amidst　it　unhurt；　and　laid　many　strokes　on　his　foeman；　and　did　all　so
  lightly　and　easily；　that　it　seemed　as　if　he　were　dancing　rather　than
  fighting；　and　the　folk　held　their　peace　and　began　to　doubt　if　their
  huge　champion　would　prevail。　　Now　the　red…haired　fetched　a　mighty
  stroke　at　the　alien；　who　leapt　aside　lightly　and　gat　his　sword　in　his
  left　hand　and　dealt　a　great　stroke　on　the　other's　head；　and　the　red…
  haired　staggered；　for　he　had　over…reached　himself；　and　again　the
  alien　smote　him　a　left…handed　stroke　so　that　he　fell　full　length　on
  the　floor　with　a　mighty　clatter；　and　the　sword　flew　out　of　his　hand：
  and　the　folk　were　dumb…founded。
  Then　the　alien　threw　himself　on　the　sea…champion；　and　knelt　upon　him；
  and　shortened　his　sword　as　if　to　slay　him　with　a　thrust。　　But　thereon
  the　man　overthrown　cried　out：　　〃Hold　thine　hand；　for　I　am　vanquished！
  Now　give　me　peace　according　to　the　bargain　struck　between　us；　that　I
  shall　serve　thee　year…long；　and　follow　thee　wheresoever　thou　goest。〃
  Therewith　the　alien　champion　arose　and　stood　off　from　him；　and　the
  man　of　the　sea　gat　to　his　feet；　and　did　off　his　helm；　so　that　all　men
  could　see　that　he　was　the　Puny　Fox。
  Then　the　victorious　champion　unhelmed　himself；　and　lo；　it　was
  Hallblithe！　　And　a　shout　arose　in　the　hall；　part　of　wonder；　part　of
  wrath。
  Then　cried　out　the　Puny　Fox：　　〃I　call　on　all　men　here　to　bear　witness
  that　by　reason　of　this　battle；　Hallblithe　of　the　Ravens　is　free　to
  come　and　go　as　he　will　in　the　Isle　of　Ransom；　and　to　take　help　of　any
  man　that　will　help　him；　and　to　depart　from　the　isle　when　he　will　and
  how　he　will；　taking　me　with　him　if　so　he　will。〃
  Said　the　chieftain：　　〃Yea；　this　is　right　and　due；　and　so　shall　it　be。
  But　now；　since　no　freeman；　who　is　not　a　foe　of　the　passing　hour；　may
  abide　in　our　hall　without　eating　of　our　meat；　come　up　here；
  Hallblithe；　and　sit　by　me；　and　eat　and　drink　of　the　best　we　have；
  since　the　Norns　would　not　give　us　thine　head　for　a　gable…knop。　　But
  what　wilt　thou　do　with　thy　thrall　the　Puny　Fox；　and　whereto　in　the
  hall　wilt　thou　have　him　shown？　　Or　wilt　thou　that　he　sit　fasting　in
  the　darkness　to…night；　laid　in　gyves　and　fetters？　　Or　shall　he　have
  the　cheer　of　whipping　and　stripes；　as　befitteth　a　thrall　to　whom　the
  master　oweth　a　grudge？　　What　is　thy　will　with　him？〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃My　will　is　that　thou　give　him　a　seat　next　to　me；
  whether　that　be　high　or　low；　or　the　bench　of　thy　prison…house。　　That
  he　eat　of　my　dish；　and　drink　of　my　cup；　whatsoever　the　meat　and　drink
  may　be。　　For　to…morrow　I　mean　that　we　twain　shall　go　under　the　earth…
  collar　together；　and　that　our　blood　shall　run　together　and　that　we
  shall　be　brothers　in　arms　henceforward。〃　　Then　Hallblithe　did　on　his
  helm　again　and　drew　his　sword；　and　looked　aside　to　the　Puny　Fox　to
  bid　him　do　the　like；　and　he　did　so；　and　Hallblithe　said：　　〃Chieftain；
  thou　hast　bidden　me　to　table；　and　I　thank　thee；　but　I　will　not　set　my
