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over fair； smooth； grassy lawns betwixt the hill…sides； beside a
clear rattling stream that ran northward； at whiles were clumps of
tall trees； oak for the most part； and at whiles thickets of thorn
and eglantine and other such trees： so that they could rest well
shaded when they would。
They passed by no house of men； nor came to any such in the even； but
lay down to sleep in a thicket of thorn and eglantine； and rested
well； and on the morrow they rose up betimes and went on their ways。
This second day as they went； the hill…sides on either hand grew
lower； till at last they died out into a wide plain； beyond which in
the southern offing the mountains rose huge and bare。 This plain
also was grassy and beset with trees and thickets here and there。
Hereon they saw wild deer enough； as hart and buck； and roebuck and
swine： withal a lion came out of a brake hard by them as they went；
and stood gazing on them； so that Hallblithe looked to his weapons；
and the Sea…eagle took up a big stone to fight with； being
weaponless； but the damsel laughed； and tripped on her way lightly
with girt…up gown； and the beast gave no more heed to them。
Easy and smooth was their way over this pleasant wilderness； and
clear to see； though but little used； and before nightfall； after
they had gone a long way； they came to a house。 It was not large nor
high； but was built very strongly and fairly of good ashlar： its
door was shut； and on the jamb thereof hung a slug…horn。 The damsel；
who seemed to know what to do； set her mouth to the horn； and blew a
blast； and in a little while the door was opened； and a big man clad
in red scarlet stood therein： he had no weapons； but was somewhat
surly of aspect： he spake not； but stood abiding the word： so the
damsel took it up and said： 〃Art thou not the Warden of the
Uttermost House？〃
He said： 〃I am。〃
Said the damsel： 〃May we guest here to…night？〃
He said： 〃The house lieth open to you with all that it hath of
victual and plenishing： take what ye will； and use what ye will。〃
They thanked him； but he heeded not their thanks； and withdrew him
from them。 So they entered and found the table laid in a fair hall
of stone carven and painted very goodly； so they ate and drank
therein； and Hallblithe was of good heart； and the Sea…eagle and his
mate were merry； though they looked softly and shyly on Hallblithe
because of the sundering anigh； and they saw no man in the house save
the man in scarlet； who went and came about his business； paying no
heed to them。 So when the night was deep they lay down in the shut…
bed off the hall； and slept； and the hours were tidingless to them
until they woke in the morning。
On the morrow they arose and broke their fast； and thereafter the
damsel spake to the man in scarlet and said： 〃May we fill our
wallets with victual for the way？〃
Said the Warden： 〃There lieth the meat。〃
So they filled their wallets； while the man looked on； and they came
to the door when they were ready； and he unlocked it to them； saying
no word。 But when they turned their faces towards the mountains he
spake at last； and stayed them at the first step。 Quoth he：
〃Whither away？ Ye take the wrong road！〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Nay； for we go toward the mountains and the edge
of the Glittering Plain。〃
〃Ye shall do ill to go thither；〃 said the Warden； 〃and I bid you
forbear。〃
〃O Warden of the Uttermost House； wherefore should we forbear？〃 said
the Sea…eagle。
Said the scarlet man： 〃Because my charge is to further those who
would go inward to the King； and to stay those who would go outward
from the King。〃
〃How then if we go outward despite thy bidding？〃 said the Sea…eagle；
〃wilt thou then hinder us perforce？〃
〃How may I；〃 said the man； 〃since thy fellow hath weapons？〃
〃Go we forth； then；〃 said the Sea…eagle。
〃Yea；〃 said the damsel； 〃we will go forth。 And know； O Warden； that
this weaponed man only is of mind to fare over the edge of the
Glittering Plain； but we twain shall come back hither again； and fare
inwards。〃
Said the Warden： 〃Nought is it to me what ye will do when you are
past this house。 Nor shall any man who goeth out of this garth
toward the mountains ever come back inwards save he cometh in the
company of new…corners to the Glittering Plain。〃
〃Who shall hinder him？〃 said the Sea…eagle。
〃The KING；〃 said the Warden。
