Long ago there had been a monastery near the well, and the monks had dispensed the waters to the applicants who came.

But the monastery had fallen into ruins and had disappeared, and after that the pixies were given the credit of the healing waters.

People came to drink them, though less frequently than before; and as the place grew more lonely and deserted, rumours began to float about that the pixies were inimical to man, and that the waters no longer possessed their old power.

Later on still, a more terrible thing was discovered: it was said that it was death to approach that dell and drink the waters.

Men's bones had been found in great numbers close about that spot, and it was plain that they must belong to the unhappy wights who, disregarding cautions, had ventured to the place, and had died before they could get away from thence.
After that, as may well be guessed, no sick folks had cared to trouble the dell again.