id Hallblithe: "And shall I also have that gift of undying youth, and
life while the world of men and gods endureth?"

"I must needs deem so," said the Sea-eagle, "so long as thou abidest on
the Glittering Plain; and I see not how thou mayst ever escape thence."

Now Hallblithe heard him, how he said "escape," and thereat he was
somewhat ill at ease, and stood and pondered a little. At last he said:
"Is this then all that thou hast to tell me concerning the Glittering
Plain?"

"By the Treasure of the Sea!" said the elder, "I know no more of it. The
living shall learn. But I suppose that thou mayst seek thy troth-plight
maiden there all thou wilt. Or thou mayst pray the Undying King to have
her thither to thee. What know I? At least, it is like that there shall
be no lack of fair women there: or else the promise of youth renewed is
nought and vain. Shall this not be enough for thee?"

"Nay," said Hallblithe.

"What," said the elder, "must it be one woman only?"

"One only," said Hallblithe.

The old man laughed his thin mocking laugh, and said: "I will not assure
thee but that the land of the Glittering Plain shall change all that for
thee so soon as it touches the soles of thy feet."

Hallblithe looked at him steadily and smiled, and said: "Well is it then
that I shall find the Hostage there; for then shall we be of one mind,
either to sunder or to cleave together. It is well with me this day."

"And with me it shall be well ere long," said the Sea-eagle.

But now the rowers ceased rowing and lay on their oars, and the shipmen
cast anchor; for they were but a bowshot from the shore, and the ship
swung with the tide and lay side-long to the shore. Then said the Sea-
eagle: "Look forth, shipmate, and tell me of the land."

And Hallblithe looked and said: "The yellow beach is sandy and
shell-strewn, as I deem, and there is no great space of it betwixt the
sea and the flowery grass; and a bowshot from the strand I see a little
wood amidst which are fair trees blossoming."

"Seest thou any folk on the shore?" said the old man. "Yea," said
Hallblithe, "close to the edge of the sea go four; and by seeming three
are women, for their long gowns flutter in the wind. And one of these is
clad in saffron colour, and another in white, and another in watchet; but
the carle is clad in dark red; and their raiment is all glistening as
with gold and gems; and by seeming they are looking at our ship as though
they e