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Howbeit； he said nought； for he deemed it ill to wrangle in words
with one whom he was presently to meet in battle； so he followed as
the Puny Fox led。 Fox brought him past the reef of rock aforesaid；
and up a narrow cleft of the cliffs overlooking the sea； whereby they
came into a little grass…grown meadow well nigh round in shape； as
smooth and level as a hall…floor； and fenced about by a wall of rock：
a place which had once been the mouth of an earth…fire； and a
cauldron of molten stone。
When they stood on the smooth grass Fox said： 〃Hold thee there a
little； while I go to my weapon…chest； and then shall we see what is
to be done。〃
Therewith he turned aside to a cranny of the rock； and going down on
his hands and knees； fell to creeping like a worm up a hole therein；
which belike led to a cavern； for after his voice had come forth from
the earth； grunting and groaning； and cursing this thing； and that；
out he comes again feet first； and casts down an old rusty sword
without a sheath； a helm no less rusty； and battered withal； and a
round target； curled up and outworn as if it would fall to pieces of
itself。 Then he stands up and stretches himself； and smiles
pleasantly on Hallblithe and says： 〃Now； mine enemy； when I have
donned helm and shield and got my sword in hand； we may begin the
play： as to a hauberk I must needs go lack； for I could not come by
it； I think the old man must have chaffered it away： he was ever too
money…fain。〃
But Hallblithe looked on him angrily and said： 〃Hast thou brought me
hither to mock me？ Hast thou no better weapons wherewith to meet a
warrior of the Raven than these rusty shards； which look as if thou
hadst robbed a grave of the dead？ I will not fight thee so armed。〃
〃Well；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃and from out of a grave come they verily：
for in that little hole lieth my father's grandsire； the great Sea…
mew of the Ravagers； the father of that Sea…eagle whom thou knowest。
But since thou thinkest scorn of these weapons of a dead warrior； in
go the old carle's treasures again！ It is as well maybe； since he
might be wrath beyond his wont if he were to wake and miss them； and
already this cold cup of the once…boiling rock is not wholly safe
because of him。〃
So he crept into the hole once more； and out of it presently； and
stood smiting his palms one against the other to dust them； like a
man who has been handling parchments long laid by； and Hallblithe
stood looking at him； still wrathful； but silent。
Then said the Puny Fox： 〃This at least was a wise word of thine；
that thou wouldst not fight me。 For the end of fighting is slaying；
and it is stark folly to fight without slaying； and now I see that
thou desirest not to slay me： for if thou didst； why didst thou
refuse to fall on me armed with the ghosts of weapons that I borrowed
from a ghost？ Nay； why didst thou not slay me as I crept out of
yonder hole？ Thou wouldst have had a cheap bargain of me either way。
It would be rank folly to fight me。〃
Said Hallblithe hoarsely： 〃Why didst thou bewray me； and lie to me；
and lure me away from the quest of my beloved； and waste a whole year
of my life？〃
〃It is a long story；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃which I may tell thee some
day。 Meantime I may tell thee this； that I was compelled thereto by
one far mightier than I； to wit the Undying King。〃
At that word the smouldering wrath blazed up in Hallblithe； and he
drew his sword hastily and hewed at the Puny Fox： but he leapt aside
nimbly and ran in on Hallblithe； and caught his sword…arm by the
wrist； and tore the weapon out of his hand； and overbore him by sheer
weight and stature； and drave him to the earth。 Then he rose up； and
let Hallblithe rise also； and took his sword and gave it into his
hand again and said： 〃Crag…nester； thou art wrathful； but little。
Now thou hast thy sword again and mayst slay me if thou wilt。 Yet
not until I have spoken a word to thee： so hearken！ or else by the
Treasure of the Sea I will slay thee with my bare hands。 For I am
strong indeed in this place with my old kinsman beside me。 Wilt thou
hearken？〃
〃Speak；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃I hearken。〃
Said the Puny Fox： 〃True it is that I lured thee away from thy
quest； and wore away a year of thy life。 Yet true it is also that I
repent me thereof； and ask thy pardon。 What sayest thou？〃
Hallblithe spake not； but the heat died out of his face and he was
