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or flint； and ugly axes of big flints set in wooden handles； nor was
there； as far as they could see； either now or afterward； any bow
amongst them。 But some of the young men seemed to have slings done
about their shoulders。
Now when they were come but three fathom from them； the Maid lifted
up her voice； and spake clearly and sweetly： 〃Hail； ye folk of the
Bears！ we have come amongst you； and that for your good and not for
your hurt： wherefore we would know if we be welcome。〃
There was an old man who stood foremost in the midst； clad in a
mantle of deer…skins worked very goodly； and with a gold ring on his
arm； and a chaplet of blue stones on his head； and he spake：
〃Little are ye； but so goodly； that if ye were but bigger； we should
deem that ye were come from the Gods' House。 Yet have I heard； that
how mighty soever may the Gods be； and chiefly our God； they be at
whiles nought so bigly made as we of the Bears。 How this may be； I
wot not。 But if ye be not of the Gods or their kindred； then are ye
mere aliens； and we know not what to do with aliens； save we meet
them in battle； or give them to the God； or save we make them
children of the Bear。 But yet again； ye may be messengers of some
folk who would bind friendship and alliance with us： in which case
ye shall at the least depart in peace； and whiles ye are with us
shall be our guests in all good cheer。 Now； therefore； we bid you
declare the matter unto us。〃
Then spake the Maid： 〃Father； it were easy for us to declare what
we be unto you here present。 But； meseemeth； ye who be gathered
round the fire here this evening are less than the whole tale of the
children of the Bear。〃
〃So it is； Maiden；〃 said the elder； 〃that many more children hath
the Bear。〃
〃This then we bid you；〃 said the Maid； 〃that ye send the tokens
round and gather your people to you； and when they be assembled in
the Doom…ring； then shall we put our errand before you； and
according to that； shall ye deal with us。〃
〃Thou hast spoken well；〃 said the elder； 〃and even so had we bidden
you ourselves。 To…morrow； before noon； shall ye stand in the Doom…
ring in this Dale； and speak with the children of the Bear。〃
Therewith he turned to his own folk and called out something；
whereof those twain knew not the meaning； and there came to him； one
after another； six young men； unto each of whom he gave a thing from
out his pouch； but what it was Walter might not see； save that it
was little and of small account： to each； also； he spake a word or
two； and straight they set off running； one after the other； turning
toward the bent which was over against that whereby the twain had
come into the Dale； and were soon out of sight in the gathering
dusk。
Then the elder turned him again to Walter and the Maid； and spake：
〃Man and woman； whatsoever ye may be； or whatsoever may abide you
to…morrow； to…night； ye are welcome guests to us； so we bid you come
eat and drink at our fire。〃
So they sat all together upon the grass round about the embers of
the fire； and ate curds and cheese； and drank milk in abundance； and
as the night grew on them they quickened the fire； that they might
have light。 This wild folk talked merrily amongst themselves； with
laughter enough and friendly jests； but to the new…comers they were
few…spoken； though； as the twain deemed； for no enmity that they
bore them。 But this found Walter； that the younger ones； both men
and women； seemed to find it a hard matter to keep their eyes off
them； and seemed； withal； to gaze on them with somewhat of doubt；
or； it might be； of fear。
So when the night was wearing a little； the elder arose and bade the
twain to come with him； and led them to a small house or booth；
which was amidmost of all； and somewhat bigger than the others； and
he did them to wit that they should rest there that night； and bade
them sleep in peace and without fear till the morrow。 So they
entered； and found beds thereon of heather and ling； and they laid
them down sweetly； like brother and sister； when they had kissed
each other。 But they noted that four brisk men lay without the
booth； and across the door； with their weapons beside them； so that
they must needs look upon themselves as captives。
Then Walter might not refrain him； but spake： 〃Sweet and dear
friend； I have come a long way from the quay at Langton； and the
vision of the Dwarf； the Maid； and the Lady； and for this kiss
wherewith I have kissed thee e'en now； and the kindness of thine
eyes； it was worth the time and the travail。 But to…morrow；
meseemeth； I shall go no further in this world； though my journey be
far longer than from Langton hither。 And now may God and All
Hallows keep thee amongst this wild folk； whenas I shall be gone
from thee。〃
She laughed low and sweetly； and said： 〃Dear friend； dost thou
speak to me thus mournfully to move me to love thee better？ Then is
thy labour lost； for no better may I love thee than now I do； and
that is with mine whole heart。 But keep a good courage； I bid thee；
for we be not sundered yet； nor shall we be。 Nor do I deem that we
shall die here； or to…morrow； but many years hence； after we have
known all the sweetness of life。 Meanwhile； I bid thee good…night；
fair friend！〃
CHAPTER XXVII： MORNING AMONGST THE BEARS
So Walter laid him down and fell asleep； and knew no more till he
awoke in bright daylight with the Maid standing over him。 She was
fresh from the water； for she had been to the river to bathe her；
and the sun through the open door fell streaming on her feet close
to Walter's pillow。 He turned about and cast his arm about them；
and caressed them； while she stood smiling upon him； then he arose
and looked on her； and said： 〃How thou art fair and bright this
morning！ And yet 。 。 。 and yet 。 。 。 were it not well that thou do
off thee all this faded and drooping bravery of leaves and blossoms；
that maketh thee look like to a jongleur's damsel on a morrow of
May…day？〃
And he gazed ruefully on her。
She laughed on him merrily； and said： 〃Yea； and belike these others
think no better of my attire； or not much better； for yonder they
are gathering small wood for the burnt…offering； which； forsooth；
shall be thou and I； unless I better it all by means of the wisdom I
learned of the old woman； and perfected betwixt the stripes of my
Mistress； whom a little while ago thou lovedst somewhat。〃
And as she spake her eyes sparkled； her cheek flushed； and her limbs
and her feet seemed as if they could scarce refrain from dancing for
joy。 Then Walter knit his brow； and for a moment a thought half…
framed was in his mind： Is it so； that she will bewray me and live
without me？ and he cast his eyes on to the ground。 But she said：
〃Look up； and into mine eyes； friend； and see if there be in them
any falseness toward thee！ For I know thy thought； I know thy
thought。 Dost thou not see that my joy and gladness is for the love
of thee； and the thought of the rest from trouble that is at hand？〃
He looked up； and his eyes met the eyes of her love； and he would
have cast his arms about her； but she drew aback and said： 〃Nay；
t