adows to the sea;
and Hallblithe went thereto and could see that there was but little ebb
and flow of the tide on that shore; for the water of the stream was clear
as glass, and the grass and flowers grew right down to its water; so he
put off his helm and drank of the stream and washed his face and his
hands therein, and then did on his helm again and turned back again
toward the wood, feeling very strong and merry; and he looked out seaward
and saw the Ship of the Isle of Ransom lessening fast; for a little land
wind had arisen and they had spread their sails to it; and he laid down
on the grass till the four folk of the country came out of the wood
again, after they had been gone somewhat less than an hour, but the Sea-
eagle was not with them: and Hallblithe rose up and turned to them, and
the carle saluted him and departed, going straight toward that far-away
roof he had seen; and the women were left with Hallblithe, and they
looked at him and he at them as he stood leaning on his spear.

Then said the black-haired damsel: "True it is, O Spearman, that if we
did not know of thee, our wonder would be great that a man so young and
lucky-looking should have sought hither."

"I wot not why thou shouldest wonder," said Hallblithe; "I will tell thee
presently wherefore I come hither. But tell me, is this the Land of the
Glittering Plain?"

"Even so," said the damsel, "dost thou not see how the sun shineth on it?
Just so it shineth in the season that other folks call winter."

"Some such marvel I thought to hear of," said he; "for I have been told
that the land is marvellous; and fair though these meadows be, they are
not marvellous to look on now: they are like other lands, though it
maybe, fairer."

"That may be," she said; "we have nought but hearsay of other lands. If
we ever knew them we have forgotten them."

Said Hallblithe, "Is this land called also the Acre of the Undying?"

As he spake the words the smile faded from the damsel's face; she and her
fellows grew pale, and she said: "Hold thy peace of such words! They are
not lawful for any man to utter here. Yet mayst thou call it the Land of
the Living."

He said: "I crave pardon for the rash word."

Then they smiled again, and drew near to him, and caressed him with their
hands, and looked on him lovingly; but he drew a little aback from them
and said: "I have come hither seeking something which I have lost, the
lack whereof grieveth me."

Quoth t