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so I deem it shall be while my life lasteth。〃
Then Hallblithe laughed and said： 〃Art thou nettled； fellow…in…arms；
at the word of a woman who knoweth thee not？ She shall yet be thy
friend； O Fox。 But tell me； beloved； I deemed that thou hadst not
seen Fox before； how then can he have helped the Erne against thee？〃
〃Yet she sayeth sooth；〃 said Fox； 〃this was of my sleight： for when
I had to come before her； I changed my skin； as I well know how；
there are others in this land who can do so much as that。 But what
sayest thou concerning the brotherhood with the Erne？〃
〃Let it be so；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃he is manly and true； though
masterful； and is meet for this land of his。 I shall not fall out
with him； for seldom meseemeth shall I see the Isle of Ransom。〃
〃And I never again；〃 said the Puny Fox。
〃Dost thou loathe it； then；〃 said the Hostage； 〃because of the evil
thou hast done therein？〃
〃Nay；〃 said he； 〃what is the evil； when henceforth I shall do but
good？ Nay； I love the land。 Belike thou deemest it but dreary with
its black rocks and black sand； and treeless wind…swept dales； but I
know it in summer and winter； and sun and shade； in storm and calm。
And I know where the fathers dwelt and the sons of their sons' sons
have long lain in the earth。 I have sailed its windiest firths； and
climbed its steepest crags； and ye may well wot that it hath a
friendly face to me； and the land…wights of the mountains will be
sorry for my departure。〃
So he spake； and Hallblithe would have answered him； but by now were
they come to a grassy hollow amidst the dale； where the Erne had
already made the earth…yoke ready。 To wit； he had loosened a strip
of turf all save the two ends； and had propped it up with two ancient
dwarf…wrought spears； so that amidmost there was a lintel to go
under。
So when he saw those others coming； he gave them the sele of the day；
and said to Hallblithe： 〃What is it to be？ shall I be less than thy
brother…in…arms henceforward？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Not a whit less。 It is good to have brothers in
other lands than one。〃
So they made no delay； but clad in all their war…gear； they went
under the earth…yoke one after the other； thereafter they stood
together； and each let blood in his arm； so that the blood of all
three mingled together fell down on the grass of the ancient earth；
and they swore friendship and brotherhood each to each。
But when all was done the Erne spake： 〃Brother Hallblithe； as I lay
awake in bed this morning I deemed that I would take ship with thee
to Cleveland by the Sea； that I might dwell there a while。 But when
I came out of the hall； and saw the dale lying green betwixt hill…
side and hill…side； and the glittering river running down amidmost；
and the sheep and kine and horses feeding up and down on either side
the water： and I looked up at the fells and saw how deep blue they
stood up against the snowy peaks； and I thought of all our deeds on
the deep sea； and the merry nights； in yonder abode of men： then I
thought that I would not leave the kindred； were it but for a while；
unless war and lifting called me。 So now I will ride with thee to
the ship； and then farewell to thee。〃
〃It is good；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃though not as good as it might be。
Glad had we been with thee in the hall of the Ravens。〃
As he spoke drew anigh the carles leading the horses； and with them
came six of those damsels whom the Erne had given to Hallblithe the
night before； two of whom asked to be brought to their kindred over
sea； but the other four were fain to go with Hallblithe and the
Hostage； and become their sisters at Cleveland by the Sea。
So then they got to horse and rode down the dale toward the haven；
and the carles rode with them； so that of weaponed men they were a
score in company。 But when they were half…way to the haven they saw
where hard by three knolls on the way…side were men standing with
their weapons and war…gear glittering in the sun。 So the Erne
laughed and said： 〃Shall we have a word with War…brand then？〃
But they rode steadily on their way； and when they came up to the
knolls they saw that it was War…brand indeed with a score of men at
his back； but they stirred not when they saw Erne's company that it
was great。 Then Erne laughed aloud and cried out in a big voice；
〃What； lads！ ye ride early this morning； are there foemen abroad in
the Isle？〃
They shrank back before him； but a carle of those who was hindermost
cried out： 〃Art thou coming back to us； Erne； or have thy new
friends bought thee to lead them in battle？〃
〃Fear it nought；〃 quoth Erne； 〃I shall be back before the shepherd's
noon。〃
So they went their ways and came to the haven； and there lay the
Flaming Sword； and beside her a trim bark； not right great； all ready
for sea： and Hallblithe's skiff was made fast to her for an after…
boat。
Then the Hostage and Hallblithe and the six damsels went aboard her；
and when the Erne had bidden them farewell； they cast off the hawsers
and thrust her out through the haven…mouth； but ere they had got
midmost of the haven； they saw the Erne； that he had turned about；
and was riding up the dale with his house…carles； and each man's
weapon was shining in his hand： and they wondered if he were riding
to battle with War…brand； and Fox said： 〃Meseemeth our brother…in…
arms hath in his mind to give those waylayers an evil minute； and
verily he is the man to do the same。〃
So they gat them out of the haven； and the ebb…tide drave out seaward
strongly； and the wind was fair for Cleveland by the Sea； and they
ran speedily past the black cliffs of the Isle of Ransom； and soon
were they hull down behind them。 But on the afternoon of the next
day they hove up the land of the kindreds； and by sunset they beached
their ship on the sand by the Rollers of the Raven； and went ashore
without more ado。 And the strand was empty of all men； even as on
the day when Hallblithe first met the Puny Fox。 So then in the cool
of the evening they went up toward the House of the Raven。 Those
damsels went together hand in hand two by two； and Hallblithe held
the Hostage by the hand； but the Puny Fox went along beside them；
gleeful and of many words； telling them tales of his wiles and his
craft； and his skin…changing。
〃But now；〃 quoth he； 〃I have left all that behind me in the Isle of
Ransom； and have but one shape； and I would for your behoof that it
were a goodlier one： and but one wisdom have I； even that which
dwelleth in mine own head…bone。 Yet it may be that this may avail
you one time or other。 But lo you！ though I am thy thrall； have I
not the look of a thrall…huckster from over sea leading up my wares
to the cheaping…stead？〃 They laughed at his words and were merry；
and much love there was amongst them as they went up to the House of
the Raven。
But when they came thither they went into the garth； and there was no
man therein； for it was now dusk； and the windows of the long hall
were yellow with candle…light。 Then said Fox： 〃Abide ye here a
little； for I would go into the hall alone and see the conditions of
thy people； O Hallblithe。〃
〃Go thou； then；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃but be not rash。 I counsel thee；
for our folk are not over…patient when they deem they have a foe
before them。〃
The Puny Fox laughed； and said： 〃So it is then the world over； that
happy men are wilful and masterful。〃
Then he drew his sword and smote on the door with the pommel； and the
door opened to him and in he went： and he found that fair hall full
of folk and bright with candles； and he stood amidst the floor； all
men looked on him； and many knew him at once to be a man of the
Ravagers； and silence fell upon the hall； but no man stirred hand
against him。 Then he said： 〃Will ye hearken to the word of an evil
man； a robber of the folks？〃
Spake the chiefta