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amidst it unhurt； and laid many strokes on his foeman； and did all so
lightly and easily； that it seemed as if he were dancing rather than
fighting； and the folk held their peace and began to doubt if their
huge champion would prevail。 Now the red…haired fetched a mighty
stroke at the alien； who leapt aside lightly and gat his sword in his
left hand and dealt a great stroke on the other's head； and the red…
haired staggered； for he had over…reached himself； and again the
alien smote him a left…handed stroke so that he fell full length on
the floor with a mighty clatter； and the sword flew out of his hand：
and the folk were dumb…founded。
Then the alien threw himself on the sea…champion； and knelt upon him；
and shortened his sword as if to slay him with a thrust。 But thereon
the man overthrown cried out： 〃Hold thine hand； for I am vanquished！
Now give me peace according to the bargain struck between us； that I
shall serve thee year…long； and follow thee wheresoever thou goest。〃
Therewith the alien champion arose and stood off from him； and the
man of the sea gat to his feet； and did off his helm； so that all men
could see that he was the Puny Fox。
Then the victorious champion unhelmed himself； and lo； it was
Hallblithe！ And a shout arose in the hall； part of wonder； part of
wrath。
Then cried out the Puny Fox： 〃I call on all men here to bear witness
that by reason of this battle； Hallblithe of the Ravens is free to
come and go as he will in the Isle of Ransom； and to take help of any
man that will help him； and to depart from the isle when he will and
how he will； taking me with him if so he will。〃
Said the chieftain： 〃Yea； this is right and due； and so shall it be。
But now； since no freeman； who is not a foe of the passing hour； may
abide in our hall without eating of our meat； come up here；
Hallblithe； and sit by me； and eat and drink of the best we have；
since the Norns would not give us thine head for a gable…knop。 But
what wilt thou do with thy thrall the Puny Fox； and whereto in the
hall wilt thou have him shown？ Or wilt thou that he sit fasting in
the darkness to…night； laid in gyves and fetters？ Or shall he have
the cheer of whipping and stripes； as befitteth a thrall to whom the
master oweth a grudge？ What is thy will with him？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃My will is that thou give him a seat next to me；
whether that be high or low； or the bench of thy prison…house。 That
he eat of my dish； and drink of my cup； whatsoever the meat and drink
may be。 For to…morrow I mean that we twain shall go under the earth…
collar together； and that our blood shall run together and that we
shall be brothers in arms henceforward。〃 Then Hallblithe did on his
helm again and drew his sword； and looked aside to the Puny Fox to
bid him do the like； and he did so； and Hallblithe said： 〃Chieftain；
thou hast bidden me to table； and I thank thee； but I will not set my
teeth in meat； out of our own house and land； which hath not been
truly given to me by one who wotteth of me； unless I have conquered
it as a prey of battle； neither will I cast a lie into the loving…cup
which shall pass from thy lips to mine： therefore I will tell thee；
that though I laid a stroke or two on the Puny Fox； and those no
light ones； yet was this battle nought true and real； but a mere
beguiling； even as that which I saw foughten in this hall aforetime；
when meseemeth the slain men rose up in time to drink the good…night
cup。 Therefore； O men of the Ravagers； and thou； O Puny Fox； there
is nought to bind your hands and refrain your hearts； and ye may slay
me if ye will without murder or dishonour； and may make the head of
Hallblithe a knop for your feast…hall。 Yet shall one or two fall to
earth before I fall。〃
Therewith he shook his sword aloft； and a great roar arose； and
weapons came down from the wall； and the candles shone on naked
steel。 But the Puny Fox came and stood by Hallblithe； and spake in
his ear amidst the uproar： 〃Well now； brother…in…arms； I have been
trying to learn thee the lore of lies； and surely thou art the worst
scholar who was ever smitten by master。 And the outcome of it is
that I； who have lied so long and well； must now pay for all； and die
for a barren truth。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Let all be as it will！ I love thee； lies and all；
but as for me I cannot handle them。 Lo you！ great and grim shall be
