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a sword by his side and a crown on his head； and ever was he smiling
and joyous； so that Hallblithe； when he looked on him； felt of better
heart and smiled back on the carven image。
So while Hallblithe looked on these things； and pondered his case
carefully； all alone as he was in that alien hall； he heard a noise
without of talking and laughter； and presently the pattering of feet
therewith； and then women came into the hall； a score or more； some
young； some old； some fair enough； and some hard…featured and
uncomely； but all above the stature of the women whom he had seen in
his own land。
So he stood amidst the hall…floor and abided them； and they saw him
and his shining war…gear； and ceased their talking and laughter； and
drew round about him； and gazed at him； but none said aught till an
old crone came forth from the ring； and said 〃Who art thou； standing
under weapons in our hall？〃
He knew not what to answer； and held his peace； and she spake again：
〃Whither wouldest thou； what seekest thou？〃
Then answered Hallblithe： 〃THE HOUSE OF THE UNDYING。〃
None answered； and the other women all fell away from him at once；
and went about their business hither and thither through the hall。
But the old crone took him by the hand； and led him up to the dais；
and set him next to the midmost high…seat。 Then she made as if she
would do off his war…gear； and he would not gainsay her； though he
deemed that foes might be anear； for in sooth he trusted in the old
carle that he would not bewray him； and moreover he deemed it would
be unmanly not to take the risks of the guesting； according to the
custom of that country。
So she took his armour and his weapons and bore them off to a shut…
bed next to that wherein lay the ancient man； and she laid the gear
within it； all save the spear； which she laid on the wall…pins above；
and she made signs to him that therein he was to lie； but she spake
no word to him。 Then she brought him the hand…washing water in a
basin of latten； and a goodly towel therewith； and when he had washed
she went away from him； but not far。
This while the other women were busy about the hall； some swept the
floor down； and when it was swept strawed thereon rushes and handfuls
of wild thyme： some went into the buttery and bore forth the boards
and the trestles： some went to the chests and brought out the rich
hangings； the goodly bankers and dorsars； and did them on the walls：
some bore in the stoups and horns and beakers； and some went their
ways and came not back a while； for they were busied about the
cooking。 But whatever they did； none hailed him； or heeded him more
than if he had been an image； as he sat there looking on。 None save
the old woman who brought him the fore…supper； to wit a great horn of
mead； and cakes and dried fish。
So was the hall arrayed for the feast very fairly； and Hallblithe sat
there while the sun westered and the house grew dim； and dark at
last； and they lighted the candles up and down the hall。 But a
little after these were lit； a great horn was winded close without；
and thereafter came the clatter of arms about the door； and exceeding
tall weaponed men came in； one score and five； and strode two by two
up to the foot of the dais； and stood there in a row。 And Hallblithe
deemed their war…gear exceeding good； they were all clad in ring…
locked byrnies； and had steel helms on their heads with garlands of
gold wrought about them and they bore spears in their hands； and
white shields hung at their backs。 Now came the women to them and
unarmed them； and under their armour their raiment was black； but
they had gold rings on their arms； and golden collars about their
necks。 So they strode up to the dais and took their places on the
high…seat； not heeding Hallblithe any more than if he were an image
of wood。 Nevertheless that man sat next to him who was the chieftain
of all and sat in the midmost high…seat； and he bore his sheathed
sword in his hand and laid it on the board before him； and he was the
only man of those chieftains who had a weapon。
But when these were set down there was again a noise without； and
there came in a throng of men armed and unarmed who took their places
on the end…long benches up and down the hall； with these came women
also； who most of them sat amongst the men； but some busied them with
the serving： all these men were great of stature； but none so big as
the chieftains on the high…seat。
Now came the women in from the kitchen bearing the meat； whereof no
little was flesh…meat； and all was of the best。 Hallblithe was duly
served like the others； but still none spake to him or even looked on
him； though amongst themselves they spoke in big； rough voices so
that the rafters of the hall rang again。
When they had eaten their fill the women filled round the cups and
the horns to them； and those vessels were both great and goodly。 But
ere they fell to drinking uprose the chieftain who sat furthest from
the midmost high…seat on the right and cried a health： 〃THE TREASURE
OF THE SEA！〃 Then they all stood up and shouted； women as well as
men； and emptied their horns and cups to that health。 Then stood up
the man furthest on the left and cried out； 〃Drink a health to the
Undying King！〃 And again all men rose up and shouted ere they drank。
Other healths they drank； as the 〃Cold Keel；〃 the 〃Windworn Sail；〃
the 〃Quivering Ash〃 and the 〃Furrowed Beach。〃 And the wine and mead
flowed like rivers in that hall of the Wild Men。 As for Hallblithe；
he drank what he would but stood not up； nor raised his cup to his
lips when a health was drunk； for he knew not whether these men were
his friends or his foes； and he deemed it would be little…minded to
drink to their healths； lest he might be drinking death and confusion
to his own kindred。
But when men had drunk a while； again a horn blew at the nether end
of the hall； and straightway folk arose from the endlong tables； and
took away the boards and trestles； and cleared the floor and stood
against the wall； then the big chieftain beside Hallblithe arose and
cried out： 〃Now let man dance with maid； and be we merry！ Music；
strike up！〃 Then flew the fiddle…bows and twanged the harps； and the
carles and queens stood forth on the floor； and all the women were
clad in black raiment； albeit embroidered with knots and wreaths of
flowers。 A while they danced and then suddenly the music fell； and
they all went back to their places。 Then the chieftain in the high…
seat arose and took a horn from his side； and blew a great blast on
it that filled the hall； then he cried in a loud voice： 〃Be we
merry！ Let the champions come forth！〃
Men shouted gleefully thereat； and straightway ran into the hall from
out the screens three tall men clad all in black armour with naked
swords in their hands； and stood amidst the hall…floor； somewhat on
one side； and clashed their swords on their shields and cried out：
〃Come forth ye Champions of the Raven！〃
Then leapt Hallblithe from his seat and set his hand to his left
side； but no sword was there； so he sat down again； remembering the
warning of the Elder； and none heeded him。
Then there came into the hall slowly and mournfully three men…at…
arms； clad and weaponed like the warriors of his folk； with the image
of the Raven on their helms and shields。 So Hallblithe refrained
him； for besides that this seemed like to be a fair battle of three
against three； he doubted some snare； and he determined to look on
and abide。
So the champions fell to laying on strokes that were no child's play；
though Hallblithe doubted if the edges bit； and it was but a little
while before the Champions of the Raven fell one after another before
the Wild Men； and folk drew them by the heels out into the buttery。
Then arose great laughter and jeering； and exceeding wroth was
Hallblithe； howbeit he refrained him because he remembered all he had
to do。 But the three Champions of the Sea strode round the hall；
tossing up their swords and catching them as they fell； while the
horns blew up behind them。
After a while the hall grew hushed； and the chieftain arose and
cried： 〃Bring in now some sheaves of the harvest we win； we lads of
the oar and the arrow！〃 Then was there a stir at the screen doors；
and folk pressed forward to see； and； lo； there came forward a string
of women； led in by two weaponed carles； and the women were a score
in number； and they were barefoot and their hair hung loose and their
gowns were ungirt； and they were chained together wrist to wrist； yet
had they gold at arm and neck： there was silence in the hall when
they stood amidst of the floor。
Then indeed Hallblithe could not refrain himself； and he leapt from
his seat and on to the board； and over it； and ran down the hall； and
came to those women and looked them in the face one by one； w