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of whom Fox spake？ Might he not flit me at least to the Land of the
Glittering Plain？ Woe is me！ now am I of that woful company； and I
also must needs cry out； Where is the land？ Where is the land？〃
Therewith he turned toward the reef above their lair； but as he went
he thought and said： 〃Nay； but was not this Stead a lie like the
rest of Fox's tale？ and am I not alone in this sea…girt wilderness？
Yea； and even that image of my Beloved which I saw in the dream；
perchance that also was a mere beguiling； for now I see that the Puny
Fox was in all ways wiser than is meet and comely。〃 Yet again he
said： 〃At least I will seek on； and find out whether there be
another man dwelling on this hapless Isle； and then the worst of it
will be battle with him； and death by point and edge rather than by
hunger； or at the best we may become friends and fellows and deliver
each other。〃 Therewith he came to the reef； and with much ado
climbed to the topmost of its rocks and looked down thence landward：
and betwixt him and the mountains； and by seeming not very far off；
he saw smoke arising： but no house he saw； nor any other token of a
dwelling。 So he came down from the stone and turned his back upon
the sea and went toward that smoke with his sword in its sheath； and
his spear over his shoulder。 Rough and toilsome was the way： three
little dales he crossed amidst the mountain necks； each one narrow
and bare； with a stream of water amidst； running seaward； and whether
in dale or on ridge； he went ever amidst sand and stones； and the
weeds of the wilderness； and saw no man； or man…tended beast。
At last； after he had been four hours on the way； but had not gone
very far； he topped a stony bent； and from the brow thereof beheld a
wide valley grass…grown for the more part； with a river running
through it； and sheep and kine and horses feeding up and down it。
And amidst this dale by the stream…side； was a dwelling of men； a
long hall and other houses about it builded of stone。
Then was Hallblithe glad； and he strode down the bent speedily； his
war…gear clashing upon him： and as he came to the foot thereof and
on to the grass of the dale； he got amongst the pasturing horses； and
passed close by the horse…herd and a woman that was with him。 They
scowled at him as he went by； but meddled not with him in any way。
Although they were giant…like of stature and fierce of face； they
were not ill…favoured： they were red…haired； and the woman as white
as cream where the sun had not burned her skin； they had no weapons
that Hallblithe might see save the goad in the hand of the carle。
So Hallblithe passed on and came to the biggest house； the hall
aforesaid： it was very long； and low as for its length； not over
shapely of fashion； a mere gabled heap of stones。 Low and strait was
the door thereinto； and as Hallblithe entered stooping lowly； and the
fire of the steel of his spear that he held before him was quenched
in the mirk of the hall； he smiled and said to himself： 〃Now if
there were one anigh who would not have me enter alive； and he with a
weapon in his hand； soon were all the tale told。〃 But he got into
the hall unsmitten； and stood on the floor thereof； and spake： 〃The
sele of the day to whomsoever is herein！ Will any man speak to the
new comer？〃
But none answered or gave him greeting； and as his eyes got used to
the dusk of the hall； he looked about him； and neither on the floor
or the high seat nor in any ingle could he see a man； and there was
silence there； save for the crackling of the flickering flame on the
hearth amidmost； and the running of the rats behind the panelling of
the walls。
On one side of the hall was a row of shut…beds； and Hallblithe deemed
that there might be men therein； but since none had greeted him he
refrained him from searching them for fear of a trap； and he thought；
〃I will abide amidst the floor； and if there be any that would deal
with me； friend or foe； let him come hither to me。〃
So he fell to walking up and down the hall from buttery to dais； and
his war…gear rattled upon him。 At last as he walked he thought he
heard a small thin peevish voice； which yet was too husky for the
squeak of a rat。 So he stayed his walk and stood still； and said：
〃Will any man speak to Hallblithe； a newcomer； and a stranger in this
Stead？〃
Then that small voice made a word and said： 〃Why paceth the fool up
and down our hall； doing nothing； even as the Ravens flap croaking
about the crags； abiding the war…mote and the clash of the fallow
blades？〃
Said Hallblithe； and his voice sounded big in the hall： 〃Who calleth
Hallblithe a fool and mocketh at the sons of the Raven？〃
Spake the voice： 〃Why cometh not the fool to the man that may not go
to him？〃
Then Hallblithe bent forward to hearken； and he deemed that the voice
came from one of the shut…beds； so he leaned his spear against a
pillar； and went into the shut…bed he had noted； and saw where there
lay along in it a man exceeding old by seeming； sore wasted； with
long hair as white as snow lying over the bed…clothes。
When the elder saw Hallblithe； he laughed a thin cracked laugh as if
in mockery and said： 〃Hail newcomer！ wilt thou eat？〃
〃Yea；〃 said Hallblithe。
〃Go thou into the buttery then；〃 said the old carle； 〃and there shalt
thou find on the cupboard cakes and curds and cheese： eat thy fill；
and when thou hast done； look in the ingle； and thou shalt see a cask
of mead exceeding good； and a stoup thereby； and two silver cups；
fill the stoup and bring it hither with the cups； and then may we
talk amidst of drinking； which is good for an old carle。 Hasten
thou！ or I shall deem thee a double fool who will not fare to fetch
his meat； though he be hungry。〃
Then Hallblithe laughed； and went down the hall into the buttery and
found the meat； and ate his fill； and came away with the drink back
to the Long…hoary man； who chuckled as he came and said： 〃Fill up
now for thee and for me； and call a health to me and wish me
somewhat。〃
〃I wish thee luck；〃 said Hallblithe； and drank。 Said the elder：
〃And I wish thee more wits； is luck all that thou mayst wish me？
What luck may an outworn elder have？〃
〃Well then；〃 quoth Hallblithe； 〃what shall I wish thee？ Wouldst thou
have me wish thee youth？〃
〃Yea； certes；〃 said the Long…hoary； 〃that and nought else。〃
〃Youth then I wish thee； if it may avail thee aught；〃 said
Hallblithe； and he drank again therewith。
〃Nay； nay；〃 said the old carle peevishly； 〃take a third cup； and wish
me youth with no idle words tacked thereto。〃
Said Hallblithe raising the cup： 〃Herewith I wish thee youth！〃 and
he drank。
〃Good is the wish；〃 said the elder； 〃now ask thou the old carle
whatso thou wilt。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃What is this land called？〃
〃Son；〃 said the other； 〃hast thou heard it called the Isle of
Ransom？〃
〃Yea；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃but what wilt thou call it？〃
〃By no other name；〃 said the hoary carle。
〃It is far from other lands？〃 said Hallblithe。
〃Yea；〃 said the carle； 〃when the light winds blow； and the ships sail
slow。〃
〃What do ye who live here？〃 said Hallblithe。 〃How do ye live； what
work win ye？〃
〃We win diverse work；〃 said the elder； 〃but the gainfullest is
robbing men by the high hand。〃
〃Is it ye who have stolen from me the Hostage of the Rose？〃 said
Hallblithe。
Said the Long…hoary； 〃Maybe； I wot not； in diverse ways my kinsmen
traffic； and they visit many lands。 Why should they not have come to
Cleveland also？〃
〃Is she in this Isle； thou old runagate？〃 said Hallblithe。
〃She is not； thou young fool；〃 said the elder。 Then Hallblithe
flushed red and spake： 〃Knowest thou the Puny Fox？〃
〃How should I not？〃 said the carle； 〃since he is the son of one of my
sons。〃
〃Dost thou call him a liar and a rogue？〃 said Hallblithe