按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pleased with either thee or me； and thou knowest that words are
wasted on wilful men； but that deeds may avail somewhat。〃
Therewith he cried out for the cup of good…night； and when it was
drunken； Hallblithe was shown to a fair shut…bed； even that wherein
he had lain aforetime； and there he went to sleep in joy； and in good
liking with all men。
CHAPTER XXII： THEY GO FROM THE ISLE OF RANSOM AND COME TO CLEVELAND
BY THE SEA
In the morning early Hallblithe arose from his bed； and when he came
into the mid…hall； there was the Puny Fox and the Hostage with him；
Hallblithe kissed her and embraced her； and she him； yet not like
lovers long sundered； but as a man and maid betrothed are wont to do；
for there were folk coming and going about the hall。 Then spake the
Puny Fox： 〃The Erne is abiding us out in the meadow yonder； for now
nought will serve him but he must needs go under the earth…collar
with us。 How sayest thou； is he enough thy friend？〃
Said Hallblithe； smiling on the Hostage： 〃What hast thou to say to
it； beloved？〃
〃Nought at all；〃 she said； 〃if thou art friend to any of these men。
I may deem that I have somewhat against the chieftain； whereof belike
this big man may tell thee hereafter； but even so much meseemeth I
have against this man himself； who is now become thy friend and
scholar； for he also strove for my beguilement； and that not for
himself； but for another。〃
〃True it is；〃 said the Fox； 〃that I did it for another； even as
yesterday I took thy mate Hallblithe out of the trap whereinto he had
strayed； and compassed his deliverance by means of the unfaithful
battle； and even as I would have stolen thee for him； O Rose…maiden；
if need had been； yea； even if I must have smitten into ruin the
roof…tree of the Ravagers。 And how could I tell that the Erne would
give thee up unstolen？ Yea； thou sayeth sooth； O noble and spotless
maiden； all my deeds； both good and ill； have I done for others； and
so I deem it shall be while my life lasteth。〃
Then Hallblithe laughed and said： 〃Art thou nettled； fellow…in…arms；
at the word of a woman who knoweth thee not？ She shall yet be thy
friend； O Fox。 But tell me； beloved； I deemed that thou hadst not
seen Fox before； how then can he have helped the Erne against thee？〃
〃Yet she sayeth sooth；〃 said Fox； 〃this was of my sleight： for when
I had to come before her； I changed my skin； as I well know how；
there are others in this land who can do so much as that。 But what
sayest thou concerning the brotherhood with the Erne？〃
〃Let it be so；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃he is manly and true； though
masterful； and is meet for this land of his。 I shall not fall out
with him； for seldom meseemeth shall I see the Isle of Ransom。〃
〃And I never again；〃 said the Puny Fox。
〃Dost thou loathe it； then；〃 said the Hostage； 〃because of the evil
thou hast done therein？〃
〃Nay；〃 said he； 〃what is the evil； when henceforth I shall do but
good？ Nay； I love the land。 Belike thou deemest it but dreary with
its black rocks and black sand； and treeless wind…swept dales； but I
know it in summer and winter； and sun and shade； in storm and calm。
And I know where the fathers dwelt and the sons of their sons' sons
have long lain in the earth。 I have sailed its windiest firths； and
climbed its steepest crags； and ye may well wot that it hath a
friendly face to me； and the land…wights of the mountains will be
sorry for my departure。〃
So he spake； and Hallblithe would have answered him； but by now were
they come to a grassy hollow amidst the dale； where the Erne had
already made the earth…yoke ready。 To wit； he had loosened a strip
of turf all save the two ends； and had propped it up with two ancient
dwarf…wrought spears； so that amidmost there was a lintel to go
under。
So when he saw those others coming； he gave them the sele of the day；
and said to Hallblithe： 〃What is it to be？ shall I be less than thy
brother…in…arms henceforward？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Not a whit less。 It is good to have brothers in
other lands than one。〃
So they made no delay； but clad in all their war…gear； they went
under the earth…yoke one after the other； thereafter they stood
together； and each let blood in his arm； so that the blood of all
three mingled together fell down on the grass of the ancient earth；
and they swore friendship and brotherhood each to each。
But when all was done the Erne spake： 〃Brother Hallblithe； as I lay
awake in bed this morning I deemed that I would take ship with thee
to Cleveland by the Sea； that I might dwell there a while。 But when
I came out of the hall； and saw the dale lying green betwixt hill…
side and hill…side； and the glittering river running down amidmost；
and the sheep and kine and horses feeding up and down on either side
the water： and I looked up at the fells and saw how deep blue they
stood up against the snowy peaks； and I thought of all our deeds on
the deep sea； and the merry nights； in yonder abode of men： then I
thought that I would not leave the kindred； were it but for a while；
unless war and lifting called me。 So now I will ride with thee to
the ship； and then farewell to thee。〃
〃It is good；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃though not as good as it might be。
Glad had we been with thee in the hall of the Ravens。〃
As he spoke drew anigh the carles leading the horses； and with them
came six of those damsels whom the Erne had given to Hallblithe the
night before； two of whom asked to be brought to their kindred over
sea； but the other four were fain to go with Hallblithe and the
Hostage； and become their sisters at Cleveland by the Sea。
So then they got to horse and rode down the dale toward the haven；
and the carles rode with them； so that of weaponed men they were a
score in company。 But when they were half…way to the haven they saw
where hard by three knolls on the way…side were men standing with
their weapons and war…gear glittering in the sun。 So the Erne
laughed and said： 〃Shall we have a word with War…brand then？〃
But they rode steadily on their way； and when they came up to the
knolls they saw that it was War…brand indeed with a score of men at
his back； but they stirred not when they saw Erne's company that it
was great。 Then Erne laughed aloud and cried out in a big voice；
〃What； lads！ ye ride early this morning； are there foemen abroad in
the Isle？〃
They shrank back before him； but a carle of those who was hindermost
cried out： 〃Art thou coming back to us； Erne； or have thy new
friends bought thee to lead them in battle？〃
〃Fear it nought；〃 quoth Erne； 〃I shall be back before the shepherd's
noon。〃
So they went their ways and came to the haven； and there lay the
Flaming Sword； and beside her a trim bark； not right great； all ready
for sea： and Hallblithe's skiff was made fast to her for an after…
boat。
Then the Hostage and Hallblithe and the six