d he, "my craft is thieving and carrying off
the daughters of folk, so that we may have a ransom for them. Wilt thou
come over the waters with me?"

Hallblithe said wrathfully:

"Nay, rather, come thou ashore here! Thou seemest a big man, and belike
shall be good of thine hands. Come and fight with me; and then he of us
who is vanquished, if he be unslain, shall serve the other for a year,
and then shalt thou do my business in the ransoming."

The man in the boat laughed again, and that so scornfully that he angered
Hallblithe beyond measure: then he arose in the boat and stood on his
feet swaying from side to side as he laughed. He was passing big, long-
armed and big-headed, and long hair came from under his helm like the
tail of a red horse; his eyes were grey and gleaming, and his mouth wide.

In a while he stayed his laughter and said: "O Warrior of the Raven, this
were a simple game for thee to play; though it is not far from my mind,
for fighting when I needs must win is no dull work. Look you, if I slay
or vanquish thee, then all is said; and if by some chance stroke thou
slayest me, then is thine only helper in this matter gone from thee. Now
to be short, I bid thee come aboard to me if thou wouldst ever hear
another word of thy damsel betrothed. And moreover this need not hinder
thee to fight with me if thou hast a mind to it thereafter; for we shall
soon come to a land big enough for two to stand on. Or if thou listest
to fight in a boat rocking on the waves, I see not but there may be
manhood in that also."

Now was the hot wrath somewhat run off Hallblithe, nor durst he lose any
chance to hear a word of his beloved; so he said: "Big man, I will come
aboard. But look thou to it, if thou hast a mind to bewray me; for the
sons of the Raven die hard."

"Well," said the big man, "I have heard that their minstrels are of many
words, and think that they have tales to tell. Come aboard and loiter
not." Then Hallblithe waded the surf and lightly strode over the gunwale
of the skiff and sat him down. The big man thrust out into the deep and
haled home the sheet; but there was but little wind.

Then said Hallblithe: "Wilt thou have me row, for I wot not whitherward
to steer?"

Said the red carle: "Maybe thou art not in a hurry; I am not: do as thou
wilt." So Hallblithe took the oars and rowed mightily, while the alien
steered, and they went swiftly and lightly over the sea, and the waves
were lit