encompassed　by　lies；　and　beset　by　images　of　things　unhelpful。〃
  〃Yea；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　Hallblithe　of　the　Ravens；　wearied　with　desire
  for　my　troth…plight　maiden。〃
  Then　came　the　rosy　colour　into　the　fairness　of　her　face；　as　the
  rising　sun　lighteth　the　garden　of　flowers　in　the　June　morning；　and
  she　said：　　〃If　thou　art　Hallblithe；　tell　me　what　befell　to　the
  finger…gold…ring　that　my　mother　gave　me　when　we　were　both　but
  little。〃
  Then　his　face　grew　happy；　and　he　smiled；　and　he　said：　　〃I　put　it　for
  thee　one　autumntide　in　the　snake's　hole　in　the　bank　above　the　river；
  amidst　the　roots　of　the　old　thorn…tree；　that　the　snake　might　brood
  it；　and　make　the　gold　grow　greater；　but　when　winter　was　over　and　we
  came　to　look　for　it；　lo！　there　was　neither　ring　nor　snake；　nor　thorn…
  tree：　　for　the　flood　had　washed　it　all　away。〃
  Thereat　she　smiled　most　sweetly；　and　whereas　she　had　been　looking　on
  him　hitherto　with　strained　and　anxious　eyes；　she　now　beheld　him
  simply　and　friendly；　and　she　said：　　〃O　Hallblithe；　I　am　a　woman
  indeed；　and　thy　speech…friend。　　This　is　the　flesh　that　desireth　thee；
  and　the　life　that　is　thine；　and　the　heart　which　thou　rejoicest。　　But
  now　tell　me；　who　are　these　huge　images　around　us；　amongst　whom　I　have
  sat　thus；　once　in　every　moon　this　year　past；　and　afterwards　I　was
  taken　back　to　the　women's　bower？　　Are　they　men　or　mountain…giants？
  Will　they　slay　us；　or　shut　us　up　from　the　light　and　air？　　Or　hast
  thou　made　peace　with　them？　　Wilt　thou　then　dwell　with　me　here；　or
  shall　we　go　back　again　to　Cleveland　by　the　Sea？　　And　when；　oh　when；
  shall　we　depart？〃
  He　smiled　and　said：　　〃Quick　come　thy　questions；　beloved。　　These　are
  the　folks　of　the　Ravagers　and　the　Sea…eagles：　　they　be　men；　though
  fierce　and　wild　they　be。　　Our　foes　they　have　been；　and　have　sundered
  us；　but　now　are　they　our　friends；　and　have　brought　us　together。　　And
  to…morrow；　O　friend；　shall　we　depart　across　the　waters　to　Cleveland
  by　the　Sea。〃
  She　leaned　forward；　and　was　about　to　speak　softly　to　him；　but
  suddenly　started　back；　and　said：　　〃There　is　a　big；　red…haired　man；　as
  big　as　any　here；　behind　thy　shoulder。　　Is　he　also　a　friend？　　What
  would　he　with　us？〃
  So　Hallblithe　turned　about；　and　beheld　the　Puny　Fox　beside　him；　who
  took　up　the　word　and　spoke；　smiling　as　a　man　in　great　glee：　　〃O
  maiden　of　the　Rose；　I　am　Hallblithe's　thrall；　and　his　scholar；　to
  unlearn　the　craft　of　lying；　whereby　I　have　done　amiss　towards　both
  him　and　thee。　　Whereof　I　will　tell　thee　all　the　tale　soon。　　But　now　I
  will　say　that　it　is　true　that　we　depart　to…morrow　for　Cleveland　by
  the　Sea；　thou　and　he；　and　I　in　company。　　Now　I　would　ask　thee；
  Hallblithe；　if　thou　wouldst　have　me　bestow　this　gift　of　thine　in
  safe…keeping　to…night；　since　there　is　an　end　of　her　sitting　in　the
  hall　like　a　graven　image：　　and　to…morrow　the　way　will　be　long　and
  wearisome；　What　sayest　thou？〃
  Said　the　Hostage：　　〃Shall　I　trust　this　man　and　go　with　him？〃
