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thinking that he should awake in the grey of the morning and thrust
out into the deep sea。 And he was the more content to abide； because
on that eve； as oftenest betid； the wind blew landward from the sea；
whereas in the morning it oftenest blew seaward from the land。 In
any case he thought to be astir so timely that he should come alone
to his keel； and depart with no leave…takings。 But； as it fell out；
he overslept himself； so that when he came out into the wood clad in
all his armour； with his sword girt to his side； and his spear over
his shoulder； he heard the voices of folk； and presently found so
many gathered about his boat that he had some ado to get aboard。
The folk had brought many gifts for him of such things as they deemed
he might need for a short voyage； as fruit and wine； and woollen
cloths to keep the cold night from him； he thanked them kindly as he
stepped over the gunwale； and some of the women kissed him： and one
said （she it was； who had met him at the stead that morning when he
went to fetch timber）： 〃Thou wilt be back this even； wilt thou not；
brother？ It is yet but early； and thou shalt have time enough to
take all thy pleasure on the sea； and then come back to us to eat thy
meat in our house at nightfall。〃
She spake； knitting her brows in longing for his return； but he knew
that all those deemed he would come back again soon； else had they
deemed him a rebel of the King； and might； as he thought； have stayed
him。 So he changed not countenance in any wise； but said only：
〃farewell； sister； for this day； and farewell to all you till I come
back。〃
Therewith he unmoored his boat； and sat down and took the oars； and
rowed till he was out of the little haven； and on the green sea； and
the keel rose and fell on the waves。 Then he stepped the mast and
hoisted sail； and sheeted home； for the morning wind was blowing
gently from the mountains over the meadows of the Glittering Plain；
so the sail filled； and the keel leapt forward and sped over the face
of the cold sea。 And it is to be said that whether he wotted or not；
it was the very day twelve months since he had come to that shore
along with the Sea…eagle。 So that folk stood and watched the skiff
growing less and less upon the deep till they could scarce see her。
Then they turned about and went into the wood to disport them； for
the sun was growing hot。 Nevertheless； there were some of them （and
that damsel was one）； who came back to the sea…shore from time to
time all day long； and even when the sun was down they looked seaward
under the rising moon； expecting to see Hallblithe's bark come into
the shining path which she drew across the waters round about the
Glittering Land。
CHAPTER XX： SO NOW SAILETH HALLBLITHE AWAY FROM THE GLITTERING PLAIN
But as to Hallblithe； he soon lost sight of the Glittering Plain and
the mountains thereof； and there was nought but sea all round about
him； and his heart swelled with joy as he sniffed the brine and
watched the gleaming hills and valleys of the restless deep； and he
said to himself that he was going home to his Kindred and the Roof of
his Fathers of old time。
He stood as near due north as he might； but as the day wore； the wind
headed him； and he deemed it not well to beat； lest he should make
his voyage overlong； so he ran on with the wind abeam； and his little
craft leapt merrily over the sea…hills under the freshening breeze。
The sun set and the moon and stars shone out； and he still sailed on；
and durst not sleep； save as a dog does； with one eye。 At last came
dawn； and as the light grew it was a fair day with a falling wind；
and a bright sky； but it clouded over before sunset； and the wind
freshened from the north by east； and； would he； would he not；
Hallblithe must run before it night…long； till at sunrise it fell
again； and all day was too light for him to make much way beating to
northward； nor did it freshen till after the moon was risen some
while after sunset。 And now he was so weary that he must needs
sleep； so he lashed the helm； and took a reef in the sail； and ran
before the wind； he sleeping in the stern。
But past the middle of the night； towards the dawning； he awoke with
the sound of a great shout in his ears。 So he looked over the dark
waters； and saw nought； for the night was cloudy again。 Then he
trimmed his craft； and went to sleep again； for he was over…burdened
with slumber。
