e smiled on her and said: "I thank thee, sister, for the kiss
and the greeting; but I come here having a lack."

"Tell us," she said, "that we may do thee a pleasure."

He said: "I would ask the folk to give me timber, both beams and battens
and boards; for if I hew in the wood it will take long to season."

"All this is free for thee to take from our wood-store when thou hast
broken thy fast with us," said the damsel. "Come thou in and rest thee."

She took him by the hand and they went in together, and she gave him to
eat and drink, and went up and down the house, saying to every one: "Here
is come the Wood-lover, and he is glad again; come and see him."

So the folk gathered about him, and made much of him. And when they had
made an end of breakfast, the head man of the House said to him: "The
beasts are in the wain, and the timber abideth thy choosing; come and
see."

So he brought Hallblithe to the timber-bower, where he chose for himself
all that he needed of oak-timber of the best; and they loaded the wain
therewith, and gave him what he would moreover of nails and treenails and
other matters; and he thanked them; and they said to him: "Whither now
shall we lead thy timber?"

"Down to the sea-side," quoth he, "nighest to my dwelling."

So did they, and more than a score, men and women, went with him, some in
the wain, and some afoot. Thus they came down to the sea-shore, and laid
the timber on the strand just above high-water mark; and straightway
Hallblithe fell to work shaping him a boat, for well he knew the whole
craft thereof; and the folk looked on wondering, till the tide had ebbed
the little it was wont to ebb, and left the moist sand firm and smooth;
then the women left watching Hallblithe's work, and fell to paddling
barefoot in the clear water, for there was scarce a ripple on the sea;
and the carles came and played with them so that Hallblithe was left
alone a while; for this kind of play was new to that folk, since they
seldom came down to the sea-side. Thereafter they needs must dance
together, and would have had Hallblithe dance with them; and when he
naysaid them because he was fain of his work, in all playfulness they
fell to taking the adze out of his hand, whereat he became somewhat
wroth, and they were afraid and went and had their dance out without him.

By this time the sun was grown very hot, and they came to him again, and
lay down about him and watched his work, for they were