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were sore afraid； yet more for defilement at their hands than for
death； for they were evil…looking men exceeding foul of favour。 Then
said one of them： 'Which of all you maidens is the Hostage of the
House of the Rose？'
〃Then all we kept silence； for we would not betray her。 But the evil
man spake again： 'Choose ye then whether we shall take one； or all
of you across the waters in our black ship。' Yet still we others
spake not； till arose thy beloved； O Hallblithe； and said：
〃'Let it be one then； and not all； for I am the Hostage。'
〃'How shalt thou make us sure thereof？' said the evil carle。
〃She looked on him proudly and said： 'Because I say it。'
〃'Wilt thou swear it？' said he。
〃'Yea；' said she； 'I swear it by the token of the House wherein I
shall wed； by the wings of the Fowl that seeketh the Field of
Slaying。'
〃'It is enough；' said the man； 'come thou with us。 And ye maidens
sit ye there； and move not till we have made way on our ship； unless
ye would feel the point of the arrow。 For ye are within bowshot of
the ship； and we have shot weapons aboard。'
〃So the Hostage departed with them； and she unweeping； but we wept
sorely。 And we saw the small boat come up to the side of the round…
ship； and the Hostage going over the gunwale along with those evil
men； and we heard the hale and how of the mariners as they drew up
the anchor and sheeted home； and then the sweeps came out and the
ship began to move over the sea。 And one of those evil…minded men
bent his bow and shot a shaft at us； but it fell far short of where
we sat； and the laugh of those runagates came over the sands to us。
So we crept up the beach trembling； and then rose to our feet and got
to our horses； and rode hither speedily； and our hearts are broken
for thy sorrow。〃
At that word came Hallblithe's own sister out from the hall； and she
bore weapons with her； to wit Hallblithe's sword and shield and helm
and hauberk。 As for him he turned back silently to his work； and set
the steel of the spear on the new ashen shaft； and took the hammer
and smote the nail in； and laid the weapon on a round pebble that was
thereby； and clenched the nail on the other side。 Then he looked
about； and saw that the other damsel had brought him his coal…black
war…horse ready saddled and bridled； then he did on his armour； and
girt his sword to his side and leapt into the saddle； and took his
new…shafted spear in hand and shook the rein。 But none of all those
damsels durst say a word to him or ask him whither he went； for they
feared his face； and the sorrow of his heart。 So he got him out of
the garth and turned toward the sea…shore； and they saw the glitter
of his spear…point a minute over the turf…wall； and heard the clatter
of his horse…hoofs as he galloped over the hard way； and thus he
departed。
CHAPTER III： THE WARRIORS OF THE RAVEN SEARCH THE SEAS
Then the women bethought them； and they spake a word or two together；
and then they sundered and went one this way and one that； to gather
together the warriors of the Raven who were a…field； or on the way；
nigh unto the house； that they might follow Hallblithe down to the
sea…shore and help him； after a while they came back again by one and
two and three； bringing with them the wrathful young men； and when
there was upward of a score gathered in the garth armed and horsed；
they rode their ways to the sea； being minded to thrust a long…ship
of the Ravens out over the Rollers into the sea； and follow the
strong…thieves of the waters and bring a…back the Hostage； so that
they might end the sorrow at once； and establish joy once more in the
House of the Raven and the House of the Rose。 But they had with them
three lads of fifteen winters or thereabouts to lead their horses
back home again； when they should have gone up on to the Horse of the
Brine。
Thus then they departed； and the maidens stood in the garth…gate till
they lost sight of them behind the sandhills； and then turned back
sorrowfully into the house； and sat there talking low of their
sorrow。 And many a time they had to tell their tale anew； as folk
came into the hall one after another from field and fell。 But the
young men came down to the sea； and found Hallblithe's black horse
straying about amongst the tamarisk…bushes above the beach； and they
looked thence over the sand； and saw neither Hallblithe nor any man：
and they gazed out seaward； and saw neither ship nor sail on the
barren brine。 Then they went down on to the sand； and sundered their
fellowship； and went half one way； half the other； betwixt the
sandhills and the surf； where now the tide was flowing； till the
nesses of the east and the west； the horns of the bay； stayed them。
Then they met together again by the Rollers； when the sun was within
an hour of setting。 There and then they laid hand to that ship which
is called the Seamew； and they ran her down over the Rollers into the
waves； and leapt aboard and hoisted sail； and ran out the oars and
put to sea； and a little wind was blowing seaward from the gates of
the mountains behind them。
So they quartered the sea…plain； as the kestrel doth the water…
meadows； till the night fell on them； and was cloudy； though whiles
the wading moon shone out； and they had seen nothing； neither sail
nor ship； nor aught else on the barren brine； save the washing of
waves and the hovering of sea…fowl。 So they lay…to outside the horns
of the bay and awaited the dawning。 And when morning was come they
made way again； and searched the sea； and sailed to the out…skerries；
and searched them with care； then they sailed into the main and fared
hither and thither and up and down： and this they did for eight
days； and in all that time they saw no ship nor sail； save three
barks of the Fish…biters nigh to the Skerry which is called Mew…
stone。
So they fared home to the Raven Bay； and laid their keel on the
Rollers； and so went their ways sadly； home to the House of the
Raven： and they deemed that for this time they could do no more in
seeking their valiant kinsman and his fair damsel。 And they were
very sorry； for these two were well…beloved of all men。 But since
they might not amend it； they abode in peace； awaiting what the
change of days might bring them。
CHAPTER IV： NOW HALLBLITHE TAKETH THE SEA
Now must it be told of Hallblithe that he rode fiercely down to the
sea…shore； and from the top of the beach he gazed about him； and
there below him was the Ship…stead and Rollers of his kindred；
whereon lay the three long…ships； the Seamew； and the Osprey and the
Erne。 Heavy and huge they seemed to him as they lay there； black…
sided； icy…cold with the washing of the March waves； their golden
dragon…heads looking seaward wistfully。 But first had he looked out
into the offing； and it was only when he had let his eyes come back
from where the sea and sky met； and they had beheld nothing but the
waste of waters； that he beheld the Ship…stead closely； and therewith
he saw where a little to the west of it lay a skiff； which the low
wave of the tide lifted and let fall from time to time。 It had a
mast； and a black sail hoisted thereon and flapping with slackened
sheet。 A man sat in the boat clad in black raiment； and the sun
smote a gleam from the helm on his head。 Then Hallblithe leapt off
his horse； and strode down the sands shouldering his spear； and when
he came near to the man in the boat he poised his spear and shook it
and cried out： 〃Man； art thou friend or foe？〃
Said the man： 〃Thou art a fair young man： but there is grief in thy
voice along with wrath。 Cast not till thou hast heard me； and mayst
deem whether I may do aught to heal thy grief。〃
〃What mayst thou do？〃 said Hallblithe； 〃art thou not a robber of the
sea； a harrier of the folks that dwell in peace？〃
The man laughed： 〃Yea；〃 said he；