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onward down the stony slope。
This way and that way and all about he gazed； straining his eyes if
perchance he might see any diversity in the stony waste； and at last
betwixt two peaks of the rock…wall on his left hand he descried a
streak of green mingling with the cold blue of the distance； and he
thought in his heart that this was the last he should see of the
Glittering Plain。 Then he spake aloud in that desert； and said；
though there was none to hear： 〃Now is my last hour come； and here
is Hallblithe of the Raven perishing； with his deeds undone and his
longing unfulfilled； and his bridal…bed acold for ever。 Long may the
House of the Raven abide and flourish； with many a man and maiden；
valiant and fair and fruitful！ O kindred； cast thy blessing on this
man about to die here； doing none otherwise than ye would have him！〃
He sat there a little while longer； and then he said to himself：
〃Death tarries； were it not well that I go to meet him； even as the
cot…carle preventeth the mighty chieftain？〃
Then he arose； and went painfully down the slope； steadying himself
with the shaft of his gleaming spear； but all at once he stopped； for
it seemed to him that he heard voices borne on the wind that blew up
the mountain…side。 But he shook his head and said： 〃Now forsooth
beginneth the dream which shall last for ever； nowise am I beguiled
by it。〃 None the less he strove the more eagerly with the wind and
the way and his feebleness； yet did the weakness wax on him； so that
it was but a little while ere he faltered and reeled and fell down
once more in a swoon。
When he came to himself again he was no longer alone： a man was
kneeling down by him and holding up his head； while another before
him； as he opened his eyes； put a cup of wine to his lips。 So
Hallblithe drank and was refreshed； and presently they gave him
bread； and he ate； and his heart was strengthened； and the happiness
of life returned to it； and he lay back； and slept sweetly for a
season。
When he awoke from that slumber he found that he had gotten back much
of his strength again； and he sat up and looked around him； and saw
three men sitting anigh； armed and girt with swords； yet in evil
array； and sore travel…worn。 One of these was very old； with long
white hair hanging down； and another； though he was not so much
stricken in years； still looked an old man of over sixty winters。
The third was a man some forty years old； but sad and sorry and
drooping of aspect。
So when they saw him stirring； they all fixed their eyes upon him；
and the oldest man said： 〃Welcome to him who erst had no tidings for
us！〃 And the second said： 〃Tell us now thy tidings。〃 But the
third； the sorry man； cried out aloud； saying： 〃Where is the Land？
Where is the Land？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Meseemeth the land which ye seek is the land which
I seek to flee from。 And now I will not hide that meseemeth I have
seen you before； and that was at Cleveland by the Sea when the days
were happier。〃
Then they all three bowed their heads in yea…say； and spake： 〃'Where
is the Land？ Where is the Land？〃
Then Hallblithe arose to his feet； and said： 〃Ye have healed me of
the sickness of death； and I will do what I may to heal you of your
sickness of sorrow。 Come up the pass with me； and I will show you
the land afar off。〃
Then they arose like young and brisk men； and he led them over the
brow of the ridge into the little valley wherein he had first come to
himself： there he showed them that glimpse of a green land betwixt
the two peaks； which he had beheld e'en now； and they stood a while
looking at it and weeping for joy。
Then spake the oldest of the seekers： 〃Show us the way to the land。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃I may not； for when I would depart thence； I
might not go by mine own will； but was borne out hither； I wot not
how。 For when I came to the edge of the land against the will of the
King； he smote me； and then cast me out。 Therefore since I may not
help you； find ye the land for yourselves； and let me go blessing
you； and come out of this desert by the way whereby ye entered it。
For I have an errand in the world。〃
Spake the youngest of the seekers： 〃Now art thou become the yoke…
fellow of Sorrow； and thou must wend； not whither thou wouldst； but
whither she will： and she would have thee go forward toward life；
not backward toward death。〃
Said the midmost seeker： 〃If we let thee go further into the
wilderness thou shalt surely die： for hence to the peopled parts；
and the City of Merchants； whence we come； is a month's journey： and
there is neither meat nor drink； nor beast nor bird； nor any green
thing all that way； and since we have found thee famishing； we may
well deem that thou hast no victual。 As to us we have but little； so
that if it be much more than three days' journey to the Glittering
Plain； we may well starve and die within sight of the Acre of the
Undying。 Nevertheless that little will we share with thee if thou
wilt help us to find that good land； so that thou mayst yet put away
Sorrow； and take Joy again to thy board and bed。〃
Hallblithe hung his head and answered nought； for he was confused by
the meshes of ill…hap； and his soul grew sick with the bitterness of
death。 But the sad man spake again and said： 〃Thou hast an errand
sayest thou？ is it such as a dead man may do？〃
Hallblithe pondered； and amidst the anguish of his despair was borne
in on him a vision of the sea…waves lapping the side of a black ship；
and a man therein： who but himself； set free to do his errand； and
his heart was quickened within him； and he said： 〃I thank you； and I
will wend back with you； since there is no road for me save back
again into the trap。〃
The three seekers seemed glad thereat； and the second one said：
〃Though death is pursuing； and life lieth ahead； yet will we not
hasten thee unduly。 Time was when I was Captain of the Host； and
learned how battles were lost by lack of rest。 Therefore have thy
sleep now； that thou mayst wax in strength for our helping。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃I need not rest； I may not rest； I will not rest。〃
Said the sad man： 〃It is lawful for thee to rest。 So say I； who was
once a master of law。〃
Said the long…hoary elder： 〃And I command thee to rest； I who was
once the king of a mighty folk。〃
In sooth Hallblithe was now exceeding weary； so he laid him down and
slept sweetly in the stony wilderness amidst those three seekers； the
old； the sad； and the very old。
When he awoke he felt well and strong again； and he leapt to his feet
and looked about him； and saw the three seekers stirring； and he
deemed by the sun that it was early morning。 The sad man brought
forth bread and water and wine； and they broke their fast； and when
they had done he spake and said： 〃Abideth now in wallet and bottle
but one more full meal for us； and then no more save a few crumbs and
a drop or two of wine if we husband it well。〃
Said the second elder： 〃Get we to the road； then； and make haste。 I
have been seeking； and meseemeth； though the way be long； it is not
utterly blind for us。 Or look thou； Raven…son； is there not a path
yonder that leadeth onward up to the brow of the ghyll again？ and as
I have seen； it leadeth on again down from the said brow。〃
Forsooth there was a track that led through the stony tangle of the
wilderness； so they took to the road with a good heart； and went all
day； and saw no living thing； and not a blade of grass or a trickle
of water： nought save the wan rocks under the sun； and though they
trusted in their road that it led them aright； they saw no other
glimpse of the Glittering Plain； because there rose a great ridge
like a wall on the north side； and they went as it were down along a
trench of the rocks； albeit it was whiles broken across by ghylls；
and knolls； and reefs。
So at sunset they rested and ate their victual； for they were very
weary； and thereafter they lay down； and slept as soundly as if they
were in the best of the halls of men。 On the morrow betimes they
arose soberly and went their ways with few words； and； as they
deemed； the path still led them onward。 And now the great ridge on
the north rose steeper and steeper； and their crossing it seemed not
to be thought of； but their half…blind track failed them not。 They
rested at even； and ate and drank what little they had left； save a
mouthful or two of wine； and then went on again by the light of the
moon； which was so bright that they still saw their way。 And it
happened to Hallblithe； as mostly it does with men very travel…worn；
that he went on and on scarce remembering where he was； or who his
fellows were； or that he had any fellows。
So at midnight they lay down in the wilderness again； hungry and
weary。 They rose at dawn and went forward with waning hope： for n