woman：　　is　it　not　so？〃
  Then　Hallblithe　reddened　at　first；　as　though　he　were　angry；　then　he
  said：　　〃Yea；　it　is　so。〃
  Said　the　Grandfather　in　a　musing　way：　　〃I　wonder　if　before　long　I
  shall　think　of　it　as　thou　dost。〃
  Then　Hallblithe　gazed　at　him　marvelling；　and　studied　to　see　wherein
  lay　the　gibe　against　himself；　and　the　Grandfather　beheld　him；　and
  laughed　as　well　as　he　might；　and　said：　　〃Son；　son；　didst　thou　not
  wish　me　youth？〃
  〃Yea；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃but　what　ails　thee　to　laugh　so？　　What　is　it
  I　have　said　or　done？〃
  〃Nought；　nought；〃　said　the　elder；　laughing　still　more；　〃only　thou
  lookest　so　mazed。　　And　who　knoweth　what　thy　wish　may　bring　forth？〃
  Thereat　was　Hallblithe　sore　puzzled；　but　while　he　set　himself　to
  consider　what　the　old　carle　might　mean；　uprose　the　hale　and　how　of
  the　mariners；　they　cast　off　the　hawsers　from　the　shore；　ran　out　the
  sweeps；　and　drave　the　ship　through　the　haven…gates。　　It　was　a　bright
  sunny　day；　within；　the　green　water　was　oily…smooth；　without　the
  rippling　waves　danced　merrily　under　a　light　breeze；　and　Hallblithe
  deemed　the　wind　to　be　fair；　for　the　mariners　shouted　joyously　and
  made　all　sail　on　the　ship；　and　she　lay　over　and　sped　through　the
  waves；　casting　off　the　seas　from　her　black　bows。　　Soon　were　they
  clear　of　those　swart　cliffs；　and　it　was　but　a　little　afterwards　that
  the　Isle　of　Ransom　was　grown　deep　blue　behind　them　and　far　away。
  CHAPTER　IX：　　THEY　COME　TO　THE　LAND　OF　THE　GLITTERING　PLAIN
  As　in　the　hall；　so　in　the　ship；　Hallblithe　noted　that　the　folk　were
  merry　and　of　many　words　one　with　another；　while　to　him　no　man　cast　a
  word　save　the　Grandfather。　　As　to　Hallblithe；　though　he　wondered　much
  what　all　this　betokened；　and　what　the　land　was　whereto　he　was
  wending；　he　was　no　man　to　fear　an　unboded　peril；　and　he　said　to
  himself　that　whatever　else　betid；　he　should　meet　the　Hostage　on　the
  Glittering　Plain；　so　his　heart　rose　and　he　was　of　good　cheer；　and　as
  the　Grandfather　had　foretold；　he　was　a　merry　faring…fellow　to　him。
  Many　a　gibe　the　old　man　cast　at　him；　and　whiles　Hallblithe　gave　him
  back　as　good　as　he　took；　and　whiles　he　laughed　as　the　stroke　went
  home　and　silenced　him；　and　whiles　he　understood　nought　of　what　the
  elder　said。　　So　wore　the　day　and　still　the　wind　held　fair；　though　it
  was　light；　and　the　sun　set　in　a　sky　nigh　cloudless；　and　there　was
  nowhere　any　forecast　of　peril。　　But　when　night　was　come；　Hallblithe
  lay　down　on　a　fair　bed；　which　was　dight　for　him　in　the　poop；　and　he
  soon　fell　asleep　and　dreamed　not　save　such　dreams　as　are　but　made　up
  of　bygone　memories；　and　betoken　nought；　and　are　not　remembered。
  When　he　awoke；　day　lay　broad　on　the　sea；　and　the　waves　were　little；
  the　sky　had　but　few　clouds；　the　sun　shone　bright；　and　the　air　was
  warm　and　sweet…breathed。
  He　looked　aside　and　saw　the　old　man　sitting　up　in　his　bed；　as　ghastly
  as　a　dead　man　dug　up　again：　　his　bushy　eyebrows　were　wrinkled　over
  his　bleared　old　eyes；　the　long　white　hair　dangled　forlorn　from　his
