raight into the mid-most of the hall. There was
Hallblithe clad and armed in his Raven gear; but Fox gave him a vizard to
go over his face, so that none might know him when he entered therein.

CHAPTER XXI: OF THE FIGHT OF THE CHAMPIONS IN THE HALL OF THE RAVAGERS

Now it is to be told that the chieftains came into the hall that night
and sat down at the board on the dais, even as Hallblithe had seen them
do aforetime. And the chieftain of all, who was called the Erne of the
Sea-eagles, rose up according to custom and said: "Hearken, folk! this is
a night of the champions, whereon we may not eat till the pale blades
have clashed together, and one hath vanquished and another been overcome.
Now let them stand forth and give out the prize of victory which the
vanquished shall pay to the vanquisher. And let it be known, that,
whosoever may be the champion that winneth the battle, whether he be a
kinsman, or an alien, or a foeman declared; yea, though he have left the
head of my brother at the hall-door, he shall pass this night with us
safe from sword, safe from axe, safe from hand: he shall eat as we eat,
drink as we drink, sleep as we sleep, and depart safe from any hand or
weapon, and shall sail the sea at his pleasure in his own keel or in
ours, as to him and us may be meet. Blow up horns for the champions!"

So the horns blew a cheerful strain, and when they were done, there came
into the hall a tall man clad in black, and with black armour and weapons
saving the white blade of his sword. He had a vizard over his face, but
his hair came down from under his helm like the tail of a red horse.

So he stood amidst the floor and cried out: "I am the champion of the
Ravagers. But I swear by the Treasure of the Sea that I will cross no
blade to-night save with an alien, a foeman of the kindred. Hearest
thou, O chieftain, O Erne of the Sea-eagles?"

"Hear it I do," said the chieftain, "and I deem that thy meaning is that
we should go supperless to bed; and this cometh of thy perversity: for we
know thee despite thy vizard. Belike thou deemest that thou shalt not be
met this even, and that there is no free alien in the island to draw
sword against thee. But beware! For when we came aland this morning we
found a skiff of the aliens tied to a great spear stuck in the bank of
the haven; so that there will be one foeman at least abroad in the
island. But we said if we should come on the man, we would set his he