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to eat and drink； and went up and down the house； saying to every
one： 〃Here is come the Wood…lover； and he is glad again； come and
see him。〃
So the folk gathered about him； and made much of him。 And when they
had made an end of breakfast； the head man of the House said to him：
〃The beasts are in the wain； and the timber abideth thy choosing；
come and see。〃
So he brought Hallblithe to the timber…bower； where he chose for
himself all that he needed of oak…timber of the best； and they loaded
the wain therewith； and gave him what he would moreover of nails and
treenails and other matters； and he thanked them； and they said to
him： 〃Whither now shall we lead thy timber？〃
〃Down to the sea…side；〃 quoth he； 〃nighest to my dwelling。〃
So did they； and more than a score； men and women； went with him；
some in the wain； and some afoot。 Thus they came down to the sea…
shore； and laid the timber on the strand just above high…water mark；
and straightway Hallblithe fell to work shaping him a boat； for well
he knew the whole craft thereof； and the folk looked on wondering；
till the tide had ebbed the little it was wont to ebb； and left the
moist sand firm and smooth； then the women left watching Hallblithe's
work； and fell to paddling barefoot in the clear water； for there was
scarce a ripple on the sea； and the carles came and played with them
so that Hallblithe was left alone a while； for this kind of play was
new to that folk； since they seldom came down to the sea…side。
Thereafter they needs must dance together； and would have had
Hallblithe dance with them； and when he naysaid them because he was
fain of his work； in all playfulness they fell to taking the adze out
of his hand； whereat he became somewhat wroth； and they were afraid
and went and had their dance out without him。
By this time the sun was grown very hot； and they came to him again；
and lay down about him and watched his work； for they were weary。
And one of the women； still panting with the dance； spake as she
looked on the loveliness of her limbs； which one of the swains was
caressing： 〃Brother；〃 said she； 〃great strokes thou smitest； when
wilt thou have smitten the last of them； and come to our house
again？〃
〃Not for many days； fair sister；〃 said he； without looking up。
〃Alas that thou shouldst talk so；〃 said a carle； rising up from the
warm sand； 〃what shall all thy toil win thee？〃
Spake Hallblithe： 〃Maybe a merry heart； or maybe death。〃
At that word they all rose up together； and stood huddled together
like sheep that have been driven to the croft…gate； and the shepherd
hath left them for a little and they know not whither to go。 Little
by little they got them to the wain and harnessed their beasts
thereto； and departed silently by the way that they had come； but in
a little time Hallblithe heard their laughter and merry speech across
the flowery meadows。 He heeded their departure little； but went on
working； and worked the sun down； and on till the stars began to
twinkle。 Then he went home to his house in the wood； and slept and
dreamed not； and began again on the morrow with a good heart。
To be short； no day passed that he wrought not his full tale of work；
and the days wore； and his ship…wright's work throve。 Often the folk
of that house； and from otherwhere round about； came down to the
strand to watch him working。 Nowise did they wilfully hinder him；
but whiles when they could get no talk from him； they would speak of
him to each other； wondering that he should so toil to sail upon the
sea； for they loved the sea but little； and it soon became clear to
them that he was looking to nought else： though it may not be said
that they deemed he would leave the land for ever。 On the other
hand； if they hindered him not； neither did they help； saving when he
prayed them for somewhat which he needed； which they would then give
him blithely。
Of the Sea…eagle and his damsel； Hallblithe saw nought； whereat he
was well content； for he deemed it of no avail to make a second
sundering of it。
So he worked and kept his heart up； and at last all was ready； he had
made him a mast and a sail； and oars； and whatso…other gear there was
need of。 So then he thrust his skiff into the sea on an evening
whenas there were but two carles standing by； for there would often
be a score or two of folk。 These two smiled on him and bespake him
kindly； but would not help him when he bade them set shoulder to her
bows and shove。 Albeit he got the skiff into the water without much
ado； and got into her； and brought her to where a stream running from
out of his wood made a little haven for her up from the sea。 There
he tied her to a tree…hole； and busied himself that even with getting
the gear into her； and victual and water withal； as much as he deemed
he should need： and so； being weary； he went to his house to sleep；
thinking that he should awake in the grey of the morning and thrust
out into the deep sea。 And he was the more content to abide； because
on that eve； as oftenest betid； the wind blew landward from the sea；
whereas in the morning it oftenest blew seaward from the land。 In
any case he thought to be astir so timely that he should come alone
to his keel； and depart with no leave…takings。 But； as it fell out；
he overslept himself； so that when he came out into the wood clad in
all his armour； with his sword girt to his side； and his spear over
his shoulder； he heard the voices of folk； and presently found so
many gathered about his boat that he had some ado to get aboard。
The folk had brought many gifts for him of such things as they deemed
he might need for a short voyage； as fruit and wine； and woollen
cloths to keep the cold night from him； he thanked them kindly as he
stepped over the gunwale； and some of the women kissed him： and one
said （she it was； who had met him at the stead that morning when he
went to fetch timber）： 〃Thou wilt be back this even； wilt thou not；
brother？ It is yet but early； and thou shalt have time enough to
take all thy pleasure on the sea； and then come back to us to eat thy
meat in our house at nightfall。〃
She spake； knitting her brows in longing for his return； but he knew
that all those deemed he would come back again soon； else had they
deemed him a rebel of the King； and might； as he thought； have stayed
him。 So he changed not countenance in any wise； but said only：
〃farewell； sister； for this day； and farewell to all you till I come
back。〃
Therewith he unmoored his boat； and sat down and took the oars； and
rowed till he was out of the little haven； and on the green sea； and
the keel rose and fell on the waves。 Then he stepped the mast and
hoisted sail； and sheeted home； for the morning wind was blowing
gently from the mountains over the meadows of the Glittering Plain；
so the sail filled； and the keel leapt forward and sped over the face
of the cold sea。 And it is to be said that whether he wotted or not；
it was the very day twelve months since he had come to that shore
along with the Sea…eagle。 So that folk stood and watched the skiff
growing less and less upon the deep till they could scarce see her。
Then they turned about and went into the wood to disport them； for
the sun was growing hot。 Nevertheless； there were some of them （and
that damsel was one）； who came back to the sea…shore from time to
time all day long； and even when the sun was down they looked seaward
under the rising moon； expecting to see Hallblithe's bark come into
the shining path which she drew across the waters round about the
Glittering Land。
CHAPTER XX： SO NOW SAILETH HALLBLITHE AWAY FROM THE GLITTERING PLAIN
But as to Hallblithe； he soon lost sight of the Glittering Plain and
the mountains thereof； and there was nought but sea all round about
him； and his heart swelled with joy as he sniffed the brine and
watched the