ached himself; and again the
alien smote him a left-handed stroke so that he fell full length on the
floor with a mighty clatter, and the sword flew out of his hand: and the
folk were dumb-founded.

Then the alien threw himself on the sea-champion, and knelt upon him, and
shortened his sword as if to slay him with a thrust. But thereon the man
overthrown cried out: "Hold thine hand, for I am vanquished! Now give me
peace according to the bargain struck between us, that I shall serve thee
year-long, and follow thee wheresoever thou goest."

Therewith the alien champion arose and stood off from him, and the man of
the sea gat to his feet, and did off his helm, so that all men could see
that he was the Puny Fox.

Then the victorious champion unhelmed himself, and lo, it was Hallblithe!
And a shout arose in the hall, part of wonder, part of wrath.

Then cried out the Puny Fox: "I call on all men here to bear witness that
by reason of this battle, Hallblithe of the Ravens is free to come and go
as he will in the Isle of Ransom, and to take help of any man that will
help him, and to depart from the isle when he will and how he will,
taking me with him if so he will."

Said the chieftain: "Yea, this is right and due, and so shall it be. But
now, since no freeman, who is not a foe of the passing hour, may abide in
our hall without eating of our meat, come up here, Hallblithe, and sit by
me, and eat and drink of the best we have, since the Norns would not give
us thine head for a gable-knop. But what wilt thou do with thy thrall
the Puny Fox; and whereto in the hall wilt thou have him shown? Or wilt
thou that he sit fasting in the darkness to-night, laid in gyves and
fetters? Or shall he have the cheer of whipping and stripes, as
befitteth a thrall to whom the master oweth a grudge? What is thy will
with him?"

Said Hallblithe: "My will is that thou give him a seat next to me,
whether that be high or low, or the bench of thy prison-house. That he
eat of my dish, and drink of my cup, whatsoever the meat and drink may
be. For to-morrow I mean that we twain shall go under the earth-collar
together, and that our blood shall run together and that we shall be
brothers in arms henceforward." Then Hallblithe did on his helm again
and drew his sword, and looked aside to the Puny Fox to bid him do the
like, and he did so, and Hallblithe said: "Chieftain, thou hast bidden me
to table, and I thank thee; but I will not set my