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came to those women and looked them in the face one by one； while no
man spake in the hall。 But the Hostage was not amongst them； nay
forsooth； they none of them favoured of the daughters of his people；
though they were comely and fair； so that again Hallblithe doubted if
this were aught but a feast…hall play done to anger him； whereas
there was but little grief in the faces of those damsels； and more
than one of them smiled wantonly in his face as he looked on them。
So he turned about and went back to his seat； having said no word；
and behind him arose much mocking and jeering； but it angered him
little now； for he remembered the rede of the elder and how that he
had done according to his bidding； so that he deemed the gain was
his。 So sprang up talk in the hall betwixt man and man； and folk
drank about and were merry； till the chieftain arose again and smote
the board with the flat of his sword； and cried out in a loud and
angry voice； so that all could hear： 〃Now let there be music and
minstrelsy ere we wend bedward！〃
Therewith fell the hubbub of voices； and there came forth three men
with great harps； and a fourth man with them； who was the minstrel；
and the harpers smote their harps so that the roof rang therewith；
and the noise； though it was great； was tuneable； and when they had
played thus a little while； they abated their loudness somewhat； and
the minstrel lifted his voice and sang：
The land lies black
With winter's lack；
The wind blows cold
Round field and fold；
All folk are within；
And but weaving they win。
Where from finger to finger the shuttle flies fast；
And the eyes of the singer look fain on the cast；
As he singeth the story of summer undone
And the barley sheaves hoary ripe under the sun。
Then the maidens stay
The light…hung sley；
And the shuttles bide
By the blue web's side；
While hand in hand
With the carles they stand。
But ere to the measure the fiddles strike up；
And the elders yet treasure the last of the cup；
There stand they a…hearkening the blast from the lift；
And e'en night is a…darkening more under the drift。
There safe in the hall
They bless the wall；
And the roof o'er head；
Of the valiant stead；
And the hands they praise
Of the olden days。
Then through the storm's roaring the fiddles break out；
And they think not of warring； but cast away doubt；
And； man before maiden； their feet tread the floor；
And their hearts are unladen of all that they bore。
But what winds are o'er…cold
For the heart of the bold？
What seas are o'er…high
For the undoomed to die？
Dark night and dread wind；
But the haven we find。
Then ashore mid the flurry of stone…washing surf！
Cloud…hounds the moon worry； but light lies the turf；
Lo the long dale before us！ the lights at the end；
Though the night darkens o'er us； bid whither to wend。
Who beateth the door
By the foot…smitten floor？
What guests are these
From over the seas？
Take shield and sword
For their greeting…word。
Lo； lo； the dance ended！ Lo； midst of the hall
The fallow blades blended！ Lo； blood on the wall！
Who liveth； who dieth？ O men of the sea；
For peace the folk crieth； our masters are ye。
Now the dale lies grey
At the dawn of day；
And fair feet pass
O'er the wind…worn grass；
And they turn back to gaze
On the roof of old days。
Come tread ye the oaken…floored hall of the sea！
Be your hearts yet unbroken； so fair as ye be；
That kings are abiding unwedded to gain
The news of our riding the steeds of the main。
Much shouting and laughter arose at the song's end； and men sprang up
and waved their swords above the cups； while Hallblithe sat scowling
down on their merriment。 Lastly arose the chieftain and called out
loudly for the good…night cup； and it went round and all men drank。
Then the horn blew for bed； and the chieftains went to their
chambers； and the others went to the out…bowers or laid them down on
the hall…floor； and in a little while none stood upright thereon。 So
Hallblithe arose； and went to the shut…bed appointed for him； and
laid him down and slept dreamlessly till the morning。
CHAPTER VIII： HALLBLITHE TAKETH SHIP AGAIN AWAY FROM THE ISLE OF
RANSOM
When he awoke； the sun shone into the hall by the windows above the
buttery； and there were but few folk left therein。 But so soon as
Hallblithe was clad； the old woman came to him； and took him by the
