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Then they held their peace； both of them； and thereafter got on to
other talk of no import。
So wore the day till night came； and they slept safely； and on the
morrow after they had broken their fast； the more part of them set
off with the carle to the hunting； and they went； all of them； a
three hours' faring towards the foot of the cliffs； which was all
grown over with coppice； hazel and thorn； with here and there a big
oak or ash…tree； there it was； said the old man； where the venison
was most and best。
Of their hunting need nought be said； saving that when the carle had
put them on the track of the deer and shown them what to do； he came
back again with Walter； who had no great lust for the hunting； and
sorely longed to have some more talk with the said carle。 He for
his part seemed nought loth thereto； and so led Walter to a mound or
hillock amidst the clear of the plain； whence all was to be seen
save where the wood covered it； but just before where they now lay
down there was no wood； save low bushes； betwixt them and the rock…
wall； and Walter noted that whereas otherwhere； save in one place
whereto their eyes were turned； the cliffs seemed wellnigh or quite
sheer； or indeed in some places beetling over； in that said place
they fell away from each other on either side； and before this
sinking was a slope or scree； that went gently up toward the sinking
of the wall。 Walter looked long and earnestly at this place； and
spake nought； till the carle said： 〃What！ thou hast found something
before thee to look on。 What is it then？〃
Quoth Walter： 〃Some would say that where yonder slopes run together
up towards that sinking in the cliff…wall there will be a pass into
the country beyond。〃
The carle smiled and said： 〃Yea； son； nor； so saying； would they
err； for that is the pass into the Bear…country； whereby those huge
men come down to chaffer with me。〃
〃Yea；〃 said Walter； and therewith he turned him a little； and
scanned the rock…wall； and saw how a few miles from that pass it
turned somewhat sharply toward the sea； narrowing the plain much
there； till it made a bight； the face whereof looked wellnigh north；
instead of west； as did the more part of the wall。 And in the midst
of that northern…looking bight was a dark place which seemed to
Walter like a downright shard in the cliff。 For the face of the
wall was of a bleak grey； and it was but little furrowed。
So then Walter spake： 〃Lo； old friend； there yonder is again a
place that meseemeth is a pass； whereunto doth that one lead？〃 And
he pointed to it： but the old man did not follow the pointing of
his finger； but； looking down on the ground； answered confusedly；
and said：
〃Maybe： I wot not。 I deem that it also leadeth into the Bear…
country by a roundabout road。 It leadeth into the far land。〃
Walter answered nought： for a strange thought had come uppermost in
his mind； that the carle knew far more than he would say of that
pass； and that he himself might be led thereby to find the wondrous
three。 He caught his breath hardly； and his heart knocked against
his ribs； but he refrained from speaking for a long while； but at
last he spake in a sharp hard voice； which he scarce knew for his
own： 〃Father； tell me； I adjure thee by God and All…hallows； was it
through yonder shard that the road lay； when thou must needs make
thy first stride over a dead man？〃
The old man spake not a while； then he raised his head； and looked
Walter full in the eyes； and said in a steady voice： 〃NO； IT WAS
NOT。〃 Thereafter they sat looking at each other a while； but at
last Walter turned his eyes away； but knew not what they beheld nor
where he was； but he was as one in a swoon。 For he knew full well
that the carle had lied to him； and that he might as well have said
aye as no； and told him； that it verily was by that same shard that
he had stridden over a dead man。 Nevertheless he made as little
semblance thereof as he might； and presently came to himself； and
fell to talking of other matters； that had nought to do with the
adventures of the land。 But after a while he spake suddenly； and
said： 〃My master； I was thinking of a thing。〃
〃Yea； of what？〃 said the carle。
〃Of this；〃 said Walter； 〃that here in this land be strange
adventures toward； and that if we； and I in especial； were to turn
our backs on them； and go home with nothing done； it were pity of
our lives： for all will be dull and deedless there。 I was deeming
it were good if we tried the adventure。〃
〃What adventure？〃 said the old man； rising up on his elbow and
staring sternly on him。
Said Walter： 〃The wending yonder pass to the eastward； whereby the
huge men come to thee from out of the Bear…country； that we might
see what should come thereof。〃
The carle leaned back again； and smiled and shook his head； and
spake： 〃That adventure were speedily proven： death would come of
it； my son。〃
〃Yea； and how？〃 said Walter。
The carle said： 〃The big men would take thee； and offer thee up as
a blood…offering to that woman； who is their Mawmet。 And if ye go
all； then shall they do the like with all of you。〃
Said Walter： 〃Is that sure？〃
〃Dead sure；〃 said the carle。
〃How knowest thou this？〃 said Walter。
〃I have been there myself；〃 said the carle。
〃Yea；〃 said Walter； 〃but thou camest away whole。〃
〃Art thou sure thereof？〃 said the carle。
〃Thou art alive yet； old man；〃 said Walter； 〃for I have seen thee
eat thy meat； which ghosts use not to do。〃 And he laughed。
But the old man answered soberly： 〃If I escaped； it was by this；
that another woman saved me； and not often shall that befall。 Nor
wholly was I saved； my body escaped forsooth。 But where is my soul？
Where is my heart； and my life？ Young man； I rede thee； try no such
adventure； but go home to thy kindred if thou canst。 Moreover；
wouldst thou fare alone？ The others shall hinder thee。〃
Said Walter： 〃I am the master； they shall do as I bid them：
besides； they will be well pleased to share my goods amongst them if
I give them a writing to clear them of all charges which might be
brought against them。〃
〃My son！ my son！〃 said the carle； 〃I pray thee go not to thy death！〃
Walter heard him silently； but as if he were persuaded to refrain；
and then the old man fell to； and told him much concerning this
Bear…folk and their customs； speaking very freely of them； but
Walter's ears were scarce open to this talk： whereas he deemed that
he should have nought to do with those wild men； and he durst not
ask again concerning the country whereto led the pass on the
northward。
CHAPTER VII： WALTER COMES TO THE SHARD IN THE ROCK…WALL
As they were in converse thus； they heard the hunters blowing on
their horns all together； whereon the old man arose； and said： 〃I
deem by the blowing that the hunt will be over and done； and that
they be blowing on their fellows who have gone scatter…meal about
the wood。 It is now some five hours after noon； and thy men will be
getting back with their venison； and will be fainest of the victuals
they have caught； therefore will I hasten on before； and get ready
fire and water and