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now dead； and the ship wallowed thereon and sailed but slowly。
In a while the old man opened his eyes again； and said in a low
peevish voice： 〃Why standest thou staring at me？ why hast thou not
gone forward to look upon the land？ True it is that ye Ravens are
short of wits。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Be not wrath； chieftain； I was wondering at thy
words； which are exceeding marvellous； tell me more of this land of
the Glittering Plain。〃
Said the Grandfather： 〃Why should I tell it thee？ ask of the
mariners。 They all know more than thou dost。〃
〃Thou knowest；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃that these men speak not to me； and
take no more heed of me than if I were an image which they were
carrying to sell to the next mighty man they may hap on。 Or tell me；
thou old man；〃 said he fiercely； 〃is it perchance a thrall…market
whereto they are bringing me？ Have they sold her there； and will
they sell me also in the same place； but into other hands。〃
〃Tush！〃 said the Grandfather somewhat feebly； 〃this last word of
thine is folly； there is no buying or selling in the land whereto we
are bound。 As to thine other word； that these men have no fellowship
with thee； it is true： thou art my fellow and the fellow of none
else aboard。 Therefore if I feel might in me； maybe I will tell thee
somewhat。〃
Then he raised his head a little and said： 〃The sun grows hot； the
wind faileth us； and slow and slow are we sailing。〃
Even as he spoke there was a stir amidships； and Hallblithe looked
and beheld the mariners handling the sweeps； and settling themselves
on the rowing…benches。 Said the elder： 〃There is noise amidships；
what are they doing？〃
The old man raised himself a little again； and cried out in his
shrill voice： 〃Good lads！ brave lads！ Thus would we do in the old
time when we drew anear some shore； and the beacons were sending up
smoke by day； and flame benights； and the shore…abiders did on their
helms and trembled。 Thrust her through； lads！ Thrust her along！〃
Then he fell back again； and said in a weak voice： 〃Make no more
delay； guest； but go forward and look upon the land； and come back
and tell me thereof； and then the tale may flow from me。 Haste；
haste！〃 So Hallblithe went down from the poop； and in to the waist；
where now the rowers were bending to their oars； and crying out
fiercely as they tugged at the quivering ash； and he clomb on to the
forecastle and went forward right to the dragon…head； and gazed long
upon the land； while the dashing of the oar…blades made the semblance
of a gale about the ship's black sides。 Then he came back again to
the Sea…eagle； who said to him： 〃Son； what hast thou seen？〃
〃Right ahead lieth the land； and it is still a good way off。 High
rise the mountains there； but by seeming there is no snow on them；
and though they be blue they are not blue like the mountains of the
Isle of Ransom。 Also it seemed to me as if fair slopes of woodland
and meadow come down to the edge of the sea。 But it is yet far
away。〃
〃Yea；〃 said the elder； 〃is it so？ Then will I not wear myself with
making words for thee。 I will rest rather； and gather might。 Come
again when an hour hath worn； and tell me what thou seest； and may
happen then thou shalt have my tale！〃 And he laid him down therewith
and seemed to be asleep at once。 And Hallblithe might not amend it；
so he waited patiently till the hour had worn； and then went forward
again； and looked long and carefully； and came back and said to the
Sea…eagle； 〃The hour is worn。〃
The old chieftain turned himself about and said 〃What hast thou seen？
Said Hallblithe： 〃The mountains are pale and high； and below them
are hills dark with wood； and betwixt them and the sea is a fair
space of meadowland； and methought it was wide。〃
Said the old man： 〃Sawest thou a rocky skerry rising high out of the
sea anigh the shore？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃if there be； it is all blended with the
meadows and the hills。〃
Said the Sea…eagle： 〃Abide the wearing of another hour； and come and
tell me again； and then I may have a gainful word for thee。〃 And he
fell asleep again。 But Hallblithe abided； and when the hour was
worn； he went forward and stood on the forecastle。 And this was the
third shift of the rowers； and the stoutest men in the ship now held
the oars in their hands； and the ship shook through all her length
and breadth as they drave her over the waters。
So Hallblithe came aft to the old man and found him asleep； so he
took him by the shoulder； and shook him and said： 〃Awake； faring…
fellow； for the land is a…nigh。〃
So the old man sat up and said： 〃What hast thou seen？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃I have seen the peaks and cliffs of the far…off
mountains； and below them are hills green with grass and dark with
woods； and thence stretch soft green meadows down to the sea…strand；
which is fair and smooth； and yellow。〃
〃Sawest thou the skerry？〃 said the Sea…eagle。
〃Yea； I saw it；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃and it rises sheer from out the
sea about a mile from the yellow strand； but its rocks are black；
like the rocks of the Isle of Ransom。〃
〃Son；〃 said the elder； 〃give me thine hands and raise me up a
little。〃 So Hallblithe took him and raised him up； so that he sat
leaning against the pillows； and he looked not on Hallblithe； but on
the bows of the ship； which now pitched but a little up and down； for
the sea was laid quiet now。 Then he cried in his shrill； piping
voice： 〃It is the Land！ It is the Land！〃
But after a little while he turned to Hallblithe and spake： 〃Short
is the tale to tell： thou hast wished me youth； and thy wish hath
thriven； for to…day； ere the sun goes down； thou shalt see me as I
was in the days when I reaped the harvest of the sea with sharp sword
and hardy heart。 For this is the land of the Undying King； who is
our lord and our gift…giver； and to some he giveth the gift of youth
renewed； and life that shall abide here the Gloom of the Gods。 But
none of us all may come to the Glittering Plain and the King Undying
without turning the back for the last time on the Isle of Ransom：
nor may any men of the Isle come hither save those who are of the
House of the Sea…eagle； and few of those； save the chieftains of the
House； such as are they who sat by thee on the high…seat that even。
Of these once in a while is chosen one of us； who is old and spent
and past battle； and is borne to this land and the gift of the
Undying。 Forsooth some of us have no will to take the gift； for they
say they are liefer to go to where they shall meet more of our
kindred than dwell on the Glittering Plain and the Acre of the
Undying； but as for me I was ever an overbearing and masterful man；
and meseemeth it is well that I meet as few of our kindred as may be：
for they are a strifeful race。〃
Hereat Hallblithe marvelled exceedingly； and he said： 〃And what am I
in all this story？ Wh