came　from　one　of　the　shut…beds；　so　he　leaned　his　spear　against　a
  pillar；　and　went　into　the　shut…bed　he　had　noted；　and　saw　where　there
  lay　along　in　it　a　man　exceeding　old　by　seeming；　sore　wasted；　with
  long　hair　as　white　as　snow　lying　over　the　bed…clothes。
  When　the　elder　saw　Hallblithe；　he　laughed　a　thin　cracked　laugh　as　if
  in　mockery　and　said：　　〃Hail　newcomer！　wilt　thou　eat？〃
  〃Yea；〃　said　Hallblithe。
  〃Go　thou　into　the　buttery　then；〃　said　the　old　carle；　〃and　there　shalt
  thou　find　on　the　cupboard　cakes　and　curds　and　cheese：　　eat　thy　fill；
  and　when　thou　hast　done；　look　in　the　ingle；　and　thou　shalt　see　a　cask
  of　mead　exceeding　good；　and　a　stoup　thereby；　and　two　silver　cups；
  fill　the　stoup　and　bring　it　hither　with　the　cups；　and　then　may　we
  talk　amidst　of　drinking；　which　is　good　for　an　old　carle。　　Hasten
  thou！　or　I　shall　deem　thee　a　double　fool　who　will　not　fare　to　fetch
  his　meat；　though　he　be　hungry。〃
  Then　Hallblithe　laughed；　and　went　down　the　hall　into　the　buttery　and
  found　the　meat；　and　ate　his　fill；　and　came　away　with　the　drink　back
  to　the　Long…hoary　man；　who　chuckled　as　he　came　and　said：　　〃Fill　up
  now　for　thee　and　for　me；　and　call　a　health　to　me　and　wish　me
  somewhat。〃
  〃I　wish　thee　luck；〃　said　Hallblithe；　and　drank。　　Said　the　elder：
  〃And　I　wish　thee　more　wits；　is　luck　all　that　thou　mayst　wish　me？
  What　luck　may　an　outworn　elder　have？〃
  〃Well　then；〃　quoth　Hallblithe；　〃what　shall　I　wish　thee？　　Wouldst　thou
  have　me　wish　thee　youth？〃
  〃Yea；　certes；〃　said　the　Long…hoary；　〃that　and　nought　else。〃
  〃Youth　then　I　wish　thee；　if　it　may　avail　thee　aught；〃　said
  Hallblithe；　and　he　drank　again　therewith。
  〃Nay；　nay；〃　said　the　old　carle　peevishly；　〃take　a　third　cup；　and　wish
  me　youth　with　no　idle　words　tacked　thereto。〃
  Said　Hallblithe　raising　the　cup：　　〃Herewith　I　wish　thee　youth！〃　and
  he　drank。
  〃Good　is　the　wish；〃　said　the　elder；　〃now　ask　thou　the　old　carle
  whatso　thou　wilt。〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃What　is　this　land　called？〃
  〃Son；〃　said　the　other；　〃hast　thou　heard　it　called　the　Isle　of
  Ransom？〃
  〃Yea；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃but　what　wilt　thou　call　it？〃
  〃By　no　other　name；〃　said　the　hoary　carle。
  〃It　is　far　from　other　lands？〃　said　Hallblithe。
  〃Yea；〃　said　the　carle；　〃when　the　light　winds　blow；　and　the　ships　sail
  slow。〃
  〃What　do　ye　who　live　here？〃　said　Hallblithe。　　〃How　do　ye　live；　what
  work　win　ye？〃
  〃We　win　diverse　work；〃　said　the　elder；　〃but　the　gainfullest　is
  robbing　men　by　the　high　hand。〃
  〃Is　it　ye　who　have　stolen　from　me　the　Hostage　of　the　Rose？〃　said
  Hallblithe。
  Said　the　Long…hoary；　〃Maybe；　I　wot　not；　in　diverse　ways　my　kinsmen
  traffic；　and　they　visit　many　lands。　　Why　should　they　not　have　come　to
  Cleveland　also？〃
  〃Is　she　in　this　Isle；　thou　old　runagate？〃　said　Hallblithe。
  〃She　is　not；　thou　young　fool；〃　said　the　elder。　　Then　Hallblithe
  flushed　red　and　spake：　　〃Knowest　thou　the　Puny　Fox？〃
  〃How　should　I　not？〃　said　the　carle；　〃since　he　is　the　son　of　one　of　my
