THE KING OF ELFLAND’S DAUGHTER
that he had gathered them all on the solid land and had their promise of light and help against unicorns, which such creatures will easily give on account of the unicorns’ pride, he began to lead them away to the village of Erl, slowly at first while their feet grew accustomed to the hard land; and over the fields he brought them limping to Erl.
And now there was nothing in all the marshes that at all resembled man, and the geese came down on a huge tumult of wings. The little swift teal shot home; and all the dark air twanged with the flight of the duck.
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