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stone。
So they fared home to the Raven Bay； and laid their keel on the
Rollers； and so went their ways sadly； home to the House of the
Raven： and they deemed that for this time they could do no more in
seeking their valiant kinsman and his fair damsel。 And they were
very sorry； for these two were well…beloved of all men。 But since
they might not amend it； they abode in peace； awaiting what the
change of days might bring them。
CHAPTER IV： NOW HALLBLITHE TAKETH THE SEA
Now must it be told of Hallblithe that he rode fiercely down to the
sea…shore； and from the top of the beach he gazed about him； and
there below him was the Ship…stead and Rollers of his kindred；
whereon lay the three long…ships； the Seamew； and the Osprey and the
Erne。 Heavy and huge they seemed to him as they lay there； black…
sided； icy…cold with the washing of the March waves； their golden
dragon…heads looking seaward wistfully。 But first had he looked out
into the offing； and it was only when he had let his eyes come back
from where the sea and sky met； and they had beheld nothing but the
waste of waters； that he beheld the Ship…stead closely； and therewith
he saw where a little to the west of it lay a skiff； which the low
wave of the tide lifted and let fall from time to time。 It had a
mast； and a black sail hoisted thereon and flapping with slackened
sheet。 A man sat in the boat clad in black raiment； and the sun
smote a gleam from the helm on his head。 Then Hallblithe leapt off
his horse； and strode down the sands shouldering his spear； and when
he came near to the man in the boat he poised his spear and shook it
and cried out： 〃Man； art thou friend or foe？〃
Said the man： 〃Thou art a fair young man： but there is grief in thy
voice along with wrath。 Cast not till thou hast heard me； and mayst
deem whether I may do aught to heal thy grief。〃
〃What mayst thou do？〃 said Hallblithe； 〃art thou not a robber of the
sea； a harrier of the folks that dwell in peace？〃
The man laughed： 〃Yea；〃 said he； 〃my craft is thieving and carrying
off the daughters of folk； so that we may have a ransom for them。
Wilt thou come over the waters with me？〃
Hallblithe said wrathfully：
〃Nay； rather； come thou ashore here！ Thou seemest a big man； and
belike shall be good of thine hands。 Come and fight with me； and
then he of us who is vanquished； if he be unslain； shall serve the
other for a year； and then shalt thou do my business in the
ransoming。〃
The man in the boat laughed again； and that so scornfully that he
angered Hallblithe beyond measure： then he arose in the boat and
stood on his feet swaying from side to side as he laughed。 He was
passing big； long…armed and big…headed； and long hair came from under
his helm like the tail of a red horse； his eyes were grey and
gleaming； and his mouth wide。
In a while he stayed his laughter and said： 〃O Warrior of the Raven；
this were a simple game for thee to play； though it is not far from
my mind； for fighting when I needs must win is no dull work。 Look
you； if I slay or vanquish thee； then all is said； and if by some
chance stroke thou slayest me； then is thine only helper in this
matter gone from thee。 Now to be short； I bid thee come aboard to me
if thou wouldst ever hear another word of thy damsel betrothed。 And
moreover this need not hinder thee to fight with me if thou hast a
mind to it thereafter； for we shall soon come to a land big enough
for two to stand on。 Or if thou listest to fight in a boat rocking
on the waves； I see not but there may be manhood in that also。〃
Now was the hot wrath somewhat run off Hallblithe； nor durst he lose
any chance to hear a word of his beloved； so he said： 〃Big man； I
will come aboard。 But look thou to it； if thou hast a mind to bewray
me； for the sons of the Raven die hard。〃
〃Well；〃 said the big man； 〃I have heard that their minstrels are of
many words； and think that they have tales to tell。 Come aboard and
loiter not。〃 Then Hallblithe waded the surf and lightly strode over
the gunwale of the skiff and sat him down。 The big man thrust out
into the deep and haled home the sheet； but there was but little
wind。
Then said Hallblithe： 〃Wilt thou have me row； for I wot not
whitherward to steer？〃
Said the red carle： 〃Maybe thou art not in a hurry； I am not： do as
thou wilt。〃 So Hallblithe took the oars and rowed mightily； while
the alien steered； and they went swiftly and lightly over the sea；
and the waves were little。
CHAPTER V： THEY COME UNTO THE ISLE OF RANSOM
So the sun grew low； and it set； the stars and the moon shone a while
and then it clouded over。 Hallblithe still rowed and rested not；
though he was weary； and the big man sat and steered； and held his
peace。 But when the night was grown old and it was not far from the
dawn； the alien said： 〃Youngling of the Ravens； now shalt thou sleep
and I will row。〃
Hallblithe was exceeding weary； so he gave the oars to the alien and
lay down in the stern and slept。 And in his sleep he dreamed that he
was lying in the House of the Raven； and his sisters came to him and
said； 〃Rise up now； Hallblithe！ wilt thou be a sluggard on the day of
thy wedding？ Come thou with us to the House of the Rose that we may
bear away the Hostage。〃 Then he dreamed that they departed； and he
arose and clad himself： but when he would have gone out of the hall；
then was it no longer daylight； but moonlight； and he dreamed that he
had dreamed： nevertheless he would have gone abroad； but might not
find the door； so he said he would go out by a window； but the wall
was high and smooth （quite other than in the House of the Raven；
where were low windows all along one aisle）； nor was there any way to
come at them。 But he dreamed that he was so abashed thereat； and had
such a weakness on him； that he wept for pity of himself： and he
went to his bed to lie down； and lo！ there was no bed and no hall；
nought but a heath； wild and wide； and empty under the moon。 And
still he wept in his dream； and his manhood seemed departed from him；
and he heard a voice crying out； 〃Is this the Land？ Is this the
Land？〃
Therewithal he awoke； and as his eyes cleared he beheld the big man
rowing and the black sail flapping against the mast； for the wind had
fallen dead and they were faring on over a long smooth swell of the
sea。 It was broad daylight； but round about them was a thick mist；
which seemed none the less as if the sun were ready to shine through
it。
As Hallblithe caught the red man's eye； he smiled and nodded on him
and said： 〃Now has the time come for thee first to eat and then to
row。 But tell me what is that upon thy cheeks？〃
Hallblithe； reddening somewhat； said： 〃The night dew hath fallen on
me。〃
Quoth the sea…rover； 〃It is no shame for thee a youngling to remember
thy betrothed in thy sleep； and to weep