The Field of Clover | Page 5

drink from the well, she looked at him bright
and sharp, and said: 'Before any man drinks of my water he must make
a bargain with me.' 'What is the bargain?' asked Noodle; and she led
him down to the well.
Then she unlocked the lid and bade him look in; and at the sight
Noodle knew for a second time that his heart had been stolen from him,
and that to be happy he must taste that water or die.
Again he asked, with his eyes intent upon the blue wrimpling of the
water in the well's depth, 'What is the bargain?' And the old woman
answered, 'If you fail to draw water out of the well you must fling
yourself into it.' For answer Noodle swung down the bucket, lowering
it as fast as it would go; then he set both hands to the windlass and
wound.
He heard the water splashing off the sides of the bucket all the way up,
as the shortening rope brought it near; but when he drew it over the
well's brink wonder and grief held him fast, for the bucket was as
empty as vanity. From behind him came a noise of laughter, and there
was the old witch running round and round in a circle; and everywhere
a hedge of thorns came shooting up to enclose him and keep him fast
for her.
'What a trap I am in!' thought Noodle; but once more he lowered the
bucket, and once more it returned to him empty.
The old woman climbed up into the thorn-hedge, and sat on its top,
singing:
'Overground, underground, round-about spell; The Thirsty has come to
the Thirsty Well!'
Again Noodle let down the bucket; and this time as he drew it up he

looked over into the well's heart, and saw all the way up the side a
hundred blue arms reaching out crystal scallops and drawing water out
of the bucket as hard as they could go. He saw thick lips like
sea-anemones thrust out between the crevices of the wall, sucking the
crystals dry as fast as they were filled. 'Truly,' he said to himself, 'this is
a thirsty well, but myself am thirstier!'
When he had drawn up the bucket empty for the third time, he stood
considering; and at last he fastened to it the firestone ring, the
Sweetener, and lowered it once more. Then he laughed to himself as he
drew up, and felt the bucket lightening at every turn till it touched the
surface of things.
Empty he found it, with only his firestone hanging by the rim, and once
again he let it down to be refilled. But this time as he wound up,
nothing could keep him from letting a curious eye go over the brink, to
see how the Well-folk fared over their wine; and in what he beheld
there was already comfort for his soul.
The blue arms went like oars out of unison; like carpet-beaters stricken
in the eyes and throat with dust, they beat foolishly against the sides
and bottom of the bucket, shattering and letting fall their goblets in
each unruly attempt. And because Noodle wound leniently at the rope,
willing that they should have their fill, at the last gasp they were able to
send the bucket empty to the top. It was the last staving off of destiny
that lay in their power to make; thereafter wine conquered them.
Quickly Noodle drew out the ring, and sent the bucket flying on its last
errand. It smacked the water, heeled over, and dipped under a full
draught. Then Noodle spun the windlass with the full pinch of his
energies, calling on the bucket to ascend. He heard the water spilling
from its sides, and knew that the blue arms were there, battling to arrest
it as it flew, and to pay him back once more with emptiness and
mockery. Yet in spite of them the bucket hasted and lightened not, but
was drawn up to the well's head brimming largely, and winking a blue
eye joyously to the light of day.
Over head and ears Noodle plunged for the quenching of his thirst, nor

stayed nor drew back till his head had smitten upon the bottom of the
bucket in his pursuit of the draught. Then it was apparent that only a
third of the water remained, the rest having obeyed the imperative
suction of his throat, and that the thirsty well had at last found a master
under the eye of heaven.
In the depth of the bucket the water flashed like a burning sapphire and
swung circling, curling and coiling, tossing this way and that, as if
struggling to get out. At last with a laugh it threw down the bucket, and