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for they are a strifeful race。〃
Hereat Hallblithe marvelled exceedingly； and he said： 〃And what am I
in all this story？ Why am I come hither with thy furtherance？〃
Said the Sea…eagle： 〃We had a charge from the Undying King
concerning thee； that we should bring thee hither alive and well； if
so be thou camest to the Isle of Ransom。 For what cause we had the
charge； I know not； nor do I greatly heed。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃And shall I also have that gift of undying youth；
and life while the world of men and gods endureth？〃
〃I must needs deem so；〃 said the Sea…eagle； 〃so long as thou abidest
on the Glittering Plain； and I see not how thou mayst ever escape
thence。〃
Now Hallblithe heard him； how he said 〃escape；〃 and thereat he was
somewhat ill at ease； and stood and pondered a little。 At last he
said： 〃Is this then all that thou hast to tell me concerning the
Glittering Plain？〃
〃By the Treasure of the Sea！〃 said the elder； 〃I know no more of it。
The living shall learn。 But I suppose that thou mayst seek thy
troth…plight maiden there all thou wilt。 Or thou mayst pray the
Undying King to have her thither to thee。 What know I？ At least； it
is like that there shall be no lack of fair women there： or else the
promise of youth renewed is nought and vain。 Shall this not be
enough for thee？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Hallblithe。
〃What；〃 said the elder； 〃must it be one woman only？〃
〃One only；〃 said Hallblithe。
The old man laughed his thin mocking laugh； and said： 〃I will not
assure thee but that the land of the Glittering Plain shall change
all that for thee so soon as it touches the soles of thy feet。〃
Hallblithe looked at him steadily and smiled； and said： 〃Well is it
then that I shall find the Hostage there； for then shall we be of one
mind； either to sunder or to cleave together。 It is well with me
this day。〃
〃And with me it shall be well ere long；〃 said the Sea…eagle。
But now the rowers ceased rowing and lay on their oars； and the
shipmen cast anchor； for they were but a bowshot from the shore； and
the ship swung with the tide and lay side…long to the shore。 Then
said the Sea…eagle： 〃Look forth； shipmate； and tell me of the land。〃
And Hallblithe looked and said： 〃The yellow beach is sandy and
shell…strewn； as I deem； and there is no great space of it betwixt
the sea and the flowery grass； and a bowshot from the strand I see a
little wood amidst which are fair trees blossoming。〃
〃Seest thou any folk on the shore？〃 said the old man。 〃Yea；〃 said
Hallblithe； 〃close to the edge of the sea go four； and by seeming
three are women； for their long gowns flutter in the wind。 And one
of these is clad in saffron colour； and another in white； and another
in watchet； but the carle is clad in dark red； and their raiment is
all glistening as with gold and gems； and by seeming they are looking
at our ship as though they expected somewhat。〃
Said the Sea…eagle： 〃Why now do the shipmen tarry and have not made
ready the skiff？ Swillers and belly…gods they be； slothful swine
that forget their chieftain。〃
But even as he spake came four of the shipmen； and without more ado
took him up； bed and all； and bore him down into the waist of the
ship； whereunder lay the skiff with four strong rowers lying on their
oars。 These men made no sign to Hallblithe； nor took any heed of
him； but he caught up his spear； and followed them and stood by as
they lowered the old man into the boat。 Then he set his foot on the
gunwale of the ship and leapt down lightly into the boat； and none
hindered or helped him； and he stood upright in the boat； a goodly
image of battle with the sun flashing back from his bright helm； his
spear in his hand； his white shield at his back； and thereon the
image of the Raven； but if he had been but a salt…boiling carle of
the sea…side none would have heeded him less。
CHAPTER X： THEY HOLD CONVERSE WITH FOLK OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN
Now the rowers lifted the ash…blades； and fell to rowing towards
shore： and almost with the first of their strokes； the Sea…eagle
moaned out：
〃Would we were there； oh； would we were there！ Cold groweth eld
about my heart。 Raven's Son； thou art standing up； tell me if thou
canst see what these folk of the land are doing； and if any others
have come thither？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃There are none others come； but kine and horses
are feeding down the meadows。 As to what those four are doing； the
women are putting off their shoon； and girding up their raiment； as
if they would wade the water toward us； and the carle； who was
barefoot before； wendeth straight towards the sea； and there he
standeth； for very little are the waves become。〃
The old man answered nothing； and did but groan for lack of patience；
but presently when the water was yet waist deep the rowers stayed the
skiff； and two of them slipped over the gunwale into the sea； and
between them all they took up the chieftain on his bed and got him
forth from the boat and went toward the strand with him； and the
landsfolk met them where the water was shallower； and took him from
their hands and bore him forth on to the yellow sand； and laid him
down out of reach of the creeping ripple of the tide。 Hallblithe
withal slipped lightly out of the boat and waded the water after
them。 But the shipmen rowed back again to their ship； and presently
Hallblithe heard the hale and how； as they got up their anchor。
But when Hallblithe was come ashore； and was drawn near the folk of
the land； the women looked at him askance； and they laughed and said：
〃Welcome to thee also； O young man！〃 And he beheld them； and saw
that they were of the stature of the maidens of his own land； they
were exceeding fair of skin and shapely of fashion； so that the
nakedness of their limbs under their girded gowns； and all glistening
with the sea； was most lovely and dainty to behold。 But Hallblithe
knelt by the Sea…eagle to note how he fared； and said： 〃How is it
with thee； O chieftain？〃
The old man answered not a word； and he seemed to be asleep； and
Hallblithe deemed that his cheeks were ruddier and his skin less
wasted and wrinkled than aforetime。 Then spake one of those women：
〃Fear not； young man； he is well and will soon be better。〃 Her voice
was as sweet as a spring bird in the morning； she was white…skinned
and dark…haired； and full sweetly fashioned； and she laughed on
Hallblithe； but not mockingly； and her fellows also laughed； as
though it was strange for him to be there。 Then they did on their
shoon again； and with the carle laid their hands to the bed whereon
the old man lay； and lifted him up； and bore him forth on to the
grass； turning their faces toward the flowery wood aforesaid； and
they went a little way and then laid him down again and rested； and
so on little by little； till they had brought him to the edge of the
wood； and still he see