sea　anigh　the　shore？〃
  〃Nay；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃if　there　be；　it　is　all　blended　with　the
  meadows　and　the　hills。〃
  Said　the　Sea…eagle：　　〃Abide　the　wearing　of　another　hour；　and　come　and
  tell　me　again；　and　then　I　may　have　a　gainful　word　for　thee。〃　　And　he
  fell　asleep　again。　　But　Hallblithe　abided；　and　when　the　hour　was
  worn；　he　went　forward　and　stood　on　the　forecastle。　　And　this　was　the
  third　shift　of　the　rowers；　and　the　stoutest　men　in　the　ship　now　held
  the　oars　in　their　hands；　and　the　ship　shook　through　all　her　length
  and　breadth　as　they　drave　her　over　the　waters。
  So　Hallblithe　came　aft　to　the　old　man　and　found　him　asleep；　so　he
  took　him　by　the　shoulder；　and　shook　him　and　said：　　〃Awake；　faring…
  fellow；　for　the　land　is　a…nigh。〃
  So　the　old　man　sat　up　and　said：　　〃What　hast　thou　seen？〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃I　have　seen　the　peaks　and　cliffs　of　the　far…off
  mountains；　and　below　them　are　hills　green　with　grass　and　dark　with
  woods；　and　thence　stretch　soft　green　meadows　down　to　the　sea…strand；
  which　is　fair　and　smooth；　and　yellow。〃
  〃Sawest　thou　the　skerry？〃　said　the　Sea…eagle。
  〃Yea；　I　saw　it；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃and　it　rises　sheer　from　out　the
  sea　about　a　mile　from　the　yellow　strand；　but　its　rocks　are　black；
  like　the　rocks　of　the　Isle　of　Ransom。〃
  〃Son；〃　said　the　elder；　〃give　me　thine　hands　and　raise　me　up　a
  little。〃　　So　Hallblithe　took　him　and　raised　him　up；　so　that　he　sat
  leaning　against　the　pillows；　and　he　looked　not　on　Hallblithe；　but　on
  the　bows　of　the　ship；　which　now　pitched　but　a　little　up　and　down；　for
  the　sea　was　laid　quiet　now。　　Then　he　cried　in　his　shrill；　piping
  voice：　　〃It　is　the　Land！　　It　is　the　Land！〃
  But　after　a　little　while　he　turned　to　Hallblithe　and　spake：　　〃Short
  is　the　tale　to　tell：　　thou　hast　wished　me　youth；　and　thy　wish　hath
  thriven；　for　to…day；　ere　the　sun　goes　down；　thou　shalt　see　me　as　I
  was　in　the　days　when　I　reaped　the　harvest　of　the　sea　with　sharp　sword
  and　hardy　heart。　　For　this　is　the　land　of　the　Undying　King；　who　is
  our　lord　and　our　gift…giver；　and　to　some　he　giveth　the　gift　of　youth
  renewed；　and　life　that　shall　abide　here　the　Gloom　of　the　Gods。　　But
  none　of　us　all　may　come　to　the　Glittering　Plain　and　the　King　Undying
  without　turning　the　back　for　the　last　time　on　the　Isle　of　Ransom：
  nor　may　any　men　of　the　Isle　come　hither　save　those　who　are　of　the
  House　of　the　Sea…eagle；　and　few　of　those；　save　the　chieftains　of　the
  House；　such　as　are　they　who　sat　by　thee　on　the　high…seat　that　even。
  Of　these　once　in　a　while　is　chosen　one　of　us；　who　is　old　and　spent
  and　past　battle；　and　is　borne　to　this　land　and　the　gift　of　the
  Undying。　　Forsooth　some　of　us　have　no　will　to　take　the　gift；　for　they
  say　they　are　liefer　to　go　to　where　they　shall　meet　more　of　our
  kindred　than　dwell　on　the　Glittering　Plain　and　the　Acre　of　the
  Undying；　but　as　for　me　I　was　ever　an　overbearing　and　masterful　man；
  and　meseemeth　it　is　well　that　I　meet　as　few　of　our　kindred　as　may　be：