the slaying； and we shall not fall unavenged。〃
Said the Puny Fox： 〃Hearken！ for still they hang back。 Belike it is
I that have drawn this death on thee and me。 My last lie was a
fool's lie and we die for it： for what wouldst thou have done hadst
thou wotted that thy beloved； the Hostage of the Rose〃 He broke
off perforce； for Hallblithe was looking to right and left and
handling his sword； and heard not that last word of his； and from
both sides of the hall the throng was drawing round about those
twain； weapon in hand。 Then Hallblithe set his eyes on a big man in
front who was heaving up a heavy short…sword and thought that he
would at least slay this one。 But or ever he might smite； the great
horn blared out over the tumult； and men forbore a while and fell
somewhat silent。
Then came down to them the voice of the chieftain； a loud voice； but
clear and with mirth mingled with anger in it； and he said： 〃What do
these fools of the Ravagers cumbering the floor of the feast…hall；
and shaking weapons when there is no foeman anigh？ Are they
dreaming…drunk before the wine is poured？ Why do they not sit down
in their places； and abide the bringing in of the meat？ And ye
women； where are ye； why do ye delay our meat； when ye may well wot
that our hearts are drooping for hunger； and all hath been duly done；
the battle of the champions fought and won； and the prize of war
given forth and taken？ How long； O folk； shall your chieftains sit
fasting？〃
Then there arose great laughter in the hall； and men withdrew them
from those twain and went and sat them down in their places。
Then the chieftain said： 〃Come up hither； I say； O Hallblithe； and
bring thy war…thrall with thee if thou wilt。 But delay not； unless
it be so that thou art neither hungry nor thirsty； and good sooth
thou shouldst be both； for men say that the ravens are hard to
satisfy。 Come then and make good cheer with us！〃
So Hallblithe thrust his sword into the sheath； and the Puny Fox did
the like； and they went both together up the hall to the high…seat。
And Hallblithe sat down on the chieftain's right hand； and the Puny
Fox next to him； and the chieftain； the Erne； said： 〃O Hallblithe；
dost thou need thine armour at table； or dost thou find it handy to
take thy meat clad in thy byrny and girt with a sword？〃
Then laughed Hallblithe and said： 〃Nay； meseemeth to…night I shall
need war…gear no more。〃 And he stood up and did off all his armour
and gave it； sword and all； into the hands of a woman； who bore it
off； he knew not whither。 And the Erne looked on him and said：
〃Well is that！ and now I see that thou art a fair young man； and it
is no marvel though maidens desire thee。〃
As he spake came in the damsels with the victual and the cheer was
exceeding good； and Hallblithe grew light…hearted。
But when the healths had been drunk as aforetime； and men had drunk a
cup or two thereafter； there rose a warrior from one of the endlong
benches； a big young man； black…haired and black…bearded； ruddy of
visage； and he said in a voice that was rough and fat： 〃O Erne； and
ye other chieftains； we have been talking here at our table
concerning this guest of thine who hath beguiled us； and we are not
wholly at one with thee as to thy dealings with him。 True it is； now
that the man hath our meat in his belly； that he must depart from
amongst us with a whole skin； unless of his own will he stand up to
fight some man of us here。 Yet some of us think that he is not so
much our friend that we should help him to a keel whereon to fare
home to those that hate us： and we say that it would not be unlawful
to let the man abide in the isle； and proclaim him a wolf's…head
within a half…moon of today。 Or what sayest thou？〃
Said the Erne： 〃Wait for my word a while； and hearken to another！
Is the Grey…goose of the Ravagers in the hall？ Let him give out his
word on this matter。〃
Then arose a white…headed carle from a table nigh to the dais； whose
black raiment was well adorned with gold。 Despite his years his face
was fair and little wrinkled； a man with a straight nose and a well…
fashioned mouth； and with eyes still bright and grey。 He spake： 〃O
folk； I find that the Erne hath done well in cherishing this guest。
For first； if he hath beguiled us； he did it not save by the
furtherance and sleight of our own kinsman； therefore if any one is
to die for beguiling us； let it be the Puny Fox。 Secondly； we may
well wot that heavy ne