Howbeit；　he　said　nought；　for　he　deemed　it　ill　to　wrangle　in　words
  with　one　whom　he　was　presently　to　meet　in　battle；　so　he　followed　as
  the　Puny　Fox　led。　　Fox　brought　him　past　the　reef　of　rock　aforesaid；
  and　up　a　narrow　cleft　of　the　cliffs　overlooking　the　sea；　whereby　they
  came　into　a　little　grass…grown　meadow　well　nigh　round　in　shape；　as
  smooth　and　level　as　a　hall…floor；　and　fenced　about　by　a　wall　of　rock：
  a　place　which　had　once　been　the　mouth　of　an　earth…fire；　and　a
  cauldron　of　molten　stone。
  When　they　stood　on　the　smooth　grass　Fox　said：　　〃Hold　thee　there　a
  little；　while　I　go　to　my　weapon…chest；　and　then　shall　we　see　what　is
  to　be　done。〃
  Therewith　he　turned　aside　to　a　cranny　of　the　rock；　and　going　down　on
  his　hands　and　knees；　fell　to　creeping　like　a　worm　up　a　hole　therein；
  which　belike　led　to　a　cavern；　for　after　his　voice　had　come　forth　from
  the　earth；　grunting　and　groaning；　and　cursing　this　thing；　and　that；
  out　he　comes　again　feet　first；　and　casts　down　an　old　rusty　sword
  without　a　sheath；　a　helm　no　less　rusty；　and　battered　withal；　and　a
  round　target；　curled　up　and　outworn　as　if　it　would　fall　to　pieces　of
  itself。　　Then　he　stands　up　and　stretches　himself；　and　smiles
  pleasantly　on　Hallblithe　and　says：　　〃Now；　mine　enemy；　when　I　have
  donned　helm　and　shield　and　got　my　sword　in　hand；　we　may　begin　the
  play：　　as　to　a　hauberk　I　must　needs　go　lack；　for　I　could　not　come　by
  it；　I　think　the　old　man　must　have　chaffered　it　away：　　he　was　ever　too
  money…fain。〃
  But　Hallblithe　looked　on　him　angrily　and　said：　　〃Hast　thou　brought　me
  hither　to　mock　me？　　Hast　thou　no　better　weapons　wherewith　to　meet　a
  warrior　of　the　Raven　than　these　rusty　shards；　which　look　as　if　thou
  hadst　robbed　a　grave　of　the　dead？　　I　will　not　fight　thee　so　armed。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　the　Puny　Fox；　〃and　from　out　of　a　grave　come　they　verily：
  for　in　that　little　hole　lieth　my　father's　grandsire；　the　great　Sea…
  mew　of　the　Ravagers；　the　father　of　that　Sea…eagle　whom　thou　knowest。
  But　since　thou　thinkest　scorn　of　these　weapons　of　a　dead　warrior；　in
  go　the　old　carle's　treasures　again！　　It　is　as　well　maybe；　since　he
  might　be　wrath　beyond　his　wont　if　he　were　to　wake　and　miss　them；　and
  already　this　cold　cup　of　the　once…boiling　rock　is　not　wholly　safe
  because　of　him。〃
  So　he　crept　into　the　hole　once　more；　and　out　of　it　presently；　and
  stood　smiting　his　palms　one　against　the　other　to　dust　them；　like　a
  man　who　has　been　handling　parchments　long　laid　by；　and　Hallblithe
  stood　looking　at　him；　still　wrathful；　but　silent。
  Then　said　the　Puny　Fox：　　〃This　at　least　was　a　wise　word　of　thine；
  that　thou　wouldst　not　fight　me。　　For　the　end　of　fighting　is　slaying；
  and　it　is　stark　folly　to　fight　without　slaying；　and　now　I　see　that
  thou　desirest　not　to　slay　me：　　for　if　thou　didst；　why　didst　thou
  refuse　to　fall　on　me　armed　with　the　ghosts　of　weapons　that　I　borrowed
  from　a　ghost？　　Nay；　why　didst　thou　not　slay　me　as　I　crept　out　of
  yonder　hole？　　Thou　wouldst　have　had　a　cheap　bargain　of　me　either　way。