  for　they　are　a　strifeful　race。〃
  Hereat　Hallblithe　marvelled　exceedingly；　and　he　said：　　〃And　what　am　I
  in　all　this　story？　　Why　am　I　come　hither　with　thy　furtherance？〃
  Said　the　Sea…eagle：　　〃We　had　a　charge　from　the　Undying　King
  concerning　thee；　that　we　should　bring　thee　hither　alive　and　well；　if
  so　be　thou　camest　to　the　Isle　of　Ransom。　　For　what　cause　we　had　the
  charge；　I　know　not；　nor　do　I　greatly　heed。〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃And　shall　I　also　have　that　gift　of　undying　youth；
  and　life　while　the　world　of　men　and　gods　endureth？〃
  〃I　must　needs　deem　so；〃　said　the　Sea…eagle；　〃so　long　as　thou　abidest
  on　the　Glittering　Plain；　and　I　see　not　how　thou　mayst　ever　escape
  thence。〃
  Now　Hallblithe　heard　him；　how　he　said　〃escape；〃　and　thereat　he　was
  somewhat　ill　at　ease；　and　stood　and　pondered　a　little。　　At　last　he
  said：　　〃Is　this　then　all　that　thou　hast　to　tell　me　concerning　the
  Glittering　Plain？〃
  〃By　the　Treasure　of　the　Sea！〃　said　the　elder；　〃I　know　no　more　of　it。
  The　living　shall　learn。　　But　I　suppose　that　thou　mayst　seek　thy
  troth…plight　maiden　there　all　thou　wilt。　　Or　thou　mayst　pray　the
  Undying　King　to　have　her　thither　to　thee。　　What　know　I？　　At　least；　it
  is　like　that　there　shall　be　no　lack　of　fair　women　there：　　or　else　the
  promise　of　youth　renewed　is　nought　and　vain。　　Shall　this　not　be
  enough　for　thee？〃
  〃Nay；〃　said　Hallblithe。
  〃What；〃　said　the　elder；　〃must　it　be　one　woman　only？〃
  〃One　only；〃　said　Hallblithe。
  The　old　man　laughed　his　thin　mocking　laugh；　and　said：　　〃I　will　not
  assure　thee　but　that　the　land　of　the　Glittering　Plain　shall　change
  all　that　for　thee　so　soon　as　it　touches　the　soles　of　thy　feet。〃
  Hallblithe　looked　at　him　steadily　and　smiled；　and　said：　　〃Well　is　it
  then　that　I　shall　find　the　Hostage　there；　for　then　shall　we　be　of　one
  mind；　either　to　sunder　or　to　cleave　together。　　It　is　well　with　me
  this　day。〃
  〃And　with　me　it　shall　be　well　ere　long；〃　said　the　Sea…eagle。
  But　now　the　rowers　ceased　rowing　and　lay　on　their　oars；　and　the
  shipmen　cast　anchor；　for　they　were　but　a　bowshot　from　the　shore；　and
  the　ship　swung　with　the　tide　and　lay　side…long　to　the　shore。　　Then
  said　the　Sea…eagle：　　〃Look　forth；　shipmate；　and　tell　me　of　the　land。〃
  And　Hallblithe　looked　and　said：　　〃The　yellow　beach　is　sandy　and
  shell…strewn；　as　I　deem；　and　there　is　no　great　space　of　it　betwixt
  the　sea　and　the　flowery　grass；　and　a　bowshot　from　the　strand　I　see　a
  little　wood　amidst　which　are　fair　trees　blossoming。〃
  〃Seest　thou　any　folk　on　the　shore？〃　said　the　old　man。　　〃Yea；〃　said
  Hallblithe；　〃close　to　the　edge　of　the　sea　go　four；　and　by　seeming
  three　are　women；　for　their　long　gowns　flutter　in　the　wind。　　And　one
  of　these　is　clad　in　saffron　colour；　and　another　in　white；　and　another
  in　watchet；　but　the　carle　is　clad　in　dark　red；　and　their　raiment　is
  all　glistening　as　with　gold　and　gems；　and　by　seeming　they　are　looking
  at　our　ship　as　though　they　expected　somewhat。〃
