al was Fox done with his loud-voiced braggart mood, and spoke
gently and peaceably like to a wayfarer, who hath business of his to look
to as other men. Now he pointed to certain rocks or low crags that a
little way off rose like a reef out of the treeless plain; then said he:
"Shipmate, underneath yonder rocks is our resting-place for to-night; and
I pray thee not to deem me churlish that I give thee no better harbour.
But I have a charge over thee to bring thee safe thus far on thy quest;
and thou wouldst find it hard to live among such housemates as thou
wouldst find up yonder amongst our folks to-night. But to-morrow shalt
thou come to speech with him who will deal with thee concerning the
ransom."

"It is enough," said Hallblithe, "and I thank thee for thy leading: and
as for thy rough and uncomely words which thou hast given me, I pardon
thee for them: for I am none the worse of them: forsooth, if I had been,
my sword would have had a voice in the matter."

"I am well content as it is, Son of the Raven," quoth Fox; "I have done
my bidding and all is well."

"Tell me then who it is hath bidden thee bring me hither?"

"I may not tell thee," said Fox; "thou art here, be content, as I am."

And he spake no more till they had come to the reef aforesaid, which was
some two furlongs from the place where they had come from out of the
cave. There then they set forth their supper on the stones, and ate what
they would, and drank of that good strong wine while the horn bare out.
And now was Fox of few words, and when Hallblithe asked him concerning
that land, he had little to say. And at last when Hallblithe asked him
of that so perilous house and those who manned it, he said to him:

"Son of the Raven, it avails not asking of these matters; for if I tell
thee aught concerning them I shall tell thee lies. Once again let it be
enough for thee that thou hast passed over the sea safely on thy quest;
and a more perilous sea it is forsooth than thou deemest. But now let us
have an end of vain words, and make our bed amidst these stones as best
we may; for we should be stirring betimes in the morning." Hallblithe
said little in answer, and they arrayed their sleeping places cunningly,
as the hare doth her form, and like men well used to lying abroad.

Hallblithe was very weary and he soon fell asleep; and as he lay there,
he dreamed a dream, or maybe saw a vision; whether he were asleep when he
saw it, or between slee