e and found her not, nor the ship which had borne her away. I sailed
from thence to the Isle of Ransom, for they told me that there I should
buy her for a price; neither was her body there. But her image came to
me in a dream of the night, and bade me seek to her hither. Therefore, O
King, if she be here in the land, show me how I shall find her, and if
she be not here, show me how I may depart to seek her otherwhere. This
is all my asking."

Said the King: "Thy desire shall be satisfied; thou shalt have the woman
who would have thee, and whom thou shouldst have."

Hallblithe was gladdened beyond measure by that word; and now did the
King seem to him a comfort and a solace to every heart, even as he had
deemed of his carven image in the Hall of the Ravagers; and he thanked
him, and blessed him.

But the King bade him abide by him that night, and feast with him. "And
on the morrow," said he, "thou shalt go thy ways to look on her whom thou
oughtest to love."

Therewith was come the eventide and beginning of night, warm and fragrant
and bright with the twinkling of stars, and they went into the King's
pavilion, and there was the feast as fair and dainty as might be; and
Hallblithe had meat from the King's own dish, and drink from his cup; but
the meat had no savour to him and the drink no delight, because of the
longing that possessed him.

And when the feast was done, the damsels led Hallblithe to his bed in a
fair tent strewn with gold about his head like the starry night, and he
lay down and slept for sheer weariness of body.

CHAPTER XIII: HALLBLITHE BEHOLDETH THE WOMAN WHO LOVETH HIM

But on the morrow the men arose, and the Sea-eagle and his damsel came to
Hallblithe; for the other two damsels were departed, and the Sea-eagle
said to him:

"Here am I well honoured and measurelessly happy; and I have a message
for thee from the King."

"What is it?" said Hallblithe; but he deemed that he knew what it would
be, and he reddened for the joy of his assured hope.

Said the Sea-eagle: "Joy to thee, O shipmate! I am to take thee to the
place where thy beloved abideth, and there shalt thou see her, but not so
as she can see thee; and thereafter shalt thou go to the King, that thou
mayst tell him if she shall accomplish thy desire."

Then was Hallblithe glad beyond measure, and his heart danced within him,
and he deemed it but meet that the others should be so joyous and blithe
with him, for they le