  Said　the　Sea…eagle：　　〃Why　now　do　the　shipmen　tarry　and　have　not　made
  ready　the　skiff？　　Swillers　and　belly…gods　they　be；　slothful　swine
  that　forget　their　chieftain。〃
  But　even　as　he　spake　came　four　of　the　shipmen；　and　without　more　ado
  took　him　up；　bed　and　all；　and　bore　him　down　into　the　waist　of　the
  ship；　whereunder　lay　the　skiff　with　four　strong　rowers　lying　on　their
  oars。　　These　men　made　no　sign　to　Hallblithe；　nor　took　any　heed　of
  him；　but　he　caught　up　his　spear；　and　followed　them　and　stood　by　as
  they　lowered　the　old　man　into　the　boat。　　Then　he　set　his　foot　on　the
  gunwale　of　the　ship　and　leapt　down　lightly　into　the　boat；　and　none
  hindered　or　helped　him；　and　he　stood　upright　in　the　boat；　a　goodly
  image　of　battle　with　the　sun　flashing　back　from　his　bright　helm；　his
  spear　in　his　hand；　his　white　shield　at　his　back；　and　thereon　the
  image　of　the　Raven；　but　if　he　had　been　but　a　salt…boiling　carle　of
  the　sea…side　none　would　have　heeded　him　less。
  CHAPTER　X：　　THEY　HOLD　CONVERSE　WITH　FOLK　OF　THE　GLITTERING　PLAIN
  Now　the　rowers　lifted　the　ash…blades；　and　fell　to　rowing　towards
  shore：　　and　almost　with　the　first　of　their　strokes；　the　Sea…eagle
  moaned　out：
  〃Would　we　were　there；　oh；　would　we　were　there！　　Cold　groweth　eld
  about　my　heart。　　Raven's　Son；　thou　art　standing　up；　tell　me　if　thou
  canst　see　what　these　folk　of　the　land　are　doing；　and　if　any　others
  have　come　thither？〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃There　are　none　others　come；　but　kine　and　horses
  are　feeding　down　the　meadows。　　As　to　what　those　four　are　doing；　the
  women　are　putting　off　their　shoon；　and　girding　up　their　raiment；　as
  if　they　would　wade　the　water　toward　us；　and　the　carle；　who　was
  barefoot　before；　wendeth　straight　towards　the　sea；　and　there　he
  standeth；　for　very　little　are　the　waves　become。〃
  The　old　man　answered　nothing；　and　did　but　groan　for　lack　of　patience；
  but　presently　when　the　water　was　yet　waist　deep　the　rowers　stayed　the
  skiff；　and　two　of　them　slipped　over　the　gunwale　into　the　sea；　and
  between　them　all　they　took　up　the　chieftain　on　his　bed　and　got　him
  forth　from　the　boat　and　went　toward　the　strand　with　him；　and　the
  landsfolk　met　them　where　the　water　was　shallower；　and　took　him　from
  their　hands　and　bore　him　forth　on　to　the　yellow　sand；　and　laid　him
  down　out　of　reach　of　the　creeping　ripple　of　the　tide。　　Hallblithe
  withal　slipped　lightly　out　of　the　boat　and　waded　the　water　after
  them。　　But　the　shipmen　rowed　back　again　to　their　ship；　and　presently
  Hallblithe　heard　the　hale　and　how；　as　they　got　up　their　anchor。
  But　when　Hallblithe　was　come　ashore；　and　was　drawn　near　the　folk　of
  the　land；　the　women　looked　at　him　askance；　and　they　laughed　and　said：
  〃Welcome　to　thee　also；　O　young　man！〃　　And　he　beheld　them；　and　saw
  that　they　were　of　the　stature　of　the　maidens　of　his　own　land；　they
  were　exceeding　fair　of　skin　and　shapely　of　fashion；　so　that　the
  nakedness　of　their　limbs　under　their　girded　gowns；　and　all　glistening
  with　the　sea；　was　most　lovely　and　dainty　to　behold。　　But　Hallblithe