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have cast his arms about her； but she drew aback and said： 〃Nay；
thou must refrain thee awhile； dear friend； lest these folk cast
eyes on us； and deem us over lover…like for what I am to bid them
deem me。 Abide a while； and then shall all be in me according to
thy will。 But now I must tell thee that it is not very far from
noon； and that the Bears are streaming into the Dale； and already
there is an host of men at the Doom…ring； and； as I said； the bale
for the burnt…offering is wellnigh dight； whether it be for us； or
for some other creature。 And now I have to bid thee this； and it
will be a thing easy for thee to do； to wit； that thou look as if
thou wert of the race of the Gods； and not to blench； or show sign
of blenching； whatever betide： to yea…say both my yea…say and my
nay…say： and lastly this； which is the only hard thing for thee
（but thou hast already done it before somewhat）； to look upon me
with no masterful eyes of love； nor as if thou wert at once praying
me and commanding me； rather thou shalt so demean thee as if thou
wert my man all simply； and nowise my master。〃
〃O friend beloved；〃 said Walter； 〃here at least art thou the master；
and I will do all thy bidding； in certain hope of this； that either
we shall live together or die together。〃
But as they spoke； in came the elder； and with him a young maiden；
bearing with them their breakfast of curds arid cream and
strawberries； and he bade them eat。 So they ate； and were not
unmerry； and the while of their eating the elder talked with them
soberly； but not hardly； or with any seeming enmity： and ever his
talk gat on to the drought； which was now burning up the down…
pastures； and how the grass in the watered dales； which was no wide
spread of land； would not hold out much longer unless the God sent
them rain。 And Walter noted that those two； the elder and the Maid；
eyed each other curiously amidst of this talk； the elder intent on
what she might say； and if she gave heed to his words； while on her
side the Maid answered his speech graciously and pleasantly； but
said little that was of any import： nor would she have him fix her
eyes； which wandered lightly from this thing to that； nor would her
lips grow stern and stable； but ever smiled in answer to the light
of her eyes； as she sat there with her face as the very face of the
gladness of the summer day。
CHAPTER XXVIII： OF THE NEW GOD OF THE BEARS
At last the old man said： 〃My children； ye shall now come with me
unto the Doom…ring of our folk； the Bears of the Southern Dales； and
deliver to them your errand； and I beseech you to have pity upon
your own bodies； as I have pity on them； on thine especially；
Maiden； so fair and bright a creature as thou art； for so it is；
that if ye deal us out light and lying words after the manner of
dastards； ye shall miss the worship and glory of wending away amidst
of the flames； a gift to the God and a hope to the people； and shall
be passed by the rods of the folk； until ye faint and fail amongst
them； and then shall ye be thrust down into the flow at the Dale's
End； and a stone…laden hurdle cast upon you； that we may thenceforth
forget your folly。〃
The Maid now looked full into his eyes； and Walter deemed that the
old man shrank before her； but she said： 〃Thou art old and wise； O
great man of the Bears； yet nought I need to learn of thee。 Now
lead us on our way to the Stead of the Errands。〃
So the elder brought them along to the Doom…ring at the eastern end
of the Dale； and it was now all peopled with those huge men；
weaponed after their fashion； and standing up； so that the grey
stones thereof but showed a little over their heads。 But amidmost
of the said Ring was a big stone； fashioned as a chair； whereon sat
a very old man； long…hoary and white…bearded； and on either side of
him stood a great…limbed woman clad in war…gear； holding； each of
them； a long spear； and with a flint…bladed knife in the girdle； and
there were no other women in all the Mote。
Then the elder led those twain into the midst of the Mote； and there
bade them go up on to a wide； flat…topped stone； six feet above the
ground； just over against the ancient chieftain； and they mounted it
by a rough stair； and stood there before that folk； Walter in his
array of the outward world； which had been fair enough； of crimson
cloth and silk； and white linen； but was now travel…stained and
worn； and the Maid with nought upon her； save the smock wherein she
had fled from the Golden House of the Wood beyond the World； decked
with the faded flowers which she had wreathed about her yesterday。
Nevertheless； so it was； that those big men eyed her intently； and
with somewhat of worship。
Now did Walter； according to her bidding； sink down on his knees
beside her； and drawing his sword； hold it before him； as if to keep
all interlopers aloof from the Maid。 And there was silence in the
Mote； and all eyes were fixed on those twain。
At last the old chief arose and spake： 〃Ye men； here are come a man
and a woman； we know not whence； whereas they have given word to our
folk who first met them； that they would tell their errand to none
save the Mote of the People； which it was their due to do； if they
were minded to risk it。 For either they be aliens without an errand
hither； save； it may be； to beguile us； in which case they shall
presently die an evil death； or they have come amongst us that we
may give them to the God with flint…edge and fire； or they have a
message to us from some folk or other； on the issue of which lieth
life or death。 Now shall ye hear what they have to say concerning
themselves and their faring hither。 But； meseemeth； it shall be the
woman who is the chief and hath the word in her mouth； for； lo you！
the man kneeleth at her feet； as one who would serve and worship
her。 Speak out then； woman； and let our warriors hear thee。〃
Then the Maid lifted up her voice； and spake out clear and
shrilling； like to a flute of the best of the minstrels： 〃Ye men of
the Children of the Bear； I would ask you a question； and let the
chieftain who sitteth before me answer it。〃
The old man nodded his head； and she went on： 〃Tell me； Children of
the Bear； how long a time is worn since ye saw the God of your
worship made manifest in the body of a woman！〃
Said the elder： 〃Many winters have worn since my father's father
was a child； and saw the very God in the bodily form of a woman。〃
Then she said again： 〃Did ye rejoice at her coming； and would ye
rejoice if once more she came amongst you？〃
〃Yea；〃 said the old chieftain； 〃for she gave us gifts； and learned
us lore； and came to us in no terrible shape； but as a young woman
as goodly as thou。〃
Then said the Maid： 〃Now； then； is the day of your gladness come；
for the old body is dead； and I am the new body of your God； come
amongst you for your welfare。〃
Then fell a great silence on the Mote； till the old man spake and
said： 〃What shall I say and live？ For if thou be verily the God；
and I threaten thee； wilt thou not destroy me？ But thou hast spoken
a great word with a sweet mouth； and hast taken the burden of bl