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stood up against the snowy peaks； and I thought of all our deeds on
the deep sea； and the merry nights； in yonder abode of men： then I
thought that I would not leave the kindred； were it but for a while；
unless war and lifting called me。 So now I will ride with thee to
the ship； and then farewell to thee。〃
〃It is good；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃though not as good as it might be。
Glad had we been with thee in the hall of the Ravens。〃
As he spoke drew anigh the carles leading the horses； and with them
came six of those damsels whom the Erne had given to Hallblithe the
night before； two of whom asked to be brought to their kindred over
sea； but the other four were fain to go with Hallblithe and the
Hostage； and become their sisters at Cleveland by the Sea。
So then they got to horse and rode down the dale toward the haven；
and the carles rode with them； so that of weaponed men they were a
score in company。 But when they were half…way to the haven they saw
where hard by three knolls on the way…side were men standing with
their weapons and war…gear glittering in the sun。 So the Erne
laughed and said： 〃Shall we have a word with War…brand then？〃
But they rode steadily on their way； and when they came up to the
knolls they saw that it was War…brand indeed with a score of men at
his back； but they stirred not when they saw Erne's company that it
was great。 Then Erne laughed aloud and cried out in a big voice；
〃What； lads！ ye ride early this morning； are there foemen abroad in
the Isle？〃
They shrank back before him； but a carle of those who was hindermost
cried out： 〃Art thou coming back to us； Erne； or have thy new
friends bought thee to lead them in battle？〃
〃Fear it nought；〃 quoth Erne； 〃I shall be back before the shepherd's
noon。〃
So they went their ways and came to the haven； and there lay the
Flaming Sword； and beside her a trim bark； not right great； all ready
for sea： and Hallblithe's skiff was made fast to her for an after…
boat。
Then the Hostage and Hallblithe and the six damsels went aboard her；
and when the Erne had bidden them farewell； they cast off the hawsers
and thrust her out through the haven…mouth； but ere they had got
midmost of the haven； they saw the Erne； that he had turned about；
and was riding up the dale with his house…carles； and each man's
weapon was shining in his hand： and they wondered if he were riding
to battle with War…brand； and Fox said： 〃Meseemeth our brother…in…
arms hath in his mind to give those waylayers an evil minute； and
verily he is the man to do the same。〃
So they gat them out of the haven； and the ebb…tide drave out seaward
strongly； and the wind was fair for Cleveland by the Sea； and they
ran speedily past the black cliffs of the Isle of Ransom； and soon
were they hull down behind them。 But on the afternoon of the next
day they hove up the land of the kindreds； and by sunset they beached
their ship on the sand by the Rollers of the Raven； and went ashore
without more ado。 And the strand was empty of all men； even as on
the day when Hallblithe first met the Puny Fox。 So then in the cool
of the evening they went up toward the House of the Raven。 Those
damsels went together hand in hand two by two； and Hallblithe held
the Hostage by the hand； but the Puny Fox went along beside them；
gleeful and of many words； telling them tales of his wiles and his
craft； and his skin…changing。
〃But now；〃 quoth he； 〃I have left all that behind me in the Isle of
Ransom； and have but one shape； and I would for your behoof that it
were a goodlier one： and but one wisdom have I； even that which
dwelleth in mine own head…bone。 Yet it may be that this may avail
you one time or other。 But lo you！ though I am thy thrall； have I
not the look of a thrall…huckster from over sea leading up my wares
to the cheaping…stead？〃 They laughed at his words and were merry；
and much love there was amongst them as they went up to the House of
the Raven。
But when they came thither they went into the garth； and there was no
man therein； for it was now dusk； and the windows of the long hall
were yellow with candle…light。 Then said Fox： 〃Abide ye here a
little； for I would go into the hall alone and see the conditions of
thy people； O Hallblithe。〃
〃Go thou； then；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃but be not rash。 I counsel thee；
