按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
they had done he spake and said： 〃Abideth now in wallet and bottle
but one more full meal for us； and then no more save a few crumbs and
a drop or two of wine if we husband it well。〃
Said the second elder： 〃Get we to the road； then； and make haste。 I
have been seeking； and meseemeth； though the way be long； it is not
utterly blind for us。 Or look thou； Raven…son； is there not a path
yonder that leadeth onward up to the brow of the ghyll again？ and as
I have seen； it leadeth on again down from the said brow。〃
Forsooth there was a track that led through the stony tangle of the
wilderness； so they took to the road with a good heart； and went all
day； and saw no living thing； and not a blade of grass or a trickle
of water： nought save the wan rocks under the sun； and though they
trusted in their road that it led them aright； they saw no other
glimpse of the Glittering Plain； because there rose a great ridge
like a wall on the north side； and they went as it were down along a
trench of the rocks； albeit it was whiles broken across by ghylls；
and knolls； and reefs。
So at sunset they rested and ate their victual； for they were very
weary； and thereafter they lay down； and slept as soundly as if they
were in the best of the halls of men。 On the morrow betimes they
arose soberly and went their ways with few words； and； as they
deemed； the path still led them onward。 And now the great ridge on
the north rose steeper and steeper； and their crossing it seemed not
to be thought of； but their half…blind track failed them not。 They
rested at even； and ate and drank what little they had left； save a
mouthful or two of wine； and then went on again by the light of the
moon； which was so bright that they still saw their way。 And it
happened to Hallblithe； as mostly it does with men very travel…worn；
that he went on and on scarce remembering where he was； or who his
fellows were； or that he had any fellows。
So at midnight they lay down in the wilderness again； hungry and
weary。 They rose at dawn and went forward with waning hope： for now
the mountain ridge on the north was close to their path； rising up
along a sheer wall of pale stone over which nothing might go save the
fowl flying； so that at first on that morning they looked for nothing
save to lay their bones in that grievous desert where no man should
find them。
But； as beset with famine； they fared on heavily down the narrow
track； there came a hoarse cry from Hallblithe's dry throat and it
was as if his cry had been answered by another like to his； and the
seekers turned and beheld him pointing to the cliff…side； and lo！
half…way up the pale sun…litten crag stood two ravens in a cranny of
the stone； flapping their wings and croaking； with thrusting forth
and twisting of their heads； and presently they came floating on the
thin pure air high up over the heads of the wayfarers； croaking for
the pleasure of the meeting； as though they laughed thereat。
Then rose the heart of Hallblithe； and he smote his palms together；
and fell to singing an old song of his people； amidst the rocks
whereas few men had sung aforetime。
Whence are ye and whither； O fowl of our fathers？
What field have ye looked on； what acres unshorn？
What land have ye left where the battle…folk gathers；
And the war…helms are white o'er the paths of the corn？
What tale do ye bear of the people uncraven；
Where amidst the long hall…shadow sparkle the spears；
Where aloft on the hall…ridge now flappeth the raven；
And singeth the song of the nourishing years？
There gather the lads in the first of the morning；
While white lies the battle…day's dew on the grass；
And the kind steeds trot up to the horn's voice of warning；
And the winds wake and whine in the dusk of the pass。
O fowl of our fathers； why now are ye resting？
Come over the mountains and look on the foe。
Full fair after fight won shall yet be your nesting；
And your fledglings the sons of the kindred shall know。
Therewith he strode with his head upraised； and above him flew the
ravens； croaking as if they answered his song in friendly fashion。
It was but a little after this that the path turned aside sharp
toward the cliffs； and the seekers were abashed thereof； till
Hallblithe running forward beheld a great cavern in the face of the
cliff at the path's ending： so he turned and cried on his fellows；
and they hastened up； and presently stood before that cavern's mouth
with doubt and joy mingled in their minds； for now； mayhappen； they
had reached the gate of the Glittering Plain； or mayhappen the gate
of death。
The sad man hung his head and spake： 〃Doth not some new trap abide
us？ What do we here？ is this aught save death？〃
Spake the Elder of Elders： 〃Was not death on either hand e'en now；
even as treason besetteth the king upon his throne？〃
And the second said： 〃Yea； we were as the host which hath no road
save through the multitude of foe…men。〃
But Hallblithe laughed and said： 〃Why do ye hang back； then？ As for
me； if death be here； soon is mine errand sped。〃 Therewith he led
the way into the dark of the cave； and the ravens hung about the crag
overhead croaking； as the men left the light。
So was their way swallowed up in the cavern； and day and its time
became nought to them； they went on and on； and became exceeding
faint and weary； but rested not； for death was behind them。 Whiles
they deemed they heard waters running； and whiles the singing of
fowl； and to Hallblithe it seemed that he heard his name called； so
that he shouted back in answer； but all was still when the sound of
his voice had died out。
At last； when they were pressing on again after a short while of
resting； Hallblithe cried out that the cave was lightening： so they
hastened onward； and the light grew till they could dimly see each
other； and dimly they beheld the cave that it was both wide and high。
Yet a little further； and their faces showed white to one another；
and they could see the crannies of the rocks； and the bats hanging
garlanded from the roof。 So then they came to where the day streamed
down bright on them from a break overhead； and lo！ the sky and green
leaves waving against it。
To those way…worn men it seemed hard to clamber out that way； and
especially to the elders： so they went on a little further to see if
there were aught better abiding them； but when they found the
daylight failing them again； they turned back to the place of the
break in the roof； lest they should waste their strength and perish
in the bowels of the mountain。 So with much ado they hove up
Hallblithe till he got him first on to a ledge of the rocky wall； and
so； what by strength； what by cunning； into the daylight through the
rent in the roof。 So when he was without he made a rope of his
girdle and strips from his raiment； for he was ever a deft craftsman；
and made a shift to heave up therewith the sad man； who was light and
lithe of body； and then the two together dealt with the elders one
after another； till they were all four on the face of the earth
again。
The place whereto they had gotten was the side of a huge mountain；
stony and steep； but set about with bushes； which seemed full fair to
those wanderers amongst the rocks。 This mountain…slope went down
towards a fair green plain； which Hallblithe made no doubt was the
outlying waste of the Glittering Plain： nay； he deemed that he could
see afar off thereon the white walls of the Uttermost House。 So much
he told the seekers in few words； and then while they grovelled on
the earth and wept for pure joy； whereas the sun was down and it was
beginning to grow dusk； he went and looked around soberly to see if
he might find water and any kind of victual； and presently a little
down the hillside he came upon a place where a spring came gushing up
out of the earth and ran down toward the plain；