  gaunt　head：　　yet　was　his　face　smiling　and　he　looked　as　happy　as　the
  soul　within　him　could　make　the　half…dead　body。　　He　turned　now　to
  Hallblithe　and　said：
  〃Thou　art　late　awake：　　hadst　thou　been　waking　earlier；　the　sooner　had
  thine　heart　been　gladdened。　　Go　forward　now；　and　gaze　thy　fill　and
  come　and　tell　me　thereof。〃
  〃Thou　art　happy；　Grandfather；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃what　good　tidings
  hath　morn　brought　us？〃
  〃The　Land！　the　Land！〃　said　the　Long…hoary；　〃there　are　no　longer　tears
  in　this　old　body；　else　should　I　be　weeping　for　joy。〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃Art　thou　going　to　meet　some　one　who　shall　make
  thee　glad　before　thou　diest；　old　man？〃
  〃Some　one？〃　said　the　elder；　〃what　one？　　Are　they　not　all　gone？
  burned；　and　drowned；　and　slain　and　died　abed？　　Some　one；　young　man？
  Yea；　forsooth　some　one　indeed！　　Yea；　the　great　warrior　of　the　Wasters
  of　the　Shore；　the　Sea…eagle　who　bore　the　sword　and　the　torch　and　the
  terror　of　the　Ravagers　over　the　coal…blue　sea。　　It　is　myself；　MYSELF
  that　I　shall　find　on　the　Land　of　the　Glittering　Plain；　O　young
  lover！〃
  Hallblithe　looked　on　him　wondering　as　he　raised　his　wasted　arms
  towards　the　bows　of　the　ship　pitching　down　the　slope　of　the　sunlit
  sea；　or　climbing　up　it。　　Then　again　the　old　man　fell　back　on　his　bed
  and　muttered：　　〃What　fool's　work　is　this！　that　thou　wilt　draw　me　on
  to　talk　loud；　and　waste　my　body　with　lack　of　patience。　　I　will　talk
  with　thee　no　more；　lest　my　heart　swell　and　break；　and　quench　the
  little　spark　of　life　within　me。〃
  Then　Hallblithe　arose　to　his　feet；　and　stood　looking　at　him；
  wondering　so　much　at　his　words；　that　for　a　while　he　forgat　the　land
  which　they　were　nearing；　though　he　had　caught　glimpses　of　it；　as　the
  bows　of　the　round…ship　fell　downward　into　the　hollow　of　the　sea。　　The
  wind　was　but　light；　as　hath　been　said；　and　the　waves　little　under　it；
  but　there　was　still　a　smooth　swell　of　the　sea　which　came　of　breezes
  now　dead；　and　the　ship　wallowed　thereon　and　sailed　but　slowly。
  In　a　while　the　old　man　opened　his　eyes　again；　and　said　in　a　low
  peevish　voice：　　〃Why　standest　thou　staring　at　me？　why　hast　thou　not
  gone　forward　to　look　upon　the　land？　　True　it　is　that　ye　Ravens　are
  short　of　wits。〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃Be　not　wrath；　chieftain；　I　was　wondering　at　thy
  words；　which　are　exceeding　marvellous；　tell　me　more　of　this　land　of
  the　Glittering　Plain。〃
  Said　the　Grandfather：　　〃Why　should　I　tell　it　thee？　ask　of　the
  mariners。　　They　all　know　more　than　thou　dost。〃
  〃Thou　knowest；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃that　these　men　speak　not　to　me；　and
  take　no　more　heed　of　me　than　if　I　were　an　image　which　they　were
  carrying　to　sell　to　the　next　mighty　man　they　may　hap　on。　　Or　tell　me；
  thou　old　man；〃　said　he　fiercely；　〃is　it　perchance　a　thrall…market
  whereto　they　are　bringing　me？　　Have　they　sold　her　there；　and　will
  they　sell　me　also　in　the　same　place；　but　into　other　hands。〃
  〃Tush！〃　said　the　Grandfather　somewhat　feebly；　〃this　last　word　of
