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〃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。
The elder laughed； 〃Else were I a fool；〃 said he； 〃there are few
bigger liars or bigger rogues than the Puny Fox！〃
〃Is he here in this Isle？〃 said Hallblithe； 〃may I see him？〃
The old man laughed again； and said： 〃Nay； he is not here； unless he
hath turned fool since yesterday： why should he abide thy sword；
since he hath done what he would and brought thee hither？〃
Then he laughed； as a hen cackles a long while； and then said： 〃What
more wilt thou ask me？〃
But Hallblithe was very wroth： 〃It availeth nought to ask；〃 he said；
〃and now I am in two minds whether I shall slay thee or not。〃
〃That were a meet deed for a Raven； but not for a man；〃 said the
carle； 〃and thou that hast wished me luck！ Ask； ask！〃
But Hallblithe was silent a long while。 Then the carle said；
〃Another cup for the longer after youth！〃
Hallblithe filled； and gave to him； and the old man drank and said：
〃Thou deemest us all liars in the Isle of Ransom because of thy
beguiling by the Puny Fox： but therein thou errest。 The Puny Fox is
our chiefest liar； and doth for us the more part of such work as we
need： therefore； why should we others lie。 Ask； ask！〃
〃Well then；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃why did the Puny Fox bewray me； and at
whose bidding？〃
Said the elder： 〃I know； but I will not tell thee。 Is this a lie？〃
〃Nay； I deem it not；〃 said Hallblithe： 〃But； tell me； is it verily
true that my trothplight is not here； that I may ransom her？〃
Said the Long…hoary： 〃I swear it by the Treasure of the Sea； that
she is not here： the tale was but a lie of the Puny Fox。〃
CHAPTER VII： A FEAST IN THE ISLE OF RANSOM
Hallblithe pondered his answer awhile with downcast eyes and said at
last： 〃Have ye a mind to ransom me； now that I have walked into the
trap？〃
〃There is no need to talk of ransom；〃 said the elder； 〃thou mayst go
out of this house when thou wilt； nor will any meddle with thee if
thou strayest about the Isle； when I have set a mark on thee and
given thee a token： nor wilt thou be hindered if thou hast a mind to
leave the Isle； if thou canst find means thereto； moreover as long as
thou art in the Isle； in this house mayst thou abide； eating and
drinking and resting with us。〃
〃How then may I leave this Isle？〃 said Hallblithe。
The elder laughed： 〃In a ship；〃 said he。
〃And when；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃shall I find a ship that shall carry
me？〃
Said the old carle； 〃Whither wouldest thou my son？〃 Hallblithe was
silent a while； thinking what answer he should make； then he said：
〃I would go to the land of the Glittering Plain。〃
〃Son； a ship shall not be lacking thee for that voyage；〃 said the
elder。 〃Thou mayst go to…morrow morn。 And I bid thee abide here to…
night； and thy cheer shall not be ill。 Yet if thou wilt believe my
word； it will be well for thee to say as little as thou mayst to any
man here； and that little as little proud as maybe： for our folk are
short of temper and thou knowest there is no might against many。
Indeed it is not unlike that they will not speak one word to thee；
and if that be so； thou hast no need to open thy mouth to them。 And
now I will tell thee that it is good that thou hast chosen to go to
the Glittering Plain。 For if thou wert otherwise minded； I wot not
how thou wouldest get thee a keel to carry thee； and the wings have
not yet begun to sprout on thy shoulders； raven though thou be。 Now
I am glad that thou art going thy ways to the Glittering Plain to…
morrow； for thou wilt be good company to me on the way： and I deem
that thou wilt be no churl when thou art glad。〃
〃What；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃art thou wending thither； thou old man？〃
〃Yea；〃 said he； 〃nor shall any other be on the ship save thou and I；
and the mariners that waft us； and they forsooth shall not go aland
there。 Why should not I go； since there are men to bear me aboard？〃
Said Hallblithe； 〃And when thou art come aland there； what wilt thou
do？〃
〃Thou shalt see； my son；〃 said the Long…hoary。 〃It may be that thy
good wishes shall be of avail to me。 But now since all this may only
be if I live through this night； and since my heart hath been warmed
by the good mead； and thy fellowship； and whereas I am somewhat
sleepy； and it is long past noon； go forth into the hall； and leave
me to sleep； that I may be as sound as eld will let me to…morrow。
And as for thee； folk； both men and women； shall presently come into
the hall； and I deem not that any shall meddle with thee； but if so
be that any challenge thee； whatsoever may be his words； answer thou
to him； 'THE HOUSE OF THE UNDYING；' and there will be an end of it。
Only look thou to it that no naked steel cometh out of thy scabbard。
Go now； and if thou wilt； go out of doors； yet art thou safer within
doors and nigher unto me。〃
So Hallblithe went back into the main hall； and the sun had gotten
round now； and was shining into the hall； through the clerestory
windows； so that he saw clearly all that was therein。 And he deemed
the hall fairer within than without； and especially over the shut…
beds were many stories carven in the panelling； and Hallblithe beheld
them gladly。 But of one thing he marvelled； that whereas he was in
an island of the strong…thieves of the waters； and in their very home
and chiefest habitation； there were no ships or seas pictured in that
imagery； but fair groves and gardens； with flowery grass and fruited
trees all about。 And there were fair women abiding therein； and
lovely young men； and warriors； and strange beasts and many marvels；
and the ending of wrath and beginning of pleasure and the crowning of
love。 And amidst these was pictured oft and again a mighty king with
a sword by his side and a crown on his head； and ever was he smiling
and joyous； so that Hallblithe； when he looked on him； felt of better
heart and smiled back on the carven image。
So while Hallblithe looked on these things； and pondered his case
carefully； all alone as he was in that alien hall； he heard a noise
without of talking and laughter； and presently the pattering of feet
therewith； and then women came into the hall； a score or more； some
young； some old； some fair enough； and some hard…featured and
uncomely； but all above the stature of the women whom he had seen in
his own land。
So he stood amidst the hall…floor and abided them； and they saw him
and his shining war…gear； and ceased their talking and laughter； and
drew round about him； and gazed at him； but none said aught till an
old crone came forth from the ring； and said 〃Who art thou； standing
under weapons in our hall？〃
He knew not what to answer； and held his peace； and she spake again：
〃Whither wouldest thou； what seekest thou？〃
Then answered Hallblithe： 〃THE HOUSE OF THE UNDYING。〃
None answered； and the other women all fell away from him at once；
and went about their business hither and thither through the hall。
But the old crone took him by the hand； and led him up to the dais；
and set him next to the midmost high…seat。 Then she made as if she
would do off his war…gear； and he would not gainsay her； though he
deemed that foes might be anear； for in sooth he trusted in the old
carle that he would not bewray him； and moreover he deemed it would
be unmanly not to take the risks of the guesting； according to the
custom of that country。
So she took his armour and his weapons and bore them off to a shut…
bed next to that wherein lay the ancient man； and she laid the gear
within it； all save the spear； which she laid on the wall…pins above；
and she made signs to him that therein he was to lie； but she spake
no word to him。 Then she brought him the hand…washing water in a
basin of latten； and a goodly towel therewith；