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long but life…long； and that I will help thee in thy quest for thy
beloved。 What sayest thou？〃
Hallblithe stood speechless a moment； looking past the Puny Fox；
rather than at him。 Then the sword tumbled out of his hand on to the
grass； and great tears rolled down his cheeks and fell on to his
raiment； and he reached out his hand to the Puny Fox and said： 〃O
friend； wilt thou not bring me to her？ for the days wear； and the
trees are growing old round about the Acres of the Raven。〃
Then the Puny Fox took his hand； and laughed merrily in his face； and
said： 〃Great is thine heart； O Carrion…biter！ But now that thou art
my friend I will tell thee that I have a deeming of the whereabouts
of thy beloved。 Or where deemest thou was the garden wherein thou
sawest her standing on the page of the book in that dream of the
night？ So it is； O Raven…son； that it is not for nothing that my
grandsire's father lieth in yonder hole of the rocks； for of late he
hath made me wise in mighty lore。 Thanks have thou； O kinsman！〃 And
he turned him toward the rock wherein was the grave。
But Hallblithe said： 〃What is to do now？ Am I not in a land of
foemen？〃
〃Yea； forsooth；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃and even if thou knewest where
thy love is； thou shouldst hardly escape from this isle unslain； save
for me。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Is there not my bark； that I might depart at once？
for I deem not that the Hostage is on the Isle of Ransom。〃
The Puny Fox laughed boisterously and said： 〃Nay； she is not。 But
as to thy boat； there is so strong a set of the flood…tide toward
this end of the isle； that with the wind blowing as now； from the
north…north…east； thou mayst not get off the shore for four hours at
least； and I misdoubt me that within that time we shall have tidings
of a ship of ours coming into the haven。 Thy bark they shall take；
and thee also if thou art therein； and then soon were the story told；
for they know thee for a rebel of the Undying King。 Hearken！ Dost
thou not hear the horn's voice？ Come up hither and we shall see what
is towards。〃
So saying； he led hastily up a kind of stair in the rock…wall； until
they reached a cranny； whence through a hole in the cliff； they could
see all over the haven。 And lo！ as they looked； in the very gate and
entry of it came a great ship heaving up her bows on the last swell
of the outer sea （where the wind had risen somewhat）； and rolling
into the smooth； land…locked water。 Black was her sail； and the
image of the Sea…eagle enwrought thereon spread wide over it； and the
banner of the Flaming Sword streamed out from the stern。 Many men
all…weaponed were on the decks； and the minstrels high up on the poop
were blowing a merry song of return on their battle…horns。
〃Lo； you；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃thy luck or mine hath served thee this
time； in that the Flaming Sword did not overhaul thee ere thou madest
the haven。 We are well here at least。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃But may not some of them come up hither
perchance？〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 said the Puny Fox； 〃they fear the old man in the cleft
yonder； for he is not over guest…fain。 This mead is mine own； as for
other living men； it is my unroofed house； and I have here a house
with a roof also； which I will show thee presently。 For now since
the Flaming Sword hath come； there is no need for haste； nay； we
cannot depart till they have gone up…country。 So I will show thee
presently what we shall do to…night。〃
So there they sat and watched those men bring their ship to the shore
and moor her hard by Hallblithe's boat。 They cried out when they saw
her； and when they were aland they gathered about her to note her
build； and the fashion of the spear whereto she was tied。 Then in a
while the more part of them； some fourscore in number； departed up
the valley toward the great house and left none but a half dozen
ship…warders behind。
〃Seest thou； friend of the Ravens；〃 said the Fox； 〃hadst thou been
there； they might have done with thee what they would。 Did I not
well to bring thee into my unroofed house？〃
〃Yea； verily；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃but will not some of the ship…wards；
or some of the others returning； come up hither and find us？ I shall
yet lay my bones in this evil island。〃
The Puny Fox laughed； and said： 〃It is not so bad as thy sour looks
would have it； anyhow it is good enough for a grave； and at this
present I may call it a casket of precious things。〃
〃What meanest thou？〃 said Hallblithe eagerly。
〃Nay； nay；〃 said the other； 〃nought but what thou knowest。 Art thou
not therein； and I myself？ without reckoning the old carle in the
hole yonder。 But I promise thee thou shalt not die here this time；
unless thou wilt。 And as to folk coming up hither； I tell thee again
they durst not； because they fear my great…grandsire over much。 Not
that they are far wrong therein； for now he is dead； the worst of him
seemeth to come out of him； and he is not easily dealt with； save by
one who hath some share of his wisdom。 Thou thyself couldst see by
my kinsman； the Sea…eagle； how much of ill blood and churlish malice
there may be in our kindred when they wax old； and loneliness and
dreariness taketh hold of them。 For I must tell thee that I have oft
heard my father say that his father the Sea…eagle was in his youth
and his prime blithe and buxom； a great lover of women； and a very
friendly fellow。 But ever； as I say； as the men of our kind wax in
years； they worsen； and thereby mayst thou deem how bad the old man
in yonder must be； since he hath lain so long in the grave。 But now
we will go to that house of mine on the other side of the mead； over
against my kinsman's。〃
Therewith he led Hallblithe down from the rock while Hallblithe said
to him： 〃What！ art thou also dead that thou hast a grave here？〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 said Fox； smiling； 〃am I so evil…conditioned then？ I am
no older than thou art。〃
〃But tell me；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃wilt thou also wax evil as thou
growest old？〃
〃Maybe not；〃 said Fox； looking hard at him； 〃for in my mind it is
that I may be taken into another house； and another kindred； and
amongst them I shall be healed of much that might turn to ill。〃
Therewith were they come across the little meadow to a place where
was a cave in the rock closed with a door； and a wicket window
therein。 Fox led Hallblithe into it； and within it was no ill
dwelling； for it was dry and clean； and there were stools therein and
a table； and shelves and lockers in the wall。 When they had sat them
down Fox said： 〃Here mightest thou dwell safely as long as thou
wouldst； if thou wouldst risk dealings with the old carle。 But； as I
wot well that thou art in haste to be gone and get home to thy
kindred； I must bring thee at dusk to…day close up to our feast…hall；
so that thou mayst be at hand to do what hath to be done to…night； so
that we may get us gone to…morrow。 Also thou m