clad, the old woman came to him, and took him by the hand, and led him to the board, and signed to him to eat of what was thereon; and he did so; and

d and went out a-doors; and there close by the porch lay the Long-hoary upon a horse-litter. So Hallblithe came up to him and

ether, and they looked on him and laughed mockingly; so he said to the elder: "Even fools may

y, I will tell thee; at some of our feasts it is not lawful to eat either for the chieftains or the carles, till a champion hath given forth a challenge, and been answe

of the Long-hoary down along the river. They passed by no other house, save here and there a cot beside some fold or byre; they went easily, for the way was smooth by the river-side; so in less than two hours they came where the said river ran into the sea. There was no beach there, for the water was t

to him and said: "Seest thou, son, how easy it is for us twain to be shipped for the land whither we would go? But as easy as it is for thee to go thither whereas we are going, just so hard had it been for thee to go elsewhere. Moreover I must tell thee that though many an one of the Isle of Ransom desireth to go this voyage, the

e way or other. Meseems I am drawn to go thither whereas we are going; therefore I deem that I sha

Grandfather, "how many wom

ll thee?" sai

lder, "how many exceedin

the, "Indeed

hast thou seen?" s

s of my folk are fair, and there will

ince thy sundering from thy beloved, would have said that in thy deeming the

rst, as though he were angry;

way: "I wonder if before long I

the gibe against himself; and the Grandfather beheld him, and laughed

what ails thee to laugh so? W

still more, "only thou lookest so mazed. An

en-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 th