t the next day I drave my sheep to grass, as my
business was, and as oft happened, they strayed, and I followed them
and gat nothing done; so I was weary, and afraid of what would betide
at home in the stead. So I sat down on a stone, and when I had wept a
little I thought I would comfort myself with the music of the pipe.
But lo a wonder, for no sooner had a note or two sounded than all the
sheep came running up to me, bleating and mowing, and would rub
against my sides as I sat piping, and home I brought every head in all
glee. And even so has it befallen ever since; and that was hard on a
year agone. Fair boy, what dost thou think I am doing now?" Osberne
laughed. "Disporting thee in speech with a friend," said he. "Nay,"
said she, "but I am shepherding sheep."

And she drew forth the pipe from her bosom and fell to playing it, and
a ravishing sweet melody came thence, and so merry that the lad
himself began to shift his feet as one moving to measure, and
straightway he heard a sound of bleating, and sheep came running
toward the maiden from all about. Then she arose and ran to them, lest
they should shove each other into the water; and she danced before
them, lifting up her scanty blue skirts and twinkling her bare feet
and legs, while her hair danced about her, and the sheep, they too
capered and danced about as if she had bidden them. And the boy looked
on and laughed without stint, and he deemed it the best of games to
behold. But when she was weary she came back to the head of the ness
and sat down again as before, and let the sheep go where they would.

Chapter X. Osberne and Elfhild Hold Converse Together

So when she was rested she fell to speech again: "Dear lad, this was
the first gift, and I could not but deem that some one had heard me
make my moan unseen and had given me that good gift. So what must I do
but try it again, and one day I went down into the cave and fell to
bewailing me that I had nought to deck me with, neither of gold nor
silver, as other maidens had, for in sooth I had seen them with such
things. And when I had done, I went forth on to the ledge, and this
time I trod cautiously lest I should kick the dainty thing into the
water, and lo, there lay this pretty thing." And she drew forth from
her bosom a necklace of gold and gems; gold and emerald, gold and
sapphire, gold and ruby; and it flashed in the sun, and Osberne
thought it a fair toy indeed, but knew not that scarce a queen ha