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that grim land。 The sun grew low； and sank red under the sea； and
that world of stone swallowed up half the heavens before them； for
they were now come very nigh thereto； nor could Hallblithe see aught
for it； but that they must be dashed against the cliff and perish in
a moment of time。
Still the boat flew on； but now when the twilight was come； and they
had just opened up along reach of the cliff that lay beyond a high
ness； Hallblithe thought he saw down by the edge of the sea something
darker than the face of the rock…wall； and he deemed it was a cave：
they came a little nearer and he saw it was a great cave high enough
to let a round…ship go in with all her sails set。
〃Son of the Raven；〃 quoth Fox； 〃hearken； for thy heart is not little。
Yonder is the gate into the Isle of Ransom； and if thou wilt； thou
mayst go through it。 Yet it may be that if thou goest ashore on to
the Isle something grievous shall befall thee； a trouble more than
thou canst bear： a shame it may be。 Now there are two choices for
thee： either to go up on to the Isle and face all； or to die here by
my hand having done nothing unmanly or shameful： What sayest thou？〃
〃Thou art of many words when time so presses； Fox；〃 said Hallblithe。
〃Why should I not choose to go up on to the Island to deliver my
trothplight maiden？ For the rest； slay me if thou canst； if we come
alive out of this cauldron of waters。〃
Said the big red man： 〃Look on then； and note Fox how he steereth；
as it were through a needle's eye。〃
Now were they underneath the black shadow of the black cliff and
amidst the twilight the surf was tossed about like white fire。 In
the lower heavens the stars were beginning to twinkle and the moon
was bright and yellow； and aloft all was peaceful； for no cloud
sullied the sky。 One moment Hallblithe saw all this hanging above
the turmoil of thundering water and dripping rock and the next he was
in the darkness of the cave； the roaring wind and the waves still
making thunder about him； though of a different voice from the harsh
hubbub without。 Then he heard Fox say： 〃Sit down now and take the
oars； for presently shall we be at home at the landing place。〃
So Hallblithe took the oars and rowed； and as they went up the cave
the sea fell； and the wind died out into the aimless gustiness of
hollow places； and for a little while was all as dark as dark might
be。 Then Hallblithe saw that the darkness grew a little greyer； and
he looked over his shoulder and saw a star of light before the bows
of the boat； and Fox cried out： 〃Yea； it is like day； bright will
the moon be for such as needs must be wayfaring to…night！ Cease
rowing； O Son of the coal…blue fowl； for there is way enough on her。〃
Then Hallblithe lay on his oars； and in a minute the bows smote the
land； then he turned about and saw a steep stair of stone； and up the
sloping shaft thereof the moonlit sky and the bright stars。 Then Fox
arose and came forward and leapt out of the boat and moored her to a
big stone： then he leapt back again and said： 〃Bear a hand with the
victuals； we must bring them out of the boat unless thou wilt sleep
supperless； as I will not。 For to…night must we be guests to
ourselves； since it is far to the dwelling of my people； and the old
man is said to be a skin…changer； a flit…by…night。 And as to this
cave； it is deemed to be nowise safe to sleep therein； unless the
sleeper have a double share of luck。 And thy luck； meseemeth； O Son
of the Raven； is as now somewhat less than a single share。 So to…
night we shall sleep under the naked heaven。〃
Hallblithe yea…said this； and they took the meat and drink； such as
they needed； from out the boat； and climbed the steep stair no little
way； and so came out on to a plain place； which seemed to Hallblithe
bare and waste so far as he saw it by the moonlight； for the twilight
was gone now； and nought was left of the light of day save a glimmer
in the west。
This Hallblithe deemed wonderful； that no less out on the open heath
and brow of the land than in the shut…in cave； all that tumult of the
wind had fallen； and the cloudless night was calm； and with a little
air blowing from the south and the landward。
Therewithal was Fox done with his loud…voiced braggart mood； and
spoke gently and peaceably like to a wayfarer； who hath business of
his to look to as other men。 Now he pointed to certain rocks or low