  〃Yea；　thou　shalt　trust　him；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃for　he　is　trusty。　　And
  even　were　he　not；　it　is　meet　for　us　of　the　Raven　and　the　Rose　to　do
  as　our　worth　biddeth　us；　and　not　to　fear　this　folk。　　And　it　behoveth
  us　to　do　after　their　customs　since　we　are　in　their　house。〃
  〃That　is　sooth；〃　she　said；　〃big　man；　lead　me　out　of　the　hall　to　my
  place。　　Farewell；　Hallblithe；　for　a　little　while；　and　then　shall
  there　be　no　more　sundering　for　us。〃
  Therewith　she　departed　with　the　Puny　Fox；　and　Hallblithe　went　back　to
  the　high…seat　and　sat　down　by　the　Erne；　who　laughed　on　him　and　said：
  〃Thou　hast　taken　my　gift；　and　that　is　well：　　yet　shall　I　tell　thee
  that　I　would　not　have　given　it　to　thee　if　I　could　have　kept　it　for
  myself　in　such　plight　as　thou　wilt　have　it。　　But　all　I　could　do；　and
  the　Puny　Fox　to　help　withal；　availed　me　nought。　　So　good　luck　go　with
  thine　hands。　　Now　will　we　to　bed；　and　to…morrow　I　will　lead　thee　out
  on　thy　way；　for　to　say　sooth；　there　be　some　here　who　are　not　well
  pleased　with　either　thee　or　me；　and　thou　knowest　that　words　are
  wasted　on　wilful　men；　but　that　deeds　may　avail　somewhat。〃
  Therewith　he　cried　out　for　the　cup　of　good…night；　and　when　it　was
  drunken；　Hallblithe　was　shown　to　a　fair　shut…bed；　even　that　wherein
  he　had　lain　aforetime；　and　there　he　went　to　sleep　in　joy；　and　in　good
  liking　with　all　men。
  CHAPTER　XXII：　　THEY　GO　FROM　THE　ISLE　OF　RANSOM　AND　COME　TO　CLEVELAND
  BY　THE　SEA
  In　the　morning　early　Hallblithe　arose　from　his　bed；　and　when　he　came
  into　the　mid…hall；　there　was　the　Puny　Fox　and　the　Hostage　with　him；
  Hallblithe　kissed　her　and　embraced　her；　and　she　him；　yet　not　like
  lovers　long　sundered；　but　as　a　man　and　maid　betrothed　are　wont　to　do；
  for　there　were　folk　coming　and　going　about　the　hall。　　Then　spake　the
  Puny　Fox：　　〃The　Erne　is　abiding　us　out　in　the　meadow　yonder；　for　now
  nought　will　serve　him　but　he　must　needs　go　under　the　earth…collar
  with　us。　　How　sayest　thou；　is　he　enough　thy　friend？〃
  Said　Hallblithe；　smiling　on　the　Hostage：　　〃What　hast　thou　to　say　to
  it；　beloved？〃
  〃Nought　at　all；〃　she　said；　〃if　thou　art　friend　to　any　of　these　men。
  I　may　deem　that　I　have　somewhat　against　the　chieftain；　whereof　belike
  this　big　man　may　tell　thee　hereafter；　but　even　so　much　meseemeth　I
  have　against　this　man　himself；　who　is　now　become　thy　friend　and
  scholar；　for　he　also　strove　for　my　beguilement；　and　that　not　for
  himself；　but　for　another。〃
  〃True　it　is；〃　said　the　Fox；　〃that　I　did　it　for　another；　even　as
  yesterday　I　took　thy　mate　Hallblithe　out　of　the　trap　whereinto　he　had
  strayed；　and　compassed　his　deliverance　by　means　of　the　unfaithful
  battle；　and　even　as　I　would　have　stolen　thee　for　him；　O　Rose…maiden；
  if　need　had　been；　yea；　even　if　I　must　have　smitten　into　ruin　the
  roof…tree　of　the　Ravagers。　　And　how　could　I　tell　that　the　Erne　would
  give　thee　up　unstolen？　　Yea；　thou　sayeth　sooth；　O　noble　and　spotless
  maiden；　all　my　deeds；　both　good　and　ill；　have　I　done　for　others；　and
  so　I　deem　it　shall　be　while　my　life　lasteth。〃