Then there was silence awhile； and the man said：
〃Now do as ye will。〃 And therewith he turned back into the house and
shut the door。
But the Sea…eagle and the damsel stood gazing on one another； and at
Hallblithe； and the damsel was downcast and pale； but the Sea…eagle
cried out：
〃Forward now； O Hallblithe； since thou willest it； and we will go
with thee and share whatever may befall thee； yea； right up to the
very edge of the Glittering Plain。 And thou； O beloved； why dost
thou delay？ Why dost thou stand as if thy fair feet were grown to
the grass？〃
But the damsel gave a lamentable cry； and cast herself down on the
ground； and knelt before the Sea…eagle； and took him by the knees；
and said betwixt sobbing and weeping： 〃O my lord and love； I pray
thee to forbear； and the Spearman； our friend； shall pardon us。 For
if thou goest； I shall never see thee more； since my heart will not
serve me to go with thee。 O forbear！ I pray thee！〃
And she grovelled on the earth before him； and the Sea…eagle waxed
red； and would have spoken but Hallblithe cut his speech across； and
said 〃Friends； be at peace！ For this is the minute that sunders us。
Get ye back at once to the heart of the Glittering Plain； and live
there and be happy； and take my blessing and thanks for the love and
help that ye have given me。 For your going forward with me should
destroy you and profit me nothing。 It would be but as the host
bringing his guests one field beyond his garth； when their goal is
the ends of the earth； and if there were a lion in the path； why
should he perish for courtesy's sake？〃
Therewith he stooped down to the damsel； and lifted her up and kissed
her face； and he cast his arms about the Sea…eagle and said to him：
〃Farewell； shipmate！〃
Then the damsel gave him the wallet of victual； and bade him
farewell； weeping sorely； and he looked kindly on them for a moment
of time； and then turned away from them and fared on toward the
mountains； striding with great strides； holding his head aloft。 But
they looked no more on him； having no will to eke their sorrow； but
went their ways back again without delay。
CHAPTER XVII： HALLBLITHE AMONGST THE MOUNTAINS
So strode on Hallblithe； but when he had gone but a little way his
head turned； and the earth and heavens wavered before him； so that he
must needs sit down on a stone by the wayside； wondering what ailed
him。 Then he looked up at the mountains； which now seemed quite near
to him at the plain's ending； and his weakness increased on him； and
lo！ as he looked； it was to him as if the crags rose up in the sky to
meet him and overhang him； and as if the earth heaved up beneath him；
and therewith he fell aback and lost all sense； so that he knew not
what was become of the earth and the heavens and the passing of the
minutes of his life。
When he came to himself he knew not whether he had lain so a great
while or a little； he felt feeble； and for a while he lay scarce
moving； and beholding nought； not even the sky above him。 Presently
he turned about and saw hard stone on either side； so he rose wearily
and stood upon his feet； and knew that he was faint with hunger and
thirst。 Then he looked around him； and saw that he was in a narrow
valley or cleft of the mountains amidst wan rocks； bare and
waterless； where grew no blade of green； but he could see no further
than the sides of that cleft； and he longed to be out of it that he
might see whitherward to turn。 Then he bethought him of his wallet；
and set his hand to it and opened it； thinking to get victual thence；
but lo！ it was all spoilt and wasted。 None the less； for all his
feebleness； he turned and went toiling slowly along what seemed to be
a path little trodden leading upward out of the cleft； and at last he
reached the crest thereof； and sat him down on a rock on the other
side； yet durst not raise his eyes awhile and look on the land； lest
he should see death manifest therein。 At last he looked； and saw
that he was high up amongst the mountain…peaks： before him and on
either hand was but a world of fallow stone rising ridge upon ridge
like the waves of the wildest of the winter sea。 The sun not far
from its midmost shone down bright and hot on that wilderness； yet
was there no sign that any man had ever been there since the
beginning of the world； save that the path aforesaid seemed to lead
onward down the stony slope。
This