crags that a little way off rose like a reef out of the treeless
plain； then said he： 〃Shipmate； underneath yonder rocks is our
resting…place for to…night； and I pray thee not to deem me churlish
that I give thee no better harbour。 But I have a charge over thee to
bring thee safe thus far on thy quest； and thou wouldst find it hard
to live among such housemates as thou wouldst find up yonder amongst
our folks to…night。 But tomorrow shalt thou come to speech with him
who will deal with thee concerning the ransom。〃
〃It is enough；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃and I thank thee for thy leading：
and as for thy rough and uncomely words which thou hast given me； I
pardon thee for them： for I am none the worse of them： forsooth； if
I had been； my sword would have had a voice in the matter。〃
〃I am well content as it is； Son of the Raven；〃 quoth Fox； 〃I have
done my bidding and all is well。〃
〃Tell me then who it is hath bidden thee bring me hither？〃
〃I may not tell thee；〃 said Fox； 〃thou art here； be content； as I
am。〃
And he spake no more till they had come to the reef aforesaid； which
was some two furlongs from the place where they had come from out of
the cave。 There then they set forth their supper on the stones； and
ate what they would； and drank of that good strong wine while the
horn bare out。 And now was Fox of few words； and when Hallblithe
asked him concerning that land； he had little to say。 And at last
when Hallblithe asked him of that so perilous house and those who
manned it； he said to him：
〃Son of the Raven； it avails not asking of these matters； for if I
tell thee aught concerning them I shall tell thee lies。 Once again
let it be enough for thee that thou hast passed over the sea safely
on thy quest； and a more perilous sea it is forsooth than thou
deemest。 But now let us have an end of vain words； and make our bed
amidst these stones as best we may； for we should be stirring betimes
in the morning。〃 Hallblithe said little in answer； and they arrayed
their sleeping places cunningly； as the hare doth her form； and like
men well used to lying abroad。
Hallblithe was very weary and he soon fell asleep； and as he lay
there； he dreamed a dream； or maybe saw a vision； whether he were
asleep when he saw it； or between sleeping and waking； I know not。
But this was his dream or his vision； that the Hostage was standing
over him； and she as he had seen her but yesterday； bright…haired and
ruddy…cheeked and white…skinned； kind of hand and soft of voice； and
she said to him： 〃Hallblithe； look on me and hearken； for I have a
message for thee。〃 And he looked and longed for her； and his soul
was ravished by the sweetness of his longing； and he would have leapt
up and cast his arms about her； but sleep and the dream bound him；
and he might not。 Then the image smiled on him and said： 〃Nay； my
love； lie still； for thou mayst not touch me： here is but the image
of the body which thou desirest。 Hearken then。 I am in evil plight；
in the hands of strong…thieves of the sea； nor know I what they will
do with me； and I have no will to be shamed； to be sold for a price
from one hand to another； yet to be bedded without a price； and to
lie beside some foe…man of our folk； and he to cast his arms about
me； will I； will I not： this is a hard case。 Therefore to…morrow
morning at daybreak while men sleep； I think to steal forth to the
gunwale of the black ship and give myself to the gods； that they and
not these runagates may be masters of my life and my soul； and may do
with me as they will： for indeed they know that I may not bear the
strange kinless house； and the love and caressing of the alien house…
master； and the mocking and stripes of the alien house…mistress。
Therefore let the Hoary One of the sea take me and look to my
matters； and carry me to life or death； which…so he will。 Thin now
grows the night； but lie still a little yet； while I speak another
word。
〃Maybe we shall meet alive again； and maybe not： and if not； though
we have never yet lain in one bed together； yet I would have thee
remember me： yet not so that my image shall come between thee and
thy speech…friend and bed…fellow of the kindred； that shall lie where
I was to have lain。 Yet again； if I live and thou livest； I have
been told and have heard that by one way or other I am like to come
to the Glittering Plain； and the Land of Living Men。 O my beloved；
if by any way thou mightest come thither