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amongst them； who seemed to be unarmed； as Hallblithe could not see
any glint of steel about him。 Hallblithe drew nigh the shore； and
the big man stirred not； nor did he any the more when the keel ran
along the shore； and Hallblithe leapt out and moored his craft to his
spear stuck deep in the earth。 And now Hallblithe deems that the man
must be either dead or asleep： so he drew his sword and had it in
his right hand； and in his left a sharp knife； and went straight up
to the man betwixt the sheep； and found him so lying on his side that
he could not see his face； so he stirred him with his foot； and cried
out： 〃Awake； O Shepherd！ for dawn is long past and day is come； and
therewithal a guest for thee！〃
The man turned over and slowly sat up； and； lo！ who should it be but
the Puny Fox？ Hallblithe started back at the sight of him； and cried
out at him； and said： 〃Have I found thee； O mine enemy？〃
The Puny Fox sat up a little straighter； and rubbed his eyes and
said： 〃Yea； thou hast found me sure enough。 But as to my being
thine enemy； a word or two may be said about that presently。〃
〃What！〃 said Hallblithe； 〃dost thou deem that aught save my sword
will speak to thee？〃
〃I wot not；〃 said the Puny Fox； slowly rising to his feet； 〃but I
suppose thou wilt not slay me unarmed； and thou seest that I have no
weapons。〃
〃Get thee weapons； then；〃 quoth Hallblithe； 〃and delay not； for the
sight of thee alive sickens me。〃
〃Ill is that；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃but come thou with me at once；
where I shall find both the weapons and a good fighting…stead。
Hasten！ time presseth； now thou art come at last。〃
〃And my boat？〃 said Hallblithe。
〃Wilt thou carry her in thy pouch？〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃thou wilt not
need her again； whether thou slay me； or I thee。〃
Hallblithe knit his brows on him in his wrath； for he deemed that
Fox's meaning was to threaten him with the vengeance of the kindred。
Howbeit； he said nought； for he deemed it ill to wrangle in words
with one whom he was presently to meet in battle； so he followed as
the Puny Fox led。 Fox brought him past the reef of rock aforesaid；
and up a narrow cleft of the cliffs overlooking the sea； whereby they
came into a little grass…grown meadow well nigh round in shape； as
smooth and level as a hall…floor； and fenced about by a wall of rock：
a place which had once been the mouth of an earth…fire； and a
cauldron of molten stone。
When they stood on the smooth grass Fox said： 〃Hold thee there a
little； while I go to my weapon…chest； and then shall we see what is
to be done。〃
Therewith he turned aside to a cranny of the rock； and going down on
his hands and knees； fell to creeping like a worm up a hole therein；
which belike led to a cavern； for after his voice had come forth from
the earth； grunting and groaning； and cursing this thing； and that；
out he comes again feet first； and casts down an old rusty sword
without a sheath； a helm no less rusty； and battered withal； and a
round target； curled up and outworn as if it would fall to pieces of
itself。 Then he stands up and stretches himself； and smiles
pleasantly on Hallblithe and says： 〃Now； mine enemy； when I have
donned helm and shield and got my sword in hand； we may begin the
play： as to a hauberk I must needs go lack； for I could not come by
it； I think the old man must have chaffered it away： he was ever too
money…fain。〃
But Hallblithe looked on him angrily and said： 〃Hast thou brought me
hither to mock me？ Hast thou no better weapons wherewith to meet a
warrior of the Raven than these rusty shards； which look as if thou
hadst robbed a grave of the dead？ I will not fight thee so armed。〃
〃Well；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃and from out of a grave come they verily：
for in that little hole lieth my father's grandsire； the great Sea…
mew of the Ravagers； the father of that Sea…eagle whom thou knowest。
But since thou thinkest scorn of these weapons of a dead warrior； in
go the old carle's treasures again！ It is as well maybe； since he
might be wrath beyond his wont if he were to wake and miss them； and
already this cold cup of the once…boiling rock is not wholly safe
because of him。〃
So he crept into the hole once more； and out of it presently； and
stood smiting his palms one against the other to dust them； like a
man who has been handling parchments long laid by； and Hallblithe
stood looking at him； still wrathful； but silent。
Then said the Puny Fox： 〃This at least was a wise word of thine；
that thou wouldst not fight me。 For the end of fighting is slaying；
and it is stark folly to fight without slaying； and now I see that
thou desirest not to slay me： for if thou didst； why didst thou
refuse to fall on me armed with the ghosts of weapons that I borrowed
from a ghost？ Nay； why didst thou not slay me as I crept out of
yonder hole？ Thou wouldst have had a cheap bargain of me either way。
It would be rank folly to fight me。〃
Said Hallblithe hoarsely： 〃Why didst thou bewray me； and lie to me；
and lure me away from the quest of my beloved； and waste a whole year
of my life？〃
〃It is a long story；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃which I may tell thee some
day。 Meantime I may tell thee this； that I was compelled thereto by
one far mightier than I； to wit the Undying King。〃
At that word the smouldering wrath blazed up in Hallblithe； and he
drew his sword hastily and hewed at the Puny Fox： but he leapt aside
nimbly and ran in on Hallblithe； and caught his sword…arm by the
wrist； and tore the weapon out of his hand； and overbore him by sheer
weight and stature； and drave him to the earth。 Then he rose up； and
let Hallblithe rise also； and took his sword and gave it into his
hand again and said： 〃Crag…nester； thou art wrathful； but little。
Now thou hast thy sword again and mayst slay me if thou wilt。 Yet
not until I have spoken a word to thee： so hearken！ or else by the
Treasure of the Sea I will slay thee with my bare hands。 For I am
strong indeed in this place with my old kinsman beside me。 Wilt thou
hearken？〃
〃Speak；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃I hearken。〃
Said the Puny Fox： 〃True it is that I lured thee away from thy
quest； and wore away a year of thy life。 Yet true it is also that I
repent me thereof； and ask thy pardon。 What sayest thou？〃
Hallblithe spake not； but the heat died out of his face and he was
become somewhat pale。 Said the Puny Fox： 〃Dost thou not remember； O
Raven； how thou badest me battle last year on the sea…shore by the
side of the Rollers of the Raven？ and how this was to be the prize of
battle； that the vanquished should serve the vanquisher year…long；
and do all his will？ And now this prize and more thou hast won
without battle； for I swear by the Treasure of the Sea； and by the
bones of the great Sea…mew yonder； that I will serve thee not year…
long but life…long； and that I will help thee in thy quest for thy
beloved。 Wha