  teeth　in　meat；　out　of　our　own　house　and　land；　which　hath　not　been
  truly　given　to　me　by　one　who　wotteth　of　me；　unless　I　have　conquered
  it　as　a　prey　of　battle；　neither　will　I　cast　a　lie　into　the　loving…cup
  which　shall　pass　from　thy　lips　to　mine：　　therefore　I　will　tell　thee；
  that　though　I　laid　a　stroke　or　two　on　the　Puny　Fox；　and　those　no
  light　ones；　yet　was　this　battle　nought　true　and　real；　but　a　mere
  beguiling；　even　as　that　which　I　saw　foughten　in　this　hall　aforetime；
  when　meseemeth　the　slain　men　rose　up　in　time　to　drink　the　good…night
  cup。　　Therefore；　O　men　of　the　Ravagers；　and　thou；　O　Puny　Fox；　there
  is　nought　to　bind　your　hands　and　refrain　your　hearts；　and　ye　may　slay
  me　if　ye　will　without　murder　or　dishonour；　and　may　make　the　head　of
  Hallblithe　a　knop　for　your　feast…hall。　　Yet　shall　one　or　two　fall　to
  earth　before　I　fall。〃
  Therewith　he　shook　his　sword　aloft；　and　a　great　roar　arose；　and
  weapons　came　down　from　the　wall；　and　the　candles　shone　on　naked
  steel。　　But　the　Puny　Fox　came　and　stood　by　Hallblithe；　and　spake　in
  his　ear　amidst　the　uproar：　　〃Well　now；　brother…in…arms；　I　have　been
  trying　to　learn　thee　the　lore　of　lies；　and　surely　thou　art　the　worst
  scholar　who　was　ever　smitten　by　master。　　And　the　outcome　of　it　is
  that　I；　who　have　lied　so　long　and　well；　must　now　pay　for　all；　and　die
  for　a　barren　truth。〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃Let　all　be　as　it　will！　　I　love　thee；　lies　and　all；
  but　as　for　me　I　cannot　handle　them。　　Lo　you！　great　and　grim　shall　be
  the　slaying；　and　we　shall　not　fall　unavenged。〃
  Said　the　Puny　Fox：　　〃Hearken！　for　still　they　hang　back。　　Belike　it　is
  I　that　have　drawn　this　death　on　thee　and　me。　　My　last　lie　was　a
  fool's　lie　and　we　die　for　it：　　for　what　wouldst　thou　have　done　hadst
  thou　wotted　that　thy　beloved；　the　Hostage　of　the　Rose〃　　He　broke
  off　perforce；　for　Hallblithe　was　looking　to　right　and　left　and
  handling　his　sword；　and　heard　not　that　last　word　of　his；　and　from
  both　sides　of　the　hall　the　throng　was　drawing　round　about　those
  twain；　weapon　in　hand。　　Then　Hallblithe　set　his　eyes　on　a　big　man　in
  front　who　was　heaving　up　a　heavy　short…sword　and　thought　that　he
  would　at　least　slay　this　one。　　But　or　ever　he　might　smite；　the　great
  horn　blared　out　over　the　tumult；　and　men　forbore　a　while　and　fell
  somewhat　silent。
  Then　came　down　to　them　the　voice　of　the　chieftain；　a　loud　voice；　but
  clear　and　with　mirth　mingled　with　anger　in　it；　and　he　said：　　〃What　do
  these　fools　of　the　Ravagers　cumbering　the　floor　of　the　feast…hall；
  and　shaking　weapons　when　there　is　no　foeman　anigh？　　Are　they
  dreaming…drunk　before　the　wine　is　poured？　　Why　do　they　not　sit　down
  in　their　places；　and　abide　the　bringing　in　of　the　meat？　　And　ye
  women；　where　are　ye；　why　do　ye　delay　our　meat；　when　ye　may　well　wot
  that　our　hearts　are　drooping　for　hunger；　and　all　hath　been　duly　done；
  the　battle　of　the　champions　fought　and　won；　and　the　prize　of　war
  given　forth　and　taken？　　How　long；　O　folk；　shall　your　chieftains　sit
  fasting？〃