  It　would　be　rank　folly　to　fight　me。〃
  Said　Hallblithe　hoarsely：　　〃Why　didst　thou　bewray　me；　and　lie　to　me；
  and　lure　me　away　from　the　quest　of　my　beloved；　and　waste　a　whole　year
  of　my　life？〃
  〃It　is　a　long　story；〃　said　the　Puny　Fox；　〃which　I　may　tell　thee　some
  day。　　Meantime　I　may　tell　thee　this；　that　I　was　compelled　thereto　by
  one　far　mightier　than　I；　to　wit　the　Undying　King。〃
  At　that　word　the　smouldering　wrath　blazed　up　in　Hallblithe；　and　he
  drew　his　sword　hastily　and　hewed　at　the　Puny　Fox：　　but　he　leapt　aside
  nimbly　and　ran　in　on　Hallblithe；　and　caught　his　sword…arm　by　the
  wrist；　and　tore　the　weapon　out　of　his　hand；　and　overbore　him　by　sheer
  weight　and　stature；　and　drave　him　to　the　earth。　　Then　he　rose　up；　and
  let　Hallblithe　rise　also；　and　took　his　sword　and　gave　it　into　his
  hand　again　and　said：　　〃Crag…nester；　thou　art　wrathful；　but　little。
  Now　thou　hast　thy　sword　again　and　mayst　slay　me　if　thou　wilt。　　Yet
  not　until　I　have　spoken　a　word　to　thee：　　so　hearken！　or　else　by　the
  Treasure　of　the　Sea　I　will　slay　thee　with　my　bare　hands。　　For　I　am
  strong　indeed　in　this　place　with　my　old　kinsman　beside　me。　　Wilt　thou
  hearken？〃
  〃Speak；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃I　hearken。〃
  Said　the　Puny　Fox：　　〃True　it　is　that　I　lured　thee　away　from　thy
  quest；　and　wore　away　a　year　of　thy　life。　　Yet　true　it　is　also　that　I
  repent　me　thereof；　and　ask　thy　pardon。　　What　sayest　thou？〃
  Hallblithe　spake　not；　but　the　heat　died　out　of　his　face　and　he　was
  become　somewhat　pale。　　Said　the　Puny　Fox：　　〃Dost　thou　not　remember；　O
  Raven；　how　thou　badest　me　battle　last　year　on　the　sea…shore　by　the
  side　of　the　Rollers　of　the　Raven？　and　how　this　was　to　be　the　prize　of
  battle；　that　the　vanquished　should　serve　the　vanquisher　year…long；
  and　do　all　his　will？　　And　now　this　prize　and　more　thou　hast　won
  without　battle；　for　I　swear　by　the　Treasure　of　the　Sea；　and　by　the
  bones　of　the　great　Sea…mew　yonder；　that　I　will　serve　thee　not　year…
  long　but　life…long；　and　that　I　will　help　thee　in　thy　quest　for　thy
  beloved。　　What　sayest　thou？〃
  Hallblithe　stood　speechless　a　moment；　looking　past　the　Puny　Fox；
  rather　than　at　him。　　Then　the　sword　tumbled　out　of　his　hand　on　to　the
  grass；　and　great　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks　and　fell　on　to　his
  raiment；　and　he　reached　out　his　hand　to　the　Puny　Fox　and　said：　　〃O
  friend；　wilt　thou　not　bring　me　to　her？　for　the　days　wear；　and　the
  trees　are　growing　old　round　about　the　Acres　of　the　Raven。〃
  Then　the　Puny　Fox　took　his　hand；　and　laughed　merrily　in　his　face；　and
  said：　　〃Great　is　thine　heart；　O　Carrion…biter！　　But　now　that　thou　art
  my　friend　I　will　tell　thee　that　I　have　a　deeming　of　the　whereabouts
  of　thy　beloved。　　Or　where　deemest　thou　was　the　garden　wherein　thou
  sawest　her　standing　on　the　page　of　the　book　in　that　dream　of　the
  night？　　So　it　is；　O　Raven…son；　that　it　is　not　for　nothing　that　my
  grandsire's　father　lieth　in　yonder　hole　of　the　rocks；　for　of　late　he
  hath　made　me　wise　in　mighty　lore。　　Thanks　have　thou；　O　kinsman！〃　　And
