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thou art the best of the witches； cried the young fisherman； and
i will surely dance with thee to…night on the top of the mountain。
i would indeed that thou hadst asked of me either gold or silver。
but such as thy price is thou shalt have it； for it is but a little
thing。 and he doffed his cap to her； and bent his head low； and
ran back to the town filled with a great joy。
and the witch watched him as he went； and when he had passed from
her sight she entered her cave； and having taken a mirror from a
box of carved cedarwood； she set it up on a frame； and burned
vervain on lighted charcoal before it； and peered through the coils
of the smoke。 and after a time she clenched her hands in anger。
he should have been mine； she muttered； i am as fair as she is。
and that evening； when the moon had risen； the young fisherman
climbed up to the top of the mountain； and stood under the branches
of the hornbeam。 like a targe of polished metal the round sea lay
at his feet； and the shadows of the fishing…boats moved in the
little bay。 a great owl； with yellow sulphurous eyes； called to
him by his name； but he made it no answer。 a black dog ran towards
him and snarled。 he struck it with a rod of willow； and it went
away whining。
at midnight the witches came flying through the air like bats。
phew！ they cried； as they lit upon the ground； there is some one
here we know not！ and they sniffed about； and chattered to each
other； and made signs。 last of all came the young witch； with her
red hair streaming in the wind。 she wore a dress of gold tissue
embroidered with peacocks eyes； and a little cap of green velvet
was on her head。
where is he； where is he？ shrieked the witches when they saw her；
but she only laughed； and ran to the hornbeam； and taking the
fisherman by the hand she led him out into the moonlight and began
to dance。
round and round they whirled； and the young witch jumped so high
that he could see the scarlet heels of her shoes。 then right
across the dancers came the sound of the galloping of a horse； but
no horse was to be seen； and he felt afraid。
faster； cried the witch； and she threw her arms about his neck；
and her breath was hot upon his face。 faster； faster！ she cried；
and the earth seemed to spin beneath his feet； and his brain grew
troubled； and a great terror fell on him； as of some evil thing
that was watching him； and at last he became aware that under the
shadow of a rock there was a figure that had not been there before。
it was a man dressed in a suit of black velvet； cut in the spanish
fashion。 his face was strangely pale； but his lips were like a
proud red flower。 he seemed weary； and was leaning back toying in
a listless manner with the pommel of his dagger。 on the grass
beside him lay a plumed hat； and a pair of riding…gloves gauntleted
with gilt lace； and sewn with seed…pearls wrought into a curious
device。 a short cloak lined with sables hang from his shoulder；
and his delicate white hands were gemmed with rings。 heavy eyelids
drooped over his eyes。
the young fisherman watched him； as one snared in a spell。 at last
their eyes met； and wherever he danced it seemed to him that the
eyes of the man were upon him。 he heard the witch laugh； and
caught her by the waist； and whirled her madly round and round。
suddenly a dog bayed in the wood； and the dancers stopped； and
going up two by two； knelt down； and kissed the mans hands。 as
they did so； a little smile touched his proud lips； as a birds
wing touches the water and makes it laugh。 but there was disdain
in it。 he kept looking at the young fisherman。
e！ let us worship； whispered the witch； and she led him up；
and a great desire to do as she besought him seized on him； and he
followed her。 but when he came close； and without knowing why he
did it； he made on his breast the sign of the cross； and called
upon the holy name。
no sooner had he done so than the witches screamed like hawks and
flew away； and the pallid face that had been watching him twitched
with a spasm of pain。 the man went over to a little wood； and
whistled。 a jennet with silver trappings came running to meet him。
as he leapt upon the saddle he turned round； and looked at the
young fisherman sadly。
and the witch with the red hair tried to fly away also； but the
fisherman caught her by her wrists； and held her fast。
loose me； she cried； and let me go。 for thou hast named what
should not be named； and shown the sign that may not be looked at。
nay； he answered； but i will not let thee go till thou hast told
me the secret。
what secret？ said the witch； wrestling with him like a wild cat；
and biting her foam…flecked lips。
thou knowest； he made answer。
her grass…green eyes grew dim with tears； and she said to the
fisherman； ask me anything but that！
he laughed； and held her all the more tightly。
and when she saw that she could not free herself； she whispered to
him； surely i am as fair as the daughters of the sea； and as
ely as those that dwell in the blue waters； and she fawned on
him and put her face close to his。
but he thrust her back frowning； and said to her； if thou keepest
not the promise that thou madest to me i will slay thee for a false
witch。
she grew grey as a blossom of the judas tree； and shuddered。 be
it so； she muttered。 it is thy soul and not mine。 do with it as
thou wilt。 and she took from her girdle a little knife that had a
handle of green vipers skin； and gave it to him。
what shall this serve me？ he asked of her； wondering。
she was silent for a few moments； and a look of terror came over
her face。 then she brushed her hair back from her forehead； and
smiling strangely she said to him； what men call the shadow of the
body is not the shadow of the body； but is the body of the soul。
stand on the sea…shore with thy back to the moon； and cut away from
around thy feet thy shadow； which is thy souls body； and bid thy
soul leave thee； and it will do so。
the young fish