“Rest,” he said, pointing to the heap of skins, “and think of this.”

The children sank down upon the bed and sipped the ice-cold water. And at the first draught their tiredness vanished, and a warmth spread through their limbs: their befuddled shock-numbed brains cleared, their spirits soared.

“Oh,” cried Susan, as she gazed at their surroundings as though seeing them for the first time, “this can’t be real! We must be dreaming. Colin, how do we wake up?”

But Colin was staring at the old man, and seemed not to have heard. He saw an old man, true, but one whose body was as firm and upright as a youth’s; whose keen, grey eyes were full of the sadness of the wise; whose mouth, though stern, was kind and capable of laughter.

“Then the legend is true,” said Colin.

“It is,” said the wizard. “And I would it were not; for that was a luckless day for me.

“But enough of my troubles. We must discover now what is in you to draw the attentions of the svart-alfar, since it is indeed strange that men-children should cause them such concern.”

“Oh please,” interrupted Susan, “this is so bewildering! Can’t you tell us first what’s been happening and what those things were in the marsh? We don’t even know who you are, though I suppose you must be the wizard.”

The old man smiled. “Forgive me. In my disquiet I had forgotten that you have seen much that has been unknown to you.

“Who am I? I have had many names among many peoples through the long ages of the earth, and of those names some may not now be spoken, or would be foreign to your tongue; but you shall call me Cadellin, after the fashion of the men of Elthan, in the days to come, for I believe our paths will run together for a while.