When he awoke it was broad daylight； so he looked to the tiller and
got the boat's head a little up to the wind； and then gazed about him
with the sleep still in his eyes。 And as his eyes took in the
picture before him he could not refrain a cry； for lo！ there arose up
great and grim right ahead the black cliffs of the Isle of Ransom。
Straightway he got to the sheet； and strove to wear the boat； but for
all that he could do she drifted toward the land； for she was gotten
into a strong current of the sea that set shoreward。 So he struck
sail； and took the oars and rowed mightily so that he might bear her
off shore； but it availed nothing； and still he drifted landward。 So
he stood up from the oars； and turned about and looked； and saw that
he was but some three furlongs from the shore； and that he was come
to the very haven…mouth whence he had set sail with the Sea…eagle a
twelvemonth ago： and he knew that into that haven he needs must get
him； or be dashed to pieces against the high cliffs of the land： and
he saw how the waves ran on to the cliffs； and whiles one higher than
the others smote the rock…wall and ran up it； as if it could climb
over on to the grassy lip beyond； and then fell back again； leaving a
river of brine running down the steep。
Then he said that he would take what might befall him inside the
haven。 So he hoisted sail again； and took the tiller； and steered
right for the midmost of the gate between the rocks； wondering what
should await him there。 Then it was but a few minutes ere his bark
shot into the smoothness of the haven； and presently began to lose
way； for all the wind was dead within that land…locked water。
Hallblithe looked steadily round about seeking his foe； but the haven
was empty of ship or boat； so he ran his eye along the shore to see
where he should best lay his keel and as aforesaid there was no beach
there； and the water was deep right up to the grassy lip of the land；
though the tides ran somewhat high； and at low water would a little
steep undercliff go up from the face of the sea。 But now it was near
the top of the tide； and there was scarce two feet betwixt the grass
and the dark…green sea。
Now Hallblithe steered toward an ingle of the haven； and beyond it； a
little way off； rose a reef of rocks out of the green grass； and
thereby was a flock of sheep feeding； and a big man lying down
amongst them； who seemed to be unarmed； as Hallblithe could not see
any glint of steel about him。 Hallblithe drew nigh the shore； and
the big man stirred not； nor did he any the more when the keel ran
along the shore； and Hallblithe leapt out and moored his craft to his
spear stuck deep in the earth。 And now Hallblithe deems that the man
must be either dead or asleep： so he drew his sword and had it in
his right hand； and in his left a sharp knife； and went straight up
to the man betwixt the sheep； and found him so lying on his side that
he could not see his face； so he stirred him with his foot； and cried
out： 〃Awake； O Shepherd！ for dawn is long past and day is come； and
therewithal a guest for thee！〃
The man turned over and slowly sat up； and； lo！ who should it be but
the Puny Fox？ Hallblithe started back at the sight of him； and cried
out at him； and said： 〃Have I found thee； O mine enemy？〃
The Puny Fox sat up a little straighter； and rubbed his eyes and
said： 〃Yea； thou hast found me sure enough。 But as to my being
thine enemy； a word or two may be said about that presently。〃
〃What！〃 said Hallblithe； 〃dost thou deem that aught save my sword
will speak to thee？〃
〃I wot not；〃 said the Puny Fox； slowly rising to his feet； 〃but I
suppose thou wilt not slay me unarmed； and thou seest that I have no
weapons。〃
〃Get thee weapons； then；〃 quoth Hallblithe； 〃and delay not； for the
sight of thee alive sickens me。〃
〃Ill is that；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃but come thou with me at once；
where I shall find both the weapons and a good fighting…stead。
Hasten！ time presseth； now thou art come at last。〃
〃And my boat？〃 said Hallblithe。
〃Wilt thou carry her in thy pouch？〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃thou wilt not
need her again； whether thou slay me； or I thee。〃
Hallblithe knit his brows on him in his wrath； for he deemed that
Fox's meaning was to threaten him with the vengeance of the kindred。
Howbeit； he said nought； for he deemed it ill to wrangle in words
with one whom he was presently to meet in battle；