uoth Burd Janet, "amid so many
knights I've ne'er seen before?"

"The first court of Elves that come by let pass. The next court you
shall pay reverence to, but do naught nor say aught. But the third court
that comes by is the chief court of them, and at the head rides the
Queen of all Elfland. And I shall ride by her side upon a milk-white
steed with a star in my crown; they give me this honour as being a
christened knight. Watch my hands, Janet, the right one will be gloved
but the left one will be bare, and by that token you will know me."

"But how to save you, Tamlane?" quoth Burd Janet.

"You must spring upon me suddenly, and I will fall to the ground. Then
seize me quick, and whatever change befall me, for they will exercise
all their magic on me, cling hold to me till they turn me into red-hot
iron. Then cast me into this pool and I will be turned back into a
mother-naked man. Cast then your green mantle over me, and I shall be
yours, and be of the world again."

So Burd Janet promised to do all for Tamlane, and next night at midnight
she took her stand by Miles Cross and cast a compass round her with holy
water.

Soon there came riding by the Elfin court, first over the mound went a
troop on black steeds, and then another troop on brown. But in the third
court, all on milk-white steeds, she saw the Queen of Elfland, and by
her side a knight with a star in his crown, with right hand gloved and
the left bare. Then she knew this was her own Tamlane, and springing
forward she seized the bridle of the milk-white steed and pulled its
rider down. And as soon as he had touched the ground she let go the
bridle and seized him in her arms.

"He's won, he's won amongst us all," shrieked out the eldritch crew, and
all came around her and tried their spells on young Tamlane.

First they turned him in Janet's arms like frozen ice, then into a huge
flame of roaring fire. Then, again, the fire vanished and an adder was
skipping through her arms, but still she held on; and then they turned
him into a snake that reared up as if to bite her, and yet she held on.
Then suddenly a dove was struggling in her arms, and almost flew away.
Then they turned him into a swan, but all was in vain, till at last he
was turned into a red-hot glaive, and this she cast into a well of water
and then he turned back into a mother-naked man. She quickly cast her
green mantle over him, and young Tamlane was Burd Janet's for ever.

Then sang th