Chapter 17
But they were not alone, although they thought they were. The
hag that guarded the jewels was in the room. She sat hunched up
against the wail, and as she looked like a bundle of rags they did
not notice her. She began to speak then.
"Terrible are the things I see," said she. "Terrible are the
things I see."
Mongan and his servant gave a jump of surprise, and their two
wives jumped and squealed. Then Mongan puffed out his cheeks till
his face looked like a bladder, and he blew a magic breath at the
hag, so that she seemed to be surrounded by a fog, and when she
looked through that breath everything seemed to be different to
what she had thought. Then she began to beg everybody's pardon.
"I had an evil vision," said she, "I saw crossways. How sad it
is that I should
