; but there did be nothing, and
everywhere there did be a strange silence and a dimness of unreal seemings.
And I knew that
Mine Own was gone from me, and had surely died. And the earth did be all
stained about me with my blood, and I did be utter glad; for I to need death.
And I swooned again and was lost to my pain; but did live presently to know.
And there was a little strength come into me, and I gat my head up somewhat
from the ground, and did peer among the trees; and my head did be too heavy,
and my face came against the earth once more. And because that I could not
hold up my head, I rolled my head a little, until that my cheek did be to the
ground, and I to look thiswise, so well as I might; but there did be nothing;
and afterward, I rolled my head again to the other cheek, and so to stare very
weak and desperate, and not abled to look proper to my front. And lo! there
went something among the trees, and did show white in the gloom of the wood;
and did come through the trees.
And I not to believe in the first that I did truly see aught; and sudden I to
know that I saw somewhat. And behold! my heart did bound in me, so that all my
body did waken; for I knew that Mine Own Maid did run slow and staggering
toward me, through the wood. And I did be now upon my knees and upon my hands,
and did begin again to creep and to bleed; and did make little callings to
Mine Own, that had no sounding.
And Mine Own drew nigh, and did rock and stagger, and did strike anon against
the trunks of the trees, as that she did be gone near blind with her running.
And in a moment she saw me, and that I did yet live and did come unto her; and
she made a strange and loving crying unto me, with a great gladness and with
an utter weakness.
And she came running, and was lost with faintness, and did sway this way and
that, stumbling; and she went sudden to the earth, and did be still.
And I crept onward so speedy as I might, and the earth to seem alway as that
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