become somewhat pale。 Said the Puny Fox： 〃Dost thou not remember； O
Raven； how thou badest me battle last year on the sea…shore by the
side of the Rollers of the Raven？ and how this was to be the prize of
battle； that the vanquished should serve the vanquisher year…long；
and do all his will？ And now this prize and more thou hast won
without battle； for I swear by the Treasure of the Sea； and by the
bones of the great Sea…mew yonder； that I will serve thee not year…
long but life…long； and that I will help thee in thy quest for thy
beloved。 What sayest thou？〃
Hallblithe stood speechless a moment； looking past the Puny Fox；
rather than at him。 Then the sword tumbled out of his hand on to the
grass； and great tears rolled down his cheeks and fell on to his
raiment； and he reached out his hand to the Puny Fox and said： 〃O
friend； wilt thou not bring me to her？ for the days wear； and the
trees are growing old round about the Acres of the Raven。〃
Then the Puny Fox took his hand； and laughed merrily in his face； and
said： 〃Great is thine heart； O Carrion…biter！ But now that thou art
my friend I will tell thee that I have a deeming of the whereabouts
of thy beloved。 Or where deemest thou was the garden wherein thou
sawest her standing on the page of the book in that dream of the
night？ So it is； O Raven…son； that it is not for nothing that my
grandsire's father lieth in yonder hole of the rocks； for of late he
hath made me wise in mighty lore。 Thanks have thou； O kinsman！〃 And
he turned him toward the rock wherein was the grave。
But Hallblithe said： 〃What is to do now？ Am I not in a land of
foemen？〃
〃Yea； forsooth；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃and even if thou knewest where
thy love is； thou shouldst hardly escape from this isle unslain； save
for me。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Is there not my bark； that I might depart at once？
for I deem not that the Hostage is on the Isle of Ransom。〃
The Puny Fox laughed boisterously and said： 〃Nay； she is not。 But
as to thy boat； there is so strong a set of the flood…tide toward
this end of the isle； that with the wind blowing as now； from the
north…north…east； thou mayst not get off the shore for four hours at
least； and I misdoubt me that within that time we shall have tidings
of a ship of ours coming into the haven。 Thy bark they shall take；
and thee also if thou art therein； and then soon were the story told；
for they know thee for a rebel of the Undying King。 Hearken！ Dost
thou not hear the horn's voice？ Come up hither and we shall see what
is towards。〃
So saying； he led hastily up a kind of stair in the rock…wall； until
they reached a cranny； whence through a hole in the cliff； they could
see all over the haven。 And lo！ as they looked； in the very gate and
entry of it came a great ship heaving up her bows on the last swell
of the outer sea （where the wind had risen somewhat）； and rolling
into the smooth； land…locked water。 Black was her sail； and the
image of the Sea…eagle enwrought thereon spread wide over it； and the
banner of the Flaming Sword streamed out from the stern。 Many men
all…weaponed were on the decks； and the minstrels high up on the poop
were blowing a merry song of return on their battle…horns。
〃Lo； you；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃thy luck or mine hath served thee this
time； in that the Flaming Sword did not overhaul thee ere thou madest
the haven。 We are well here at least。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃But may not some of them come up hither
perchance？〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃they fear the old man in the cleft
yonder； for he is not over guest…fain。 This mead is mine own； as for
other living men； it is my unroofed house； and I have here a house
with a roof also； which I will show thee presently。 For now since
the Flaming Sword hath come； there is no need for haste； nay； we
cannot depart till they have gone up…country。 So I will show thee
presently what we shall do to…night。〃
So there they sat and watched those men bring their ship to the shore
and moor her hard by Hallblithe's boat。 They cried out when they saw
her； and when they were aland they gathered about her to note her
build； and the fashion of the spear whereto she was tied。 Then in a
while the more part of them； some fourscore in number； departed up
the valley toward the great house and left none but a half dozen
ship…warders behind。
〃Seest thou； friend of the Ravens；〃 said the Fox； 〃hadst thou been
the