  Then　Hallblithe　laughed　and　said：　　〃Art　thou　nettled；　fellow…in…arms；
  at　the　word　of　a　woman　who　knoweth　thee　not？　　She　shall　yet　be　thy
  friend；　O　Fox。　　But　tell　me；　beloved；　I　deemed　that　thou　hadst　not
  seen　Fox　before；　how　then　can　he　have　helped　the　Erne　against　thee？〃
  〃Yet　she　sayeth　sooth；〃　said　Fox；　〃this　was　of　my　sleight：　　for　when
  I　had　to　come　before　her；　I　changed　my　skin；　as　I　well　know　how；
  there　are　others　in　this　land　who　can　do　so　much　as　that。　　But　what
  sayest　thou　concerning　the　brotherhood　with　the　Erne？〃
  〃Let　it　be　so；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃he　is　manly　and　true；　though
  masterful；　and　is　meet　for　this　land　of　his。　　I　shall　not　fall　out
  with　him；　for　seldom　meseemeth　shall　I　see　the　Isle　of　Ransom。〃
  〃And　I　never　again；〃　said　the　Puny　Fox。
  〃Dost　thou　loathe　it；　then；〃　said　the　Hostage；　〃because　of　the　evil
  thou　hast　done　therein？〃
  〃Nay；〃　said　he；　〃what　is　the　evil；　when　henceforth　I　shall　do　but
  good？　　Nay；　I　love　the　land。　　Belike　thou　deemest　it　but　dreary　with
  its　black　rocks　and　black　sand；　and　treeless　wind…swept　dales；　but　I
  know　it　in　summer　and　winter；　and　sun　and　shade；　in　storm　and　calm。
  And　I　know　where　the　fathers　dwelt　and　the　sons　of　their　sons'　sons
  have　long　lain　in　the　earth。　　I　have　sailed　its　windiest　firths；　and
  climbed　its　steepest　crags；　and　ye　may　well　wot　that　it　hath　a
  friendly　face　to　me；　and　the　land…wights　of　the　mountains　will　be
  sorry　for　my　departure。〃
  So　he　spake；　and　Hallblithe　would　have　answered　him；　but　by　now　were
  they　come　to　a　grassy　hollow　amidst　the　dale；　where　the　Erne　had
  already　made　the　earth…yoke　ready。　　To　wit；　he　had　loosened　a　strip
  of　turf　all　save　the　two　ends；　and　had　propped　it　up　with　two　ancient
  dwarf…wrought　spears；　so　that　amidmost　there　was　a　lintel　to　go
  under。
  So　when　he　saw　those　others　coming；　he　gave　them　the　sele　of　the　day；
  and　said　to　Hallblithe：　　〃What　is　it　to　be？　shall　I　be　less　than　thy
  brother…in…arms　henceforward？〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃Not　a　whit　less。　　It　is　good　to　have　brothers　in
  other　lands　than　one。〃
  So　they　made　no　delay；　but　clad　in　all　their　war…gear；　they　went
  under　the　earth…yoke　one　after　the　other；　thereafter　they　stood
  together；　and　each　let　blood　in　his　arm；　so　that　the　blood　of　all
  three　mingled　together　fell　down　on　the　grass　of　the　ancient　earth；
  and　they　swore　friendship　and　brotherhood　each　to　each。
  But　when　all　was　done　the　Erne　spake：　　〃Brother　Hallblithe；　as　I　lay
  awake　in　bed　this　morning　I　deemed　that　I　would　take　ship　with　thee
  to　Cleveland　by　the　Sea；　that　I　might　dwell　there　a　while。　　But　when
  I　came　out　of　the　hall；　and　saw　the　dale　lying　green　betwixt　hill…
  side　and　hill…side；　and　the　glittering　river　running　down　amidmost；
  and　the　sheep　and　kine　and　horses　feeding　up　and　down　on　either　side
  the　water：　　and　I　looked　up　at　the　fells　and　saw　how　deep　blue　they
  stood　up　against　the　snowy　peaks；　and　I　thought　of　all　our　deeds　on
  the