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me。〃
Quoth the sea…rover； 〃It is no shame for thee a youngling to remember
thy betrothed in thy sleep； and to weep because thou lackest her。
But now bestir thee； for it is later than thou mayest deem。〃
Therewith the big man drew in the oars and came to the afterpart of
the boat； and drew meat and drink out of a locker thereby； and they
ate and drank together； and Hallblithe grew strong and somewhat less
downcast； and he went forward and gat the oars into his hands。
Then the big red man stood up and looked over his left shoulder and
said： 〃Soon shall we have a breeze and bright weather。〃
Then he looked into the midmost of the sail and fell a…whistling such
a tune as the fiddles play to dancing men and maids at Yule…tide； and
his eyes gleamed and glittered therewithal； and exceeding big he
looked。 Then Hallblithe felt a little air on his cheek； and the mist
grew thinner； and the sail began to fill with wind till the sheet
tightened： then； lo！ the mist rising from the face of the sea； and
the sea's face rippling gaily under a bright sun。 Then the wind
increased； and the wall of mist departed and a few light clouds sped
over the sky； and the sail swelled and the boat heeled over； and the
seas fell white from the prow； and they sped fast over the face of
the waters。
Then laughed the red…haired man； and said： 〃O croaker on the dead
branch； now is the wind such that no rowing of thine may catch up
with it： so in with the oars now； and turn about； and thou shalt see
whitherward we are going。〃
Then Hallblithe turned about on the thwart and looked across the sea；
and lo！ before them the high cliffs and crags and mountains of a new
land which seemed to be an isle； and they were deep blue under the
sun； which now shone aloft in the mid heaven。 He said nought at all；
but sat looking and wondering what land it might be； but the big man
said： 〃O tomb of warriors； is it not as if the blueness of the deep
sea had heaved itself up aloft； and turned from coloured air into
rock and stone； so wondrous blue it is？ But that is because those
crags and mountains are so far away； and as we draw nigher to them；
thou shalt see them as they verily are； that they are coal…black； and
yonder land is an isle； and is called the Isle of Ransom。 Therein
shall be the market for thee where thou mayst cheapen thy betrothed。
There mayst thou take her by the hand and lead her away thence； when
thou hast dealt with the chapman of maidens and hast pledged thee by
the fowl of battle； and the edge of the fallow blade to pay that
which he will have of thee。〃
As the big man spoke there was a mocking in his voice and his face
and in his whole huge body； which made the sword of Hallblithe uneasy
in his scabbard； but he refrained his wrath； and said： 〃Big man； the
longer I look； the less I can think how we are to come up on to
yonder island； for I can see nought but a huge cliff； and great
mountains rising beyond it。〃
〃Thou shalt the more wonder；〃 said the alien； 〃the nigher thou
drawest thereto； for it is not because we are far away that thou
canst see no beach or strand； or sloping of the land seaward； but
because there is nought of all these things。 Yet fear not！ am I not
with thee？ thou shalt come ashore on the Isle of Ransom。〃
Then Hallblithe held his peace； and the other spake not for a while；
but gave a short laugh once or twice； and said at last in a big
voice； 〃Little Carrion…biter； why dost thou not ask me of my name？〃
Now Hallblithe was a tall man and a fell fighter； but he said：
〃Because I was thinking of other things and not of thee。〃
〃Well；〃 said the big man； in a voice still louder； 〃when I am at home
men call me the Puny Fox。〃
Then Hallblithe said： 〃Art thou a Fox？ It may well be that thou
shalt beguile me as such beasts will but look to it； that if thou
dost I shall know how to avenge me。〃
Then rose up the big man from the helm； and straddled wide in the
boat； and cried out in a great roaring voice： 〃Crag…nester； I am one
of seven brethren； and the smallest and weakest of them。 Art thou
not afraid？〃
〃No；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃for the six others are not here。 Wilt thou
fight here in boat； O Fox？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Fox； 〃rather we will drink a cup of wine together。〃
So he opened the locker again and drew out thence a great horn of
some huge neat of the outlands； which was girthed and stopped with
silver； and also a golden cup； and he filled the cup from the horn
and gave it into Hallblithe's hand and said： 〃Drink； O black…fledged
nestling！ But call a health over the cup if thou wilt。〃 So
Hallblithe raised the cup aloft and cried： 〃Health to the House of
the Raven and to them that love it！ an ill day to its foemen！〃 Then
he set his lips to the cup and drank； and that wine seemed to him
better and stronger than any he had ever tasted。 But when he had
given the cup back again to Fox； that red one filled it again； and
cried over it； 〃The Treasure of the Sea！ and the King that dieth
not！〃 Then he drank； and filled again for Hallblithe； and steered
with his knees meanwhile； and thus they drank three cups each； and
Fox smiled and was peaceful and said but little； but Hallblithe sat
wondering how the world was changed for him since yesterday。
But now was the sky blown all clear of clouds and the wind piped
shrill behind them； and the great waves rose and fell about them； and
the sun glittered on them in many colours。 Fast flew the boat before
the wind as though it would never stop； and the day was waning； and
the wind still rising； and now the Isle of Ransom uphove huge before
them； and coal…black； and no beach and no haven was to be seen
therein； and still they ran before the wind towards that black cliff…
wall； against which the sea washed for ever； and no keel ever built
by man might live for one moment 'twixt the surf and the cliff of
that grim land。 The sun grew low； and sank red under the sea； and
that world of stone swallowed up half the heavens before them； for
they were now come very nigh thereto； nor could Hallblithe see aught
for it； but that they must be dashed against the cliff and perish in
a moment of time。
Still the boat flew on； but now when the twilight was come； and they
had just opened up along reach of the cliff that lay beyond a high
ness； Hallblithe thought he saw down by the edge of the sea something
darker than the face of the rock…wall； and he deemed it was a cave：
they came a little nearer and he saw it was a great cave high enough
to let a round…ship go in with all her sails set。
〃Son of the Raven；〃 quoth Fox； 〃hearken； for thy heart is not little。
Yonder is the gate into the Isle of Ransom； and if thou wilt； thou
mayst go through it。 Yet it may be that if thou goest ashore on to
the Isle something grievous shall befall thee； a trouble more than
thou canst bear： a shame it may be。 Now there are two choices for
thee： either to g