for our folk are not over…patient when they deem they have a foe
before them。〃
The Puny Fox laughed； and said： 〃So it is then the world over； that
happy men are wilful and masterful。〃
Then he drew his sword and smote on the door with the pommel； and the
door opened to him and in he went： and he found that fair hall full
of folk and bright with candles； and he stood amidst the floor； all
men looked on him； and many knew him at once to be a man of the
Ravagers； and silence fell upon the hall； but no man stirred hand
against him。 Then he said： 〃Will ye hearken to the word of an evil
man； a robber of the folks？〃
Spake the chieftain from the dais： 〃Words will not hurt us； sea…
warrior； and thou art but one among many； wherefore thy might this
eve is but as the might of a new…born baby。 Speak； and afterwards
eat and drink； and depart safe from amongst us！〃
Spake the Puny Fox： 〃What is gone with Hallblithe； a fair young man
of your kindred； and with the Hostage of the Rose； his troth…plight
maiden？〃
Then was the hush yet greater in the hall； so that you might have
heard a pin drop； and the chieftain said： 〃It is a grief of ours
that they are gone； and that none hath brought us back their dead
bodies that we might lay them in the Acre of the Fathers。〃
Then leapt up a man from the end…long table nigh to Fox； and cried
out： 〃Yea； folk！ they are gone； and we deem that runagates of thy
kindred； O new…come man； have stolen them from us； wherefor they
shall one day pay us。〃
Then laughed the Puny Fox and said： 〃Some would say that stealing
Hallblithe was like stealing a lion； and that he might take care of
himself； though he was not as big as I am。〃
Said the last speaker： 〃Did thy kin or didst thou steal him； O evil
man？〃
〃Yea； I stole him；〃 quoth Fox； 〃but by sleight； and not by might。〃
Then uprose great uproar in the hall； but the chieftain on the high…
seat cried out： 〃Peace； peace！〃 and the noise abated； and the
chieftain said： 〃Dost thou mean that thou comest hither to give us
thine head for making away with Hallblithe and the Hostage？〃
〃I mean to ask rather；〃 said the Fox； 〃what thou wilt give me for the
bodies of these twain？〃
Said the chieftain： 〃A boat…load of gold were not too much if thou
shouldst live a little longer。〃
Quoth the Puny Fox： 〃Well； in anywise I will go and bring in the
bodies aforesaid； and leave my reward to the goodwill of the Ravens。〃
Therewith he turned about to go； but lo！ there already in the door
stood Hallblithe holding the Hostage by the hand； and many in the
hall saw them； for the door was wide。 Then they came in and stood by
the side of the Puny Fox； and all men in the hall arose and shouted
for joy。 But when the tumult was a little abated； the Puny Fox cried
out： 〃O chieftain； and all ye folk！ if a boat…load of gold were not
too much reward for the bringing back the dead bodies of your
friends； what reward shall he have who hath brought back their bodies
and the souls therein？〃
Said the chieftain： 〃The man shall choose his own reward。〃 And the
men in the hall shouted their yeasay。
Then said the Puny Fox： 〃Well； then； this I choose； that ye make me
one of your kindred before the fathers of old time。〃
They all cried out that he had chosen wisely and manfully； but
Hallblithe said： 〃I bid you do for him no less than this； and ye
shall wot that he is already my sworn brother…in…arms。〃
Now the chieftain cried out： 〃O Wanderers from over the sea； come up
hither and sit with us and be merry at last！〃
So they went up to the dais； Hallblithe and the Hostage； and the Puny
Fox and the six maidens withal。 And since the night was yet young；
the supper of the men of the Ravens was turned into the wedding…feast
of Hallblithe and the Hostage； and that very night she became a wife
of the Ravens； that she might bear to the House the best of men and
the fairest of women。
But on the morrow they brought the Puny Fox to the mote…stead of the
kindreds that he might stand before the fathers and be made a son of
the kindred； and this they did because of the word of Hallblithe； and
because they believed in the tale which he told them of the
Glittering Plain and the Acre of the Undying。 The four maidens also
were made sisters of the House； and the other twain were sent home to
their own kindred in all honour。
Of the Puny Fox it is said that he soon lost and forgot all the lore
which he had learned of the ancient men； living and dead； and became
as