ing
of the chamber, and the gathering of wood for the fire, and the mixing
of the meal, and the kneading and the baking of cakes; and all that is
my work, and there is the bringing of the quarry for the roast, and
that is thine."

Then she ran into the cave and brought forth a bow and a quiver of
arrows, and said: "Art thou somewhat of an archer?" Quoth he: "I
shoot not ill." "And I," she said, "shoot well, all woodcraft comes
handy to me. But this eve I must trust to thy skill for my supper. Go
swiftly and come back speedily. Do off thine hauberk, and beat the
bushes down in the valley, and bring me some small deer, as roe or hare
or coney. And wash thee in the pool below the stepping-stones, as I
shall do whiles thou art away, and by then thou comest back, all shall
be ready, save the roasting of the venison."

So he did off his wargear, but thereafter tarried a little, looking at
her, and she said: "What aileth thee not to go? the hunt's up." He
said: "I would first go see the rock-hall that is for our chamber
to-night; wilt thou not bring me in thither?" "Nay," she said, "for I
must be busy about many matters; but thou mayst go by thyself, if thou
wilt."

So he went and stooped down and entered the cave, and found it high and
wide within, and clean and fresh and well-smelling, and the floor of
fine white sand without a stain.

So he knelt down and kissed the floor, and said aloud: "God bless this
floor of the rock-hall whereon my love shall lie to-night!" Then he
arose and went out of the cave, and found the Lady at the entry
stooping down to see what he would do; and she looked on him fondly and
anxiously; but he turned a merry face to her, and caught her round the
middle and strained her to his bosom, and then took the bow and arrows
and ran down the slope and over the stream, into the thicket of the
valley.

He went further than he had looked for, ere he found a prey to his
mind, and then he smote a roe with a shaft and slew her, and broke up
the carcase and dight it duly, and so went his ways back. When he came
to the stream he looked up and saw a little fire glittering not far
from the cave, but had no clear sight of the Lady, though he thought he
saw her gown fluttering nigh one of the thorn-bushes. Then he did off
his raiment and entered that pool of the stream, and was glad to bathe
him in the same place where her body had been but of late; for he had
noted that the stones of the little sh