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mountains rising beyond it。〃
〃Thou shalt the more wonder；〃 said the alien； 〃the nigher thou
drawest thereto； for it is not because we are far away that thou
canst see no beach or strand； or sloping of the land seaward； but
because there is nought of all these things。 Yet fear not！ am I not
with thee？ thou shalt come ashore on the Isle of Ransom。〃
Then Hallblithe held his peace； and the other spake not for a while；
but gave a short laugh once or twice； and said at last in a big
voice； 〃Little Carrion…biter； why dost thou not ask me of my name？〃
Now Hallblithe was a tall man and a fell fighter； but he said：
〃Because I was thinking of other things and not of thee。〃
〃Well；〃 said the big man； in a voice still louder； 〃when I am at home
men call me the Puny Fox。〃
Then Hallblithe said： 〃Art thou a Fox？ It may well be that thou
shalt beguile me as such beasts will but look to it； that if thou
dost I shall know how to avenge me。〃
Then rose up the big man from the helm； and straddled wide in the
boat； and cried out in a great roaring voice： 〃Crag…nester； I am one
of seven brethren； and the smallest and weakest of them。 Art thou
not afraid？〃
〃No；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃for the six others are not here。 Wilt thou
fight here in boat； O Fox？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Fox； 〃rather we will drink a cup of wine together。〃
So he opened the locker again and drew out thence a great horn of
some huge neat of the outlands； which was girthed and stopped with
silver； and also a golden cup； and he filled the cup from the horn
and gave it into Hallblithe's hand and said： 〃Drink； O black…fledged
nestling！ But call a health over the cup if thou wilt。〃 So
Hallblithe raised the cup aloft and cried： 〃Health to the House of
the Raven and to them that love it！ an ill day to its foemen！〃 Then
he set his lips to the cup and drank； and that wine seemed to him
better and stronger than any he had ever tasted。 But when he had
given the cup back again to Fox； that red one filled it again； and
cried over it； 〃The Treasure of the Sea！ and the King that dieth
not！〃 Then he drank； and filled again for Hallblithe； and steered
with his knees meanwhile； and thus they drank three cups each； and
Fox smiled and was peaceful and said but little； but Hallblithe sat
wondering how the world was changed for him since yesterday。
But now was the sky blown all clear of clouds and the wind piped
shrill behind them； and the great waves rose and fell about them； and
the sun glittered on them in many colours。 Fast flew the boat before
the wind as though it would never stop； and the day was waning； and
the wind still rising； and now the Isle of Ransom uphove huge before
them； and coal…black； and no beach and no haven was to be seen
therein； and still they ran before the wind towards that black cliff…
wall； against which the sea washed for ever； and no keel ever built
by man might live for one moment 'twixt the surf and the cliff of
that grim land。 The sun grew low； and sank red under the sea； and
that world of stone swallowed up half the heavens before them； for
they were now come very nigh thereto； nor could Hallblithe see aught
for it； but that they must be dashed against the cliff and perish in
a moment of time。
Still the boat flew on； but now when the twilight was come； and they
had just opened up along reach of the cliff that lay beyond a high
ness； Hallblithe thought he saw down by the edge of the sea something
darker than the face of the rock…wall； and he deemed it was a cave：
they came a little nearer and he saw it was a great cave high enough
to let a round…ship go in with all her sails set。
〃Son of the Raven；〃 quoth Fox； 〃hearken； for thy heart is not little。
Yonder is the gate into the Isle of Ransom； and if thou wilt； thou
mayst go through it。 Yet it may be that if thou goest ashore on to
the Isle something grievous shall befall thee； a trouble more than
thou canst bear： a shame it may be。 Now there are two choices for
thee： either to go up on to the Isle and face all； or to die here by
my hand having done nothing unmanly or shameful： What sayest thou？〃
〃Thou art of many words when time so presses； Fox；〃 said Hallblithe。
〃Why should I not choose to go up on to the Island to deliver my
trothplight maiden？ For the rest； slay me if thou canst； if we come
alive out of this cauldron of waters。〃
Said the big red man： 〃Look on then； and note Fox how he steereth；
as it were through a needle's eye。〃
Now were they underneath the black shadow of the black cliff and
amidst the twilight the surf was tossed about like white fire。 In
the lower heavens the stars were beginning to twinkle and the moon
was bright and yellow； and aloft all was peaceful； for no cloud
sullied the sky。 One moment Hallblithe saw all this hanging above
the turmoil of thundering water and dripping rock and the next he was
in the darkness of the cave； the roaring wind and the waves still
making thunder about him； though of a different voice from the harsh
hubbub without。 Then he heard Fox say： 〃Sit down now and take the
oars； for presently shall we be at home at the landing place。〃
So Hallblithe took the oars and rowed； and as they went up the cave
the sea fell； and the wind died out into the aimless gustiness of
hollow places； and for a little while was all as dark as dark might
be。 Then Hallblithe saw that the darkness grew a little greyer； and
he looked over his shoulder and saw a star of light before the bows
of the boat； and Fox cried out： 〃Yea； it is like day； bright will
the moon be for such as needs must be wayfaring to…night！ Cease
rowing； O Son of the coal…blue fowl； for there is way enough on her。〃
Then Hallblithe lay on his oars； and in a minute the bows smote the
land； then he turned about and saw a steep stair of stone； and up the
sloping shaft thereof the moonlit sky and the bright stars。 Then Fox
arose and came forward and leapt out of the boat and moored her to a
big stone： then he leapt back again and said： 〃Bear a hand with the
victuals； we must bring them out of the boat unless thou wilt sleep
supperless； as I will not。 For to…night must we be guests to
ourselves； since it is far to the dwelling of my people； and the old
man is said to be a skin…changer； a flit…by…night。 And as to this
cave； it is deemed to be nowise safe to sleep therein； unless the
sleeper have a double share of luck。 And thy luck； meseemeth； O Son
of the Raven； is as now somewhat less than a single share。 So to…
night we shall sleep under the naked heaven。〃
Hallblithe yea…said this； and they took the meat and drink； such as
they needed； from out the boat； and climbed the steep stair no little
way； and so came out on to a plain place； which seemed to Hallblithe
bare and waste so far as he saw it by the moonlight； for the twilight
was gone now； and nought was left of the light of day save a glimmer
in the west。
This Hallblithe deemed wonderful； that no less out on the open heath
and brow of the land than in the shut…in cave； all that tumult of the
wind had fallen； and the cloudless night was calm； and with a little
air blowing from the south and the landward。
Therewithal was Fox done with his loud…voiced braggart mood； and
spoke gently and peaceably like to a wayfarer； who hath business of
his to look to as other men。 Now he pointed to certain rocks or low
crags that a little way off rose like a reef out of the treeless
plain； then said he： 〃Shipmate； underneath yonder rocks is our
resting…place for to…night； and I pray thee not to deem me churlish
that I give thee no better harbour。 But I have a charge over thee to
bring thee safe thus far on thy quest； and thou wouldst find it hard
to live among such housemates as thou wouldst find up yonder amongst
our folks to…night。 But tomorrow shalt thou come to speech with him
who will deal with thee concerning the ransom。〃
〃It is