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encompassed by lies； and beset by images of things unhelpful。〃
〃Yea；〃 said he； 〃I am Hallblithe of the Ravens； wearied with desire
for my troth…plight maiden。〃
Then came the rosy colour into the fairness of her face； as the
rising sun lighteth the garden of flowers in the June morning； and
she said： 〃If thou art Hallblithe； tell me what befell to the
finger…gold…ring that my mother gave me when we were both but
little。〃
Then his face grew happy； and he smiled； and he said： 〃I put it for
thee one autumntide in the snake's hole in the bank above the river；
amidst the roots of the old thorn…tree； that the snake might brood
it； and make the gold grow greater； but when winter was over and we
came to look for it； lo！ there was neither ring nor snake； nor thorn…
tree： for the flood had washed it all away。〃
Thereat she smiled most sweetly； and whereas she had been looking on
him hitherto with strained and anxious eyes； she now beheld him
simply and friendly； and she said： 〃O Hallblithe； I am a woman
indeed； and thy speech…friend。 This is the flesh that desireth thee；
and the life that is thine； and the heart which thou rejoicest。 But
now tell me； who are these huge images around us； amongst whom I have
sat thus； once in every moon this year past； and afterwards I was
taken back to the women's bower？ Are they men or mountain…giants？
Will they slay us； or shut us up from the light and air？ Or hast
thou made peace with them？ Wilt thou then dwell with me here； or
shall we go back again to Cleveland by the Sea？ And when； oh when；
shall we depart？〃
He smiled and said： 〃Quick come thy questions； beloved。 These are
the folks of the Ravagers and the Sea…eagles： they be men； though
fierce and wild they be。 Our foes they have been； and have sundered
us； but now are they our friends； and have brought us together。 And
to…morrow； O friend； shall we depart across the waters to Cleveland
by the Sea。〃
She leaned forward； and was about to speak softly to him； but
suddenly started back； and said： 〃There is a big； red…haired man； as
big as any here； behind thy shoulder。 Is he also a friend？ What
would he with us？〃
So Hallblithe turned about； and beheld the Puny Fox beside him； who
took up the word and spoke； smiling as a man in great glee： 〃O
maiden of the Rose； I am Hallblithe's thrall； and his scholar； to
unlearn the craft of lying； whereby I have done amiss towards both
him and thee。 Whereof I will tell thee all the tale soon。 But now I
will say that it is true that we depart to…morrow for Cleveland by
the Sea； thou and he； and I in company。 Now I would ask thee；
Hallblithe； if thou wouldst have me bestow this gift of thine in
safe…keeping to…night； since there is an end of her sitting in the
hall like a graven image： and to…morrow the way will be long and
wearisome； What sayest thou？〃
Said the Hostage： 〃Shall I trust this man and go with him？〃
〃Yea； thou shalt trust him；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃for he is trusty。 And
even were he not； it is meet for us of the Raven and the Rose to do
as our worth biddeth us； and not to fear this folk。 And it behoveth
us to do after their customs since we are in their house。〃
〃That is sooth；〃 she said； 〃big man； lead me out of the hall to my
place。 Farewell； Hallblithe； for a little while； and then shall
there be no more sundering for us。〃
Therewith she departed with the Puny Fox； and Hallblithe went back to
the high…seat and sat down by the Erne； who laughed on him and said：
〃Thou hast taken my gift； and that is well： yet shall I tell thee
that I would not have given it to thee if I could have kept it for
myself in such plight as thou wilt have it。 But all I could do； and
the Puny Fox to help withal； availed me nought。 So good luck go with
thine hands。 Now will we to bed； and to…morrow I will lead thee out
on thy way； for to say sooth； there be some here who are not well
pleased with either thee or me； and thou knowest that words are
wasted on wilful men； but that deeds may avail somewhat。〃
Therewith he cried out for the cup of good…night； and when it was
drunken； Hallblithe was shown to a fair shut…bed； even that wherein
he had lain aforetime； and there he went to sleep in joy； and in good
liking with all men。
CHAPTER XXII： THEY GO FROM THE ISLE OF RANSOM AND COME TO CLEVELAND
BY THE SEA
In the morning early Hallblithe arose from his bed； and when he came