  thine　is　folly；　there　is　no　buying　or　selling　in　the　land　whereto　we
  are　bound。　　As　to　thine　other　word；　that　these　men　have　no　fellowship
  with　thee；　it　is　true：　　thou　art　my　fellow　and　the　fellow　of　none
  else　aboard。　　Therefore　if　I　feel　might　in　me；　maybe　I　will　tell　thee
  somewhat。〃
  Then　he　raised　his　head　a　little　and　said：　　〃The　sun　grows　hot；　the
  wind　faileth　us；　and　slow　and　slow　are　we　sailing。〃
  Even　as　he　spoke　there　was　a　stir　amidships；　and　Hallblithe　looked
  and　beheld　the　mariners　handling　the　sweeps；　and　settling　themselves
  on　the　rowing…benches。　　Said　the　elder：　　〃There　is　noise　amidships；
  what　are　they　doing？〃
  The　old　man　raised　himself　a　little　again；　and　cried　out　in　his
  shrill　voice：　　〃Good　lads！　brave　lads！　　Thus　would　we　do　in　the　old
  time　when　we　drew　anear　some　shore；　and　the　beacons　were　sending　up
  smoke　by　day；　and　flame　benights；　and　the　shore…abiders　did　on　their
  helms　and　trembled。　　Thrust　her　through；　lads！　　Thrust　her　along！〃
  Then　he　fell　back　again；　and　said　in　a　weak　voice：　　〃Make　no　more
  delay；　guest；　but　go　forward　and　look　upon　the　land；　and　come　back
  and　tell　me　thereof；　and　then　the　tale　may　flow　from　me。　　Haste；
  haste！〃　　So　Hallblithe　went　down　from　the　poop；　and　in　to　the　waist；
  where　now　the　rowers　were　bending　to　their　oars；　and　crying　out
  fiercely　as　they　tugged　at　the　quivering　ash；　and　he　clomb　on　to　the
  forecastle　and　went　forward　right　to　the　dragon…head；　and　gazed　long
  upon　the　land；　while　the　dashing　of　the　oar…blades　made　the　semblance
  of　a　gale　about　the　ship's　black　sides。　　Then　he　came　back　again　to
  the　Sea…eagle；　who　said　to　him：　　〃Son；　what　hast　thou　seen？〃
  〃Right　ahead　lieth　the　land；　and　it　is　still　a　good　way　off。　　High
  rise　the　mountains　there；　but　by　seeming　there　is　no　snow　on　them；
  and　though　they　be　blue　they　are　not　blue　like　the　mountains　of　the
  Isle　of　Ransom。　　Also　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　fair　slopes　of　woodland
  and　meadow　come　down　to　the　edge　of　the　sea。　　But　it　is　yet　far
  away。〃
  〃Yea；〃　said　the　elder；　〃is　it　so？　　Then　will　I　not　wear　myself　with
  making　words　for　thee。　　I　will　rest　rather；　and　gather　might。　　Come
  again　when　an　hour　hath　worn；　and　tell　me　what　thou　seest；　and　may
  happen　then　thou　shalt　have　my　tale！〃　　And　he　laid　him　down　therewith
  and　seemed　to　be　asleep　at　once。　　And　Hallblithe　might　not　amend　it；
  so　he　waited　patiently　till　the　hour　had　worn；　and　then　went　forward
  again；　and　looked　long　and　carefully；　and　came　back　and　said　to　the
  Sea…eagle；　〃The　hour　is　worn。〃
  The　old　chieftain　turned　himself　about　and　said　〃What　hast　thou　seen？
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃The　mountains　are　pale　and　high；　and　below　them
  are　hills　dark　with　wood；　and　betwixt　them　and　the　sea　is　a　fair
  space　of　meadowland；　and　methought　it　was　wide。〃
  Said　the　old　man：　　〃Sawest　thou　a　rocky　skerry　rising　high　out　of　the
  sea　anigh　the　shore？〃
  〃Nay；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃if　there　be；　it　is　all　blended　with　the
  meadows