hand； and led him to the board； and signed to him to eat of what was
thereon； and he did so； and by then he was done； came folk who went
into the shut…bed where lay the Long…hoary； and they brought him
forth bed and all and bare him out a…doors。 Then the crone brought
Hallblithe his arms and he did on byrny and helm； girt his sword to
his side； took his spear in his hand and went out a…doors； and there
close by the porch lay the Long…hoary upon a horse…litter。 So
Hallblithe came up to him and gave him the sele of the day： and the
elder said： 〃Good morrow； son； I am glad to see thee。 Did they try
thee hard last night？〃
And Hallblithe saw two of the carles that had borne out the elder；
that they were talking together； and they looked on him and laughed
mockingly； so he said to the elder： 〃Even fools may try a wise man；
and so it befell last night。 Yet； as thou seest； mumming hath not
slain me。〃
Said the old man： 〃What thou sawest was not all mumming； it was done
according to our customs； and well nigh all of it had been done； even
hadst thou not been there。 Nay； I will tell thee； at some of our
feasts it is not lawful to eat either for the chieftains or the
carles； till a champion hath given forth a challenge； and been
answered and met； and the battle fought to an end。 But ye men； what
hindereth you to go to the horses' heads and speed on the road the
chieftain who is no longer way…worthy？〃
So they ran to the horses and set down the dale by the riverside； and
just as Hallblithe was going to follow afoot； there came a swain from
behind the house leading a red horse which he brought to Hallblithe
as one who bids mount。 So Hallblithe leapt into the saddle and at
once caught up with the litter of the Long…hoary down along the
river。 They passed by no other house； save here and there a cot
beside some fold or byre； they went easily； for the way was smooth by
the river…side； so in less than two hours they came where the said
river ran into the sea。 There was no beach there； for the water was
ten fathom deep close up to the lip of the land； but there was a
great haven land…locked all but a narrow outgate betwixt the sheer
black cliffs。 Many a great ship might have lain in that haven； but
as now there was but one lying there； a round…ship not very great；
but exceeding trim and meet for the sea。
There without more ado the carles took the elder from the litter and
bore him aboard； and Hallblithe followed him as if he had been so
appointed。 They laid the old man adown on the poop under a tilt of
precious web； and so went aback by the way that they had come； and
Hallblithe went and sat down beside the Long…hoary； who spake to him
and said： 〃Seest thou； son； how easy it is for us twain to be
shipped for the land whither we would go？ But as easy as it is for
thee to go thither whereas we are going； just so hard had it been for
thee to go elsewhere。 Moreover I must tell thee that though many an
one of the Isle of Ransom desireth to go this voyage； there shall
none else go； till the world is a year older； and he who shall go
then shall be likest to me in all ways； both in eld and in
feebleness； and in gibing speech； and all else； and now that I am
gone； his name shall be the same as that whereby ye may call me to…
day； and that is Grandfather。 Art thou glad or sorry； Hallblithe？〃
〃Grandfather；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃I can scarce tell thee： I move as
one who hath no will to wend one way or other。 Meseems I am drawn to
go thither whereas we are going； therefore I deem that I shall find
my beloved on the Glittering Plain： and whatever befalleth
afterward； let it be as it will！〃
〃Tell me； my son；〃 said the Grandfather； 〃how many women are there in
the world？〃
〃How may I tell thee？〃 said Hallblithe。
〃Well； then；〃 said the elder； 〃how many exceeding fair women are
there？〃
Said Hallblithe； 〃Indeed I wot not。〃
〃How many of such hast thou seen？〃 said the Grandfather。
〃Many；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃the daughters of my folk are fair； and
there will be many other such amongst the aliens。〃
Then laughed the elder； and said： 〃Yet； my son； he who had been thy
fellow since thy sundering from thy beloved； would have said that in
thy deeming there is but one woman in the world； or at least one fair
woman： is it not so？〃
Then Hallblithe reddened at first； as though he were angry； then he
said： 〃Yea； it is so。〃
Said t