their weapons and war-
gear glittering in the sun. So the Erne laughed and said: "Shall we have
a word with War-brand then?"

But they rode steadily on their way, and when they came up to the knolls
they saw that it was War-brand indeed with a score of men at his back;
but they stirred not when they saw Erne's company that it was great. Then
Erne laughed aloud and cried out in a big voice, "What, lads! ye ride
early this morning; are there foemen abroad in the Isle?"

They shrank back before him, but a carle of those who was hindermost
cried out: "Art thou coming back to us, Erne, or have thy new friends
bought thee to lead them in battle?"

"Fear it nought," quoth Erne, "I shall be back before the shepherd's
noon."

So they went their ways and came to the haven, and there lay the Flaming
Sword, and beside her a trim bark, not right great, all ready for sea:
and Hallblithe's skiff was made fast to her for an after-boat.

Then the Hostage and Hallblithe and the six damsels went aboard her, and
when the Erne had bidden them farewell, they cast off the hawsers and
thrust her out through the haven-mouth; but ere they had got midmost of
the haven, they saw the Erne, that he had turned about, and was riding up
the dale with his house-carles, and each man's weapon was shining in his
hand: and they wondered if he were riding to battle with War-brand; and
Fox said: "Meseemeth our brother-in-arms hath in his mind to give those
waylayers an evil minute, and verily he is the man to do the same."

So they gat them out of the haven, and the ebb-tide drave out seaward
strongly, and the wind was fair for Cleveland by the Sea; and they ran
speedily past the black cliffs of the Isle of Ransom, and soon were they
hull down behind them. But on the afternoon of the next day they hove up
the land of the kindreds, and by sunset they beached their ship on the
sand by the Rollers of the Raven, and went ashore without more ado. And
the strand was empty of all men, even as on the day when Hallblithe first
met the Puny Fox. So then in the cool of the evening they went up toward
the House of the Raven. Those damsels went together hand in hand two by
two, and Hallblithe held the Hostage by the hand; but the Puny Fox went
along beside them, gleeful and of many words; telling them tales of his
wiles and his craft, and his skin-changing.

"But now," quoth he, "I have left all that behind me in the Isle of
Ransom, and have but one shape, a