into the mid…hall； there was the Puny Fox and the Hostage with him；
Hallblithe kissed her and embraced her； and she him； yet not like
lovers long sundered； but as a man and maid betrothed are wont to do；
for there were folk coming and going about the hall。 Then spake the
Puny Fox： 〃The Erne is abiding us out in the meadow yonder； for now
nought will serve him but he must needs go under the earth…collar
with us。 How sayest thou； is he enough thy friend？〃
Said Hallblithe； smiling on the Hostage： 〃What hast thou to say to
it； beloved？〃
〃Nought at all；〃 she said； 〃if thou art friend to any of these men。
I may deem that I have somewhat against the chieftain； whereof belike
this big man may tell thee hereafter； but even so much meseemeth I
have against this man himself； who is now become thy friend and
scholar； for he also strove for my beguilement； and that not for
himself； but for another。〃
〃True it is；〃 said the Fox； 〃that I did it for another； even as
yesterday I took thy mate Hallblithe out of the trap whereinto he had
strayed； and compassed his deliverance by means of the unfaithful
battle； and even as I would have stolen thee for him； O Rose…maiden；
if need had been； yea； even if I must have smitten into ruin the
roof…tree of the Ravagers。 And how could I tell that the Erne would
give thee up unstolen？ Yea； thou sayeth sooth； O noble and spotless
maiden； all my deeds； both good and ill； have I done for others； and
so I deem it shall be while my life lasteth。〃
Then Hallblithe laughed and said： 〃Art thou nettled； fellow…in…arms；
at the word of a woman who knoweth thee not？ She shall yet be thy
friend； O Fox。 But tell me； beloved； I deemed that thou hadst not
seen Fox before； how then can he have helped the Erne against thee？〃
〃Yet she sayeth sooth；〃 said Fox； 〃this was of my sleight： for when
I had to come before her； I changed my skin； as I well know how；
there are others in this land who can do so much as that。 But what
sayest thou concerning the brotherhood with the Erne？〃
〃Let it be so；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃he is manly and true； though
masterful； and is meet for this land of his。 I shall not fall out
with him； for seldom meseemeth shall I see the Isle of Ransom。〃
〃And I never again；〃 said the Puny Fox。
〃Dost thou loathe it； then；〃 said the Hostage； 〃because of the evil
thou hast done therein？〃
〃Nay；〃 said he； 〃what is the evil； when henceforth I shall do but
good？ Nay； I love the land。 Belike thou deemest it but dreary with
its black rocks and black sand； and treeless wind…swept dales； but I
know it in summer and winter； and sun and shade； in storm and calm。
And I know where the fathers dwelt and the sons of their sons' sons
have long lain in the earth。 I have sailed its windiest firths； and
climbed its steepest crags； and ye may well wot that it hath a
friendly face to me； and the land…wights of the mountains will be
sorry for my departure。〃
So he spake； and Hallblithe would have answered him； but by now were
they come to a grassy hollow amidst the dale； where the Erne had
already made the earth…yoke ready。 To wit； he had loosened a strip
of turf all save the two ends； and had propped it up with two ancient
dwarf…wrought spears； so that amidmost there was a lintel to go
under。
So when he saw those others coming； he gave them the sele of the day；
and said to Hallblithe： 〃What is it to be？ shall I be less than thy
brother…in…arms henceforward？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Not a whit less。 It is good to have brothers in
other lands than one。〃
So they made no delay； but clad in all their war…gear； they went
under the earth…yoke one after the other； thereafter they stood
together； and each let blood in his arm； so that the blood of all
three mingled together fell down on the grass of the ancient earth；
and they swore friendship and brotherhood each to each。
But when all was done the Erne spake： 〃Brother Hallblithe； as I lay
awake in bed this morning I deemed that I would take ship with thee
to Cleveland by the Sea； that I might dwell there a while。 But when
I came out of the hall； and saw the dale lying green betwixt hill…
side and hill…side； and the glittering river running down amidmost；
and the sheep and kine and horses feeding up and down on either side
the water： and I looked up at the fells and saw how deep blue they
stood up against the snowy peaks； and I thought of all our deeds on
the