  he　turned　him　toward　the　rock　wherein　was　the　grave。
  But　Hallblithe　said：　　〃What　is　to　do　now？　　Am　I　not　in　a　land　of
  foemen？〃
  〃Yea；　forsooth；〃　said　the　Puny　Fox；　〃and　even　if　thou　knewest　where
  thy　love　is；　thou　shouldst　hardly　escape　from　this　isle　unslain；　save
  for　me。〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃Is　there　not　my　bark；　that　I　might　depart　at　once？
  for　I　deem　not　that　the　Hostage　is　on　the　Isle　of　Ransom。〃
  The　Puny　Fox　laughed　boisterously　and　said：　　〃Nay；　she　is　not。　　But
  as　to　thy　boat；　there　is　so　strong　a　set　of　the　flood…tide　toward
  this　end　of　the　isle；　that　with　the　wind　blowing　as　now；　from　the
  north…north…east；　thou　mayst　not　get　off　the　shore　for　four　hours　at
  least；　and　I　misdoubt　me　that　within　that　time　we　shall　have　tidings
  of　a　ship　of　ours　coming　into　the　haven。　　Thy　bark　they　shall　take；
  and　thee　also　if　thou　art　therein；　and　then　soon　were　the　story　told；
  for　they　know　thee　for　a　rebel　of　the　Undying　King。　　Hearken！　　Dost
  thou　not　hear　the　horn's　voice？　　Come　up　hither　and　we　shall　see　what
  is　towards。〃
  So　saying；　he　led　hastily　up　a　kind　of　stair　in　the　rock…wall；　until
  they　reached　a　cranny；　whence　through　a　hole　in　the　cliff；　they　could
  see　all　over　the　haven。　　And　lo！　as　they　looked；　in　the　very　gate　and
  entry　of　it　came　a　great　ship　heaving　up　her　bows　on　the　last　swell
  of　the　outer　sea　（where　the　wind　had　risen　somewhat）；　and　rolling
  into　the　smooth；　land…locked　water。　　Black　was　her　sail；　and　the
  image　of　the　Sea…eagle　enwrought　thereon　spread　wide　over　it；　and　the
  banner　of　the　Flaming　Sword　streamed　out　from　the　stern。　　Many　men
  all…weaponed　were　on　the　decks；　and　the　minstrels　high　up　on　the　poop
  were　blowing　a　merry　song　of　return　on　their　battle…horns。
  〃Lo；　you；〃　said　the　Puny　Fox；　〃thy　luck　or　mine　hath　served　thee　this
  time；　in　that　the　Flaming　Sword　did　not　overhaul　thee　ere　thou　madest
  the　haven。　　We　are　well　here　at　least。〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃But　may　not　some　of　them　come　up　hither
  perchance？〃
  〃Nay；　nay；〃　said　the　Puny　Fox；　〃they　fear　the　old　man　in　the　cleft
  yonder；　for　he　is　not　over　guest…fain。　　This　mead　is　mine　own；　as　for
  other　living　men；　it　is　my　unroofed　house；　and　I　have　here　a　house
  with　a　roof　also；　which　I　will　show　thee　presently。　　For　now　since
  the　Flaming　Sword　hath　come；　there　is　no　need　for　haste；　nay；　we
  cannot　depart　till　they　have　gone　up…country。　　So　I　will　show　thee
  presently　what　we　shall　do　to…night。〃
  So　there　they　sat　and　watched　those　men　bring　their　ship　to　the　shore
  and　moor　her　hard　by　Hallblithe's　boat。　　They　cried　out　when　they　saw
  her；　and　when　they　were　aland　they　gathered　about　her　to　note　her
  build；　and　the　fashion　of　the　spear　whereto　she　was　tied。　　Then　in　a
  while　the　more　part　of　them；　some　fourscore　in　number；　departed　up
  the　valley　toward　the　great　house　and　left　none　but　a　half　dozen
  ship…warders　behind。
  〃Seest　thou；　friend　of　the　Ravens；〃　said　the　Fox；　〃hadst　thou　been
  the