WHO FOLLOWED THE PIPER
the Dark Forest. Yes, he would go through the Dark Forest, and then he would be able to win from Circe the secret of the way back to the world.
And then he would bring the children out of the Wood of Daylight-Gone. But especially would he bring out of it John Ball, his friend, and lovely Golden Hood. With her he would go to his father's great city; they would wed, and he and Golden Hood would be man and wife there.
The children were still sleeping, as he thought. He drank out of the cup that Philemon had given him—he drank water from the Well of Good Luck. He took bread and apples with him and a vessel of water, and he passed by where the children were sleeping under the white-thorn trees; he went through the Deep Wood and he ventured into the Dark Forest.
No bird sang there, no grasshopper nor cricket chirruped there; there was no green upon the ground. There were spiders there, and as Val-
71