  Then　there　arose　great　laughter　in　the　hall；　and　men　withdrew　them
  from　those　twain　and　went　and　sat　them　down　in　their　places。
  Then　the　chieftain　said：　　〃Come　up　hither；　I　say；　O　Hallblithe；　and
  bring　thy　war…thrall　with　thee　if　thou　wilt。　　But　delay　not；　unless
  it　be　so　that　thou　art　neither　hungry　nor　thirsty；　and　good　sooth
  thou　shouldst　be　both；　for　men　say　that　the　ravens　are　hard　to
  satisfy。　　Come　then　and　make　good　cheer　with　us！〃
  So　Hallblithe　thrust　his　sword　into　the　sheath；　and　the　Puny　Fox　did
  the　like；　and　they　went　both　together　up　the　hall　to　the　high…seat。
  And　Hallblithe　sat　down　on　the　chieftain's　right　hand；　and　the　Puny
  Fox　next　to　him；　and　the　chieftain；　the　Erne；　said：　　〃O　Hallblithe；
  dost　thou　need　thine　armour　at　table；　or　dost　thou　find　it　handy　to
  take　thy　meat　clad　in　thy　byrny　and　girt　with　a　sword？〃
  Then　laughed　Hallblithe　and　said：　　〃Nay；　meseemeth　to…night　I　shall
  need　war…gear　no　more。〃　　And　he　stood　up　and　did　off　all　his　armour
  and　gave　it；　sword　and　all；　into　the　hands　of　a　woman；　who　bore　it
  off；　he　knew　not　whither。　　And　the　Erne　looked　on　him　and　said：
  〃Well　is　that！　and　now　I　see　that　thou　art　a　fair　young　man；　and　it
  is　no　marvel　though　maidens　desire　thee。〃
  As　he　spake　came　in　the　damsels　with　the　victual　and　the　cheer　was
  exceeding　good；　and　Hallblithe　grew　light…hearted。
  But　when　the　healths　had　been　drunk　as　aforetime；　and　men　had　drunk　a
  cup　or　two　thereafter；　there　rose　a　warrior　from　one　of　the　endlong
  benches；　a　big　young　man；　black…haired　and　black…bearded；　ruddy　of
  visage；　and　he　said　in　a　voice　that　was　rough　and　fat：　　〃O　Erne；　and
  ye　other　chieftains；　we　have　been　talking　here　at　our　table
  concerning　this　guest　of　thine　who　hath　beguiled　us；　and　we　are　not
  wholly　at　one　with　thee　as　to　thy　dealings　with　him。　　True　it　is；　now
  that　the　man　hath　our　meat　in　his　belly；　that　he　must　depart　from
  amongst　us　with　a　whole　skin；　unless　of　his　own　will　he　stand　up　to
  fight　some　man　of　us　here。　　Yet　some　of　us　think　that　he　is　not　so
  much　our　friend　that　we　should　help　him　to　a　keel　whereon　to　fare
  home　to　those　that　hate　us：　　and　we　say　that　it　would　not　be　unlawful
  to　let　the　man　abide　in　the　isle；　and　proclaim　him　a　wolf's…head
  within　a　half…moon　of　today。　　Or　what　sayest　thou？〃
  Said　the　Erne：　　〃Wait　for　my　word　a　while；　and　hearken　to　another！
  Is　the　Grey…goose　of　the　Ravagers　in　the　hall？　　Let　him　give　out　his
  word　on　this　matter。〃
  Then　arose　a　white…headed　carle　from　a　table　nigh　to　the　dais；　whose
  black　raiment　was　well　adorned　with　gold。　　Despite　his　years　his　face
  was　fair　and　little　wrinkled；　a　man　with　a　straight　nose　and　a　well…
  fashioned　mouth；　and　with　eyes　still　bright　and　grey。　　He　spake：　　〃O
  folk；　I　find　that　the　Erne　hath　done　well　in　cherishing　this　guest。
  For　first；　if　he　hath　beguiled　us；　he　did　it　not　save　by　the
  furtherance　and　sleight　of　our　own　kinsman；　therefore　if　any　one　is
  to　die　for　beguiling　us；　let　it　be　the　Puny　Fox。　　Secondly；　we　may
  well　wot　that　heavy　ne