  sons。〃
  〃Dost　thou　call　him　a　liar　and　a　rogue？〃　said　Hallblithe。
  The　elder　laughed；　〃Else　were　I　a　fool；〃　said　he；　〃there　are　few
  bigger　liars　or　bigger　rogues　than　the　Puny　Fox！〃
  〃Is　he　here　in　this　Isle？〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃may　I　see　him？〃
  The　old　man　laughed　again；　and　said：　　〃Nay；　he　is　not　here；　unless　he
  hath　turned　fool　since　yesterday：　　why　should　he　abide　thy　sword；
  since　he　hath　done　what　he　would　and　brought　thee　hither？〃
  Then　he　laughed；　as　a　hen　cackles　a　long　while；　and　then　said：　　〃What
  more　wilt　thou　ask　me？〃
  But　Hallblithe　was　very　wroth：　　〃It　availeth　nought　to　ask；〃　he　said；
  〃and　now　I　am　in　two　minds　whether　I　shall　slay　thee　or　not。〃
  〃That　were　a　meet　deed　for　a　Raven；　but　not　for　a　man；〃　said　the
  carle；　〃and　thou　that　hast　wished　me　luck！　　Ask；　ask！〃
  But　Hallblithe　was　silent　a　long　while。　　Then　the　carle　said；
  〃Another　cup　for　the　longer　after　youth！〃
  Hallblithe　filled；　and　gave　to　him；　and　the　old　man　drank　and　said：
  〃Thou　deemest　us　all　liars　in　the　Isle　of　Ransom　because　of　thy
  beguiling　by　the　Puny　Fox：　　but　therein　thou　errest。　　The　Puny　Fox　is
  our　chiefest　liar；　and　doth　for　us　the　more　part　of　such　work　as　we
  need：　　therefore；　why　should　we　others　lie。　　Ask；　ask！〃
  〃Well　then；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃why　did　the　Puny　Fox　bewray　me；　and　at
  whose　bidding？〃
  Said　the　elder：　　〃I　know；　but　I　will　not　tell　thee。　　Is　this　a　lie？〃
  〃Nay；　I　deem　it　not；〃　said　Hallblithe：　　〃But；　tell　me；　is　it　verily
  true　that　my　trothplight　is　not　here；　that　I　may　ransom　her？〃
  Said　the　Long…hoary：　　〃I　swear　it　by　the　Treasure　of　the　Sea；　that
  she　is　not　here：　　the　tale　was　but　a　lie　of　the　Puny　Fox。〃
  CHAPTER　VII：　　A　FEAST　IN　THE　ISLE　OF　RANSOM
  Hallblithe　pondered　his　answer　awhile　with　downcast　eyes　and　said　at
  last：　　〃Have　ye　a　mind　to　ransom　me；　now　that　I　have　walked　into　the
  trap？〃
  〃There　is　no　need　to　talk　of　ransom；〃　said　the　elder；　〃thou　mayst　go
  out　of　this　house　when　thou　wilt；　nor　will　any　meddle　with　thee　if
  thou　strayest　about　the　Isle；　when　I　have　set　a　mark　on　thee　and
  given　thee　a　token：　　nor　wilt　thou　be　hindered　if　thou　hast　a　mind　to
  leave　the　Isle；　if　thou　canst　find　means　thereto；　moreover　as　long　as
  thou　art　in　the　Isle；　in　this　house　mayst　thou　abide；　eating　and
  drinking　and　resting　with　us。〃
  〃How　then　may　I　leave　this　Isle？〃　said　Hallblithe。
  The　elder　laughed：　　〃In　a　ship；〃　said　he。
  〃And　when；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃shall　I　find　a　ship　that　shall　carry
  me？〃
  Said　the　old　carle；　〃Whither　wouldest　thou　my　son？〃　　Hallblithe　was
  silent　a　while；　thinking　what　answer　he　should　make；　then　he　said：
  〃I　would　go　to　the　land　of　the　Glittering　Plain。〃
  〃Son；　a　ship　shall　not　be　lacking　thee　for　that　voyage；〃　said　the
  elder。　　〃Thou　mayst　go　to…morrow　morn。　　And　I　bid　thee　abide　here　to…
  night；　and　thy　cheer　shall　not　be　ill。　　Yet　if　thou　wilt　believe　my
  word；　it　will　be　well　for　thee　to　say　as　little　as　thou　mayst　to　any
