he air deepened with fragrance around him. Presently
underneath him he felt the movement of a great thing coming up from
the bottom of the pool. It touched his feet and came grazing along his
side; and all at once shuddering and horror took hold upon him, for
his whole nature was filled with loathing of its touch.

Out of the pool's surface before him rose a great black snout, that
opened, showing a round hole. Then he thought of Melilot and her
beauty laid fast under a charm, and drawing a full breath he laid his
lips containing the ring, the Sweetener, to the lips of the Worm.

The Worm began to breathe. As the Worm drank the air out of him, he
drew in more through his nostrils, and more and more, till the great
gills were filled and satisfied.

Then the Worm let go the last bubble of air which remained from the
year before, and had lain ever since in its body, by which alone life
could be given back to the five senses of Melilot. Then drawing in
its head it lowered itself once more to the bottom of the pool; and
Noodle, feeling in his mouth the precious globule of air, fastened his
lips upon it and shot out for shore.

Against the weight of those leaden waters a longing to gasp possessed
him; but he knew that with the least breath the bubble would be lost,
and all his labour undone. Not too soon his feet caught hold of the
bank, and drew him free to land. He cast himself speechless across the
back of the Galloping Plough and clung.

The Plough gathered itself together and sprang away through space.
Remembering its master's word it showed itself a miracle of speed;
like lightning became its flight.

The eye of Noodle grew blind to the passing of things; he could take
no count of the collapsing leagues. More and more grew the amazingness
of the Plough's leaps, things only to be measured by miles, and
counted as joltings on the way; while fast to the back of it clung
Noodle, and endured, praying that shortness of breath might not
overmaster him, or the check of his lungs give way and burst him to
the emptiness of a drum. His senses rocked and swayed; he felt the
gates of his resolve slackening and forcing themselves apart; and
still the Galloping Plough plunged him blindly along through space.

But now the shrill crying of the crone struck in upon his ears, and
he stretched open his arms for the accomplishment of the deliverance.
Even in that nick of time was the end of the thing brought about; for
the Plough, g