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morning at daybreak while men sleep； I think to steal forth to the
gunwale of the black ship and give myself to the gods； that they and
not these runagates may be masters of my life and my soul； and may do
with me as they will： for indeed they know that I may not bear the
strange kinless house； and the love and caressing of the alien house…
master； and the mocking and stripes of the alien house…mistress。
Therefore let the Hoary One of the sea take me and look to my
matters； and carry me to life or death； which…so he will。 Thin now
grows the night； but lie still a little yet； while I speak another
word。
〃Maybe we shall meet alive again； and maybe not： and if not； though
we have never yet lain in one bed together； yet I would have thee
remember me： yet not so that my image shall come between thee and
thy speech…friend and bed…fellow of the kindred； that shall lie where
I was to have lain。 Yet again； if I live and thou livest； I have
been told and have heard that by one way or other I am like to come
to the Glittering Plain； and the Land of Living Men。 O my beloved；
if by any way thou mightest come thither also； and we might meet
there； and we two alive； how good it were！ Seek that land then；
beloved！ seek it； whether or no we once more behold the House of the
Rose； or tread the floor of the Raven dwelling。 And now must even
this image of me sunder from thee。 Farewell！〃
Therewith was the dream done and the vision departed； and Hallblithe
sat up full of anguish and longing； and he looked about him over the
dreary land； and it was somewhat light and the sky was grown grey and
cloudy； and he deemed that the dawn was come。 So he leapt to his
feet and stooped down over Fox； and took him by the shoulder； and
shook him and said： 〃Faring…fellow； awake！ the dawn is come； and we
have much to do。〃
Fox sat up and growled like a dog； and rubbed his eyes and looked
about him and said： 〃Thou hast waked me for nought： it is the false
dawn of the moon that shineth now behind the clouds and casteth no
shadow； it is but an hour after midnight。 Go to sleep again； and let
me be； else will I not be a guide to thee when the day comes。〃 And
he lay down and was asleep at once。 Then Hallblithe went and lay
down again full of sorrow： Yet so weary was he that he presently
fell asleep； and dreamed no more。
CHAPTER VI： OF A DWELLING OF MAN ON THE ISLE OF RANSOM
When he awoke again the sun shone on him； and the morning was calm
and windless。 He sat up and looked about him； but could see no signs
of Fox save the lair wherein he had lain。 So he arose to his feet
and sought for him about the crannies of the rocks； and found him
not； and he shouted for him； and had no answer。 Then he said；
〃Belike he has gone down to the boat to put a thing in； or take a
thing out。〃 So he went his ways to the stair down into the water…
cave； and he called on Fox from the top of the stair； and had no
answer。
So he went down that long stair with a misgiving in his heart； and
when he came to the last step there was neither man nor boat； nor
aught else save the water and the living rock。 Then was he exceeding
wroth； for he knew that he had been beguiled； and he was in an evil
case； left alone on an Isle that he knew not； a waste and desolate
land； where it seemed most like he should die of famine。
He wasted no breath or might now in crying out for Fox； or seeking
him； for he said to himself： 〃I might well have known that he was
false and a liar； whereas he could scarce refrain his joy at my folly
and his guile。 Now is it for me to strive for life against death。〃
Then he turned and went slowly up the stair； and came out on to the
open face of that Isle； and he saw that it was waste indeed； and
dreadful： a wilderness of black sand and stones and ice…borne rocks；
with here and there a little grass growing in the hollows； and here
and there a dreary mire where the white…tufted rushes shook in the
wind； and here and there stretches of moss blended with red…blossomed
sengreen； and otherwhere nought but the wind…bitten creeping willow
clinging to the black sand； with a white bleached stick and a leaf or
two； and again a stick and a leaf。 In the offing looking landward
were great mountains； some very great and snow…capped； some bare to
the tops； and all that was far away； save the snow； was deep…blue in
the sunny morning。 But about him on the heath were scattered rocks
like the reef beneath which he had slept the last night； and peaks；
and hammers； and knolls of uncouth shapes。
Then he went to the edge of the cliffs and looked down on the sea
which lay wrinkled and rippling on toward the shore far below him；
and long he gazed thereon and all about； but could see neither ship
nor sail； nor aught else save the washing of waves and the hovering
of sea fowl。
Then he said： 〃Were it not well if I were to seek that house…master
of whom Fox spake？ Might he not flit me at least to the Land of the
Glittering Plain？ Woe is me！ now am I of that woful company； and I
also must needs cry out； Where is the land？ Where is the land？〃
Therewith he turned toward the reef above their lair； but as he went
he thought and said： 〃Nay； but was not this Stead a lie like the
rest of Fox's tale？ and am I not alone in this sea…girt wilderness？
Yea； and even that image of my Beloved which I saw in the dream；
perchance that also was a mere beguiling； for now I see that the Puny
Fox was in all ways wiser than is meet and comely。〃 Yet again he
said： 〃At least I will seek on； and find out whether there be
another man dwelling on this hapless Isle； and then the worst of it
will be battle with him； and death by point and edge rather than by
hunger； or at the best we may become friends and fellows and deliver
each other。〃 Therewith he came to the reef； and with much ado
climbed to the topmost of its rocks and looked down thence landward：
and betwixt him and the mountains； and by seeming not very far off；
he saw smoke arising： but no house he saw； nor any other token of a
dwelling。 So he came down from the stone and turned his back upon
the sea and went toward that smoke with his sword in its sheath； and
his spear over his shoulder。 Rough and toilsome was the way： three
little dales he crossed amidst the mountain necks； each one narrow
and bare； with a stream of water amidst； running seaward； and whether
in dale or on ridge； he went ever amidst sand and stones； and the
weeds of the wilderness； and saw no man； or man…tended beast。
At last； after he had been four hours on the way； but had not gone
very far； he topped a stony bent； and from the brow thereof beheld a
wide valley grass…grown for the more part； with a river running
through it； and sheep and kine and horses feeding up and down it。
And amidst this dale by the stream…side； was a dwelling of men； a
long hall and other houses about it builded of stone。
The