Violet Jacob > Stories told by the miller

THE STORY OF THE WATER-NIX 13
its farthest corner. It was the quietest spot
she had seen. She was so weary that she did
not know what to do, and the sun dazzled her,
for it was growing strong and she was accus¬
tomed to dark places.
She had lain there some time when she heard
steps not far off. Someone was coming along
the ridge of the cliffs. In another minute a
brown goat had jumped into a gap in the circle,
and stood staring in as though it were counting
the tombstones, moving its upper lip from side
to side. Goats seldom passed the mill, and she
was half scared at its beard and wagging ears
and the horns above its solemn face. As she
looked a boy appeared behind it — a rough¬
looking boy, with a shock of yellow hair and
a switch in his hand to drive the beast with.
When he saw her he set up a loud cry of terror,
for he did not expect to find anyone in such a
place, and he had never seen a Water-Nix in
his life. Then he took to his heels, and the
goat galloped after him, baaing as it went. The
Nix lay quite still; she could not think why
anyone should run away like that.
She curled herself closer into her refuge.
Presently she heard a noise like the beating