  man　here；　and　that　little　as　little　proud　as　maybe：　　for　our　folk　are
  short　of　temper　and　thou　knowest　there　is　no　might　against　many。
  Indeed　it　is　not　unlike　that　they　will　not　speak　one　word　to　thee；
  and　if　that　be　so；　thou　hast　no　need　to　open　thy　mouth　to　them。　　And
  now　I　will　tell　thee　that　it　is　good　that　thou　hast　chosen　to　go　to
  the　Glittering　Plain。　　For　if　thou　wert　otherwise　minded；　I　wot　not
  how　thou　wouldest　get　thee　a　keel　to　carry　thee；　and　the　wings　have
  not　yet　begun　to　sprout　on　thy　shoulders；　raven　though　thou　be。　　Now
  I　am　glad　that　thou　art　going　thy　ways　to　the　Glittering　Plain　to…
  morrow；　for　thou　wilt　be　good　company　to　me　on　the　way：　　and　I　deem
  that　thou　wilt　be　no　churl　when　thou　art　glad。〃
  〃What；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃art　thou　wending　thither；　thou　old　man？〃
  〃Yea；〃　said　he；　〃nor　shall　any　other　be　on　the　ship　save　thou　and　I；
  and　the　mariners　that　waft　us；　and　they　forsooth　shall　not　go　aland
  there。　　Why　should　not　I　go；　since　there　are　men　to　bear　me　aboard？〃
  Said　Hallblithe；　〃And　when　thou　art　come　aland　there；　what　wilt　thou
  do？〃
  〃Thou　shalt　see；　my　son；〃　said　the　Long…hoary。　　〃It　may　be　that　thy
  good　wishes　shall　be　of　avail　to　me。　　But　now　since　all　this　may　only
  be　if　I　live　through　this　night；　and　since　my　heart　hath　been　warmed
  by　the　good　mead；　and　thy　fellowship；　and　whereas　I　am　somewhat
  sleepy；　and　it　is　long　past　noon；　go　forth　into　the　hall；　and　leave
  me　to　sleep；　that　I　may　be　as　sound　as　eld　will　let　me　to…morrow。
  And　as　for　thee；　folk；　both　men　and　women；　shall　presently　come　into
  the　hall；　and　I　deem　not　that　any　shall　meddle　with　thee；　but　if　so
  be　that　any　challenge　thee；　whatsoever　may　be　his　words；　answer　thou
  to　him；　'THE　HOUSE　OF　THE　UNDYING；'　and　there　will　be　an　end　of　it。
  Only　look　thou　to　it　that　no　naked　steel　cometh　out　of　thy　scabbard。
  Go　now；　and　if　thou　wilt；　go　out　of　doors；　yet　art　thou　safer　within
  doors　and　nigher　unto　me。〃
  So　Hallblithe　went　back　into　the　main　hall；　and　the　sun　had　gotten
  round　now；　and　was　shining　into　the　hall；　through　the　clerestory
  windows；　so　that　he　saw　clearly　all　that　was　therein。　　And　he　deemed
  the　hall　fairer　within　than　without；　and　especially　over　the　shut…
  beds　were　many　stories　carven　in　the　panelling；　and　Hallblithe　beheld
  them　gladly。　　But　of　one　thing　he　marvelled；　that　whereas　he　was　in
  an　island　of　the　strong…thieves　of　the　waters；　and　in　their　very　home
  and　chiefest　habitation；　there　were　no　ships　or　seas　pictured　in　that
  imagery；　but　fair　groves　and　gardens；　with　flowery　grass　and　fruited
  trees　all　about。　　And　there　were　fair　women　abiding　therein；　and
  lovely　young　men；　and　warriors；　and　strange　beasts　and　many　marvels；
  and　the　ending　of　wrath　and　beginning　of　pleasure　and　the　crowning　of
  love。　　And　amidst　these　was　pictured　oft　and　again　a　mighty　king　with
  a　sword　by　his　side　and　a　crown　on　his　head；　and　ever　was　he　smiling
  and　joyous；　so　that　Hallblit