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down the hillside he came upon a place where a spring came gushing up
out of the earth and ran down toward the plain； and about it was
green grass growing plentifully； and a little thicket of bramble and
wilding fruit…trees。 So he drank of the water； and plucked him a few
wilding apples somewhat better than crabs； and then went up the hill
again and fetched the seekers to that mountain hostelry； and while
they drank of the stream he plucked them apples and bramble…berries。
For indeed they were as men out of their wits； and were dazed by the
extremity of their jog； and as men long shut up in prison； to whom
the world of men…folk hath become strange。 Simple as the victual
was； they were somewhat strengthened by it and by the plentiful
water； and as night was now upon them； it was of no avail for them to
go further： so they slept beneath the boughs of the thorn…bushes。
CHAPTER XVIII： HALLBLITHE DWELLETH IN THE WOOD ALONE
But on the morrow they arose betimes； and broke their fast on that
woodland victual； and then went speedily down the mountain…side； and
Hallblithe saw by the clear morning light that it was indeed the
Uttermost House which he had seen across the green waste。 So he told
the seekers； but they were silent and heeded nought； because of a
fear that had come upon them； lest they should die before they came
into that good land。 At the foot of the mountain they came upon a
river； deep but not wide； with low grassy banks； and Hallblithe； who
was an exceeding strong swimmer； helped the seekers over without much
ado； and there they stood upon the grass of that goodly waste。
Hallblithe looked on them to note if any change should come over
them； and he deemed that already they were become stronger and of
more avail。 But he spake nought thereof； and strode on toward the
Uttermost House； even as that other day he had stridden away from it。
Such diligence they made； that it was but little after noon when they
came to the door thereof。 Then Hallblithe took the horn and blew
upon it； while his fellows stood by murmuring； 〃It is the Land！ It
is the Land！〃
So came the Warden to the door； clad in red scarlet； and the elder
went up to him and said： 〃Is this the Land？〃
〃What land？〃 said the Warden。
〃Is it the Glittering Plain？〃 said the second of the seekers。
〃Yea； forsooth；〃 said the Warden。 Said the sad man： 〃Will ye lead
us to the King？
〃Ye shall come to the King；〃 said the Warden。
〃When； oh when？〃 cried they out all three。
〃The morrow of to…morrow； maybe；〃 said the Warden。
〃Oh！ if to…morrow were but come！〃 they cried。
〃It will come；〃 said the red man； 〃enter ye the house； and eat and
drink and rest you。〃
So they entered； and the Warden heeded Hallblithe nothing。 They ate
and drank and then went to their rest； and Hallblithe lay in a shut…
bed off from the hall； but the Warden brought the seekers otherwhere；
so that Hallblithe saw them not after he had gone to bed； but as for
him he slept and forgot that aught was。
In the morning when he awoke he felt very strong and well…liking； and
he beheld his limbs that they were clear of skin and sleek and fair；
and he heard one hard by in the hall carolling and singing joyously。
So he sprang from his bed with the wonder of sleep yet in him； and
drew the curtains of the shut…bed and looked forth into the hall； and
lo on the high…seat a man of thirty winters by seeming； tall； fair of
fashion； with golden hair and eyes as grey as glass； proud and noble
of aspect； and anigh him sat another man of like age to look on； a
man strong and burly； with short curling brown hair and a red beard；
and ruddy countenance； and the mien of a warrior。 Also； up and down
the hall； paced a man younger of aspect than these two； tall and
slender； black…haired and dark…eyed； amorous of countenance； he it
was who was singing a snatch of song as he went lightly on the hall
pavement： a snatch like to this
Fair is the world； now autumn's wearing；
And the sluggard sun lies long abed；
Sweet are the days； now winter's nearing；
And all winds feign that the wind is dead。
Dumb is the hedge where the crabs hang yellow；
Bright as the blossoms of the spring；
Dumb is the close where the pears grow mellow；
And none but the dauntless redbreasts sing。
Fair was the spring； but amidst his greening
Grey were the days of the hidden sun；
Fair was the summer； but overweening；
So soon his o'er…sweet days were done。
Come then； love； for peace is upon us；
Far off is failing； and far is fear；
Here where the rest in the end hath won us；
In the garnering tide of the happy year。
Come from the grey old house by the water；
Where； far from the lips of the hungry sea；
Green groweth the grass o'er the field of the slaughter；
And all is a tale for thee and me。
So Hallblithe did on his raiment and went into the hall； and when
those three saw him they smiled upon him kindly and greeted him； and
the noble man at the board said： 〃Thanks have thou； O Warrior of the
Raven； for thy help in our need： thy reward from us shall not be
lacking。〃
Then the brown…haired man came up to him； and clapped him on the back
and said to him： 〃Brisk man of the Raven； good is thy help at need；
even so shall be mine to thee henceforward。〃
But the young man stepped up to him lightly； and cast his arms about
him； and kissed him； and said： 〃O friend and fellow； who knoweth but
I may one day help thee as thou hast holpen me？ though thou art one
who by seeming mayst well help thyself。 And now mayst thou be as
merry as I am to…day！〃
Then they all three cried out joyously： 〃It is the Land！ It is the
Land！〃
So Hallblithe knew that these men were the two elders and the sad man
of yesterday； and that they had renewed their youth。
Joyously now did those men break their fast： nor did Hallblithe make
any grim countenance； for he thought： 〃That which these dotards and
drivellers have been mighty enough to find； shall I not be mighty
enough to flee from？〃 Breakfast done； the seekers made little delay；
so eager as they were to behold the King； and to have handsel of
their new sweet life。 So they got them ready to depart； and the
once…captain said： 〃Art thou able to lead us to the King； O Raven…
son； or must we seek another man to do so much for us？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃I am able to lead you so nigh unto Wood…end
（where； as I deem； the King abideth） that ye shall not miss him。〃
Therewith they went to the door； and the Warden unlocked to them； and
spake no word to them when they departed； though they thanked him
kindly for the guesting。
When they were without the garth； the young man fell to running about
the meadow plucking great handfuls of the rich flowers that grew
about； singing and carolling the while。 But he who had been king
looked up and down and round about； and said at last： 〃Where be the
horses and the men？〃
But his fellow with the red beard said： 〃Raven…son； in this land
when they journey； what do they as to riding or going afoot？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Fair fellows； ye shall wot that in this land folk
go afoot for the most part； both men and women； whereas they weary
but little； and are in no haste。〃
Then the once…captain clapped the once…king on the shoulder； and
said： 〃Hearken； lord； and delay no longer； but gird up thy gown；
since here is no mare's son to help thee： for fair is to…day that
lies before us； with many a new fair day beyond it。〃
So Hallblithe led the way inward； thinking of many things； yet but
little of his fellows。 Albeit they； and the younger man especially；
were of many words； for this black…haired man had many questions to
ask； chiefly concerning the women； what they were like to look on；
and of what mood they were。 Hallblithe answered thereto as long as
he might； but at last he laughed and said：