eful and said but little, but Hallblithe sat wondering
how the world was changed for him since yesterday.

But now was the sky blown all clear of clouds and the wind piped shrill
behind them, and the great waves rose and fell about them, and the sun
glittered on them in many colours. Fast flew the boat before the wind as
though it would never stop, and the day was waning, and the wind still
rising; and now the Isle of Ransom uphove huge before them, and
coal-black, and no beach and no haven was to be seen therein; and still
they ran before the wind towards that black cliff-wall, against which the
sea washed for ever, and no keel ever built by man might live for one
moment 'twixt the surf and the cliff of that grim land. The sun grew
low, and sank red under the sea, and that world of stone swallowed up
half the heavens before them, for they were now come very nigh thereto;
nor could Hallblithe see aught for it, but that they must be dashed
against the cliff and perish in a moment of time.

Still the boat flew on; but now when the twilight was come, and they had
just opened up along reach of the cliff that lay beyond a high ness,
Hallblithe thought he saw down by the edge of the sea something darker
than the face of the rock-wall, and he deemed it was a cave: they came a
little nearer and he saw it was a great cave high enough to let a round-
ship go in with all her sails set.

"Son of the Raven," quoth Fox, "hearken, for thy heart is not little.
Yonder is the gate into the Isle of Ransom, and if thou wilt, thou mayst
go through it. Yet it may be that if thou goest ashore on to the Isle
something grievous shall befall thee, a trouble more than thou canst
bear: a shame it may be. Now there are two choices for thee: either to
go up on to the Isle and face all; or to die here by my hand having done
nothing unmanly or shameful: What sayest thou?"

"Thou art of many words when time so presses, Fox," said Hallblithe. "Why
should I not choose to go up on to the Island to deliver my trothplight
maiden? For the rest, slay me if thou canst, if we come alive out of
this cauldron of waters."

Said the big red man: "Look on then, and note Fox how he steereth, as it
were through a needle's eye."

Now were they underneath the black shadow of the black cliff and amidst
the twilight the surf was tossed about like white fire. In the lower
heavens the stars were beginning to twinkle and the moon was bright and
yellow, and aloft