with　the　sea；　was　most　lovely　and　dainty　to　behold。　　But　Hallblithe
  knelt　by　the　Sea…eagle　to　note　how　he　fared；　and　said：　　〃How　is　it
  with　thee；　O　chieftain？〃
  The　old　man　answered　not　a　word；　and　he　seemed　to　be　asleep；　and
  Hallblithe　deemed　that　his　cheeks　were　ruddier　and　his　skin　less
  wasted　and　wrinkled　than　aforetime。　　Then　spake　one　of　those　women：
  〃Fear　not；　young　man；　he　is　well　and　will　soon　be　better。〃　　Her　voice
  was　as　sweet　as　a　spring　bird　in　the　morning；　she　was　white…skinned
  and　dark…haired；　and　full　sweetly　fashioned；　and　she　laughed　on
  Hallblithe；　but　not　mockingly；　and　her　fellows　also　laughed；　as
  though　it　was　strange　for　him　to　be　there。　　Then　they　did　on　their
  shoon　again；　and　with　the　carle　laid　their　hands　to　the　bed　whereon
  the　old　man　lay；　and　lifted　him　up；　and　bore　him　forth　on　to　the
  grass；　turning　their　faces　toward　the　flowery　wood　aforesaid；　and
  they　went　a　little　way　and　then　laid　him　down　again　and　rested；　and
  so　on　little　by　little；　till　they　had　brought　him　to　the　edge　of　the
  wood；　and　still　he　seemed　to　be　asleep。　　Then　the　damsel　who　had
  spoken　before；　she　with　the　dark　hair；　said　to　Hallblithe；　〃Although
  we　have　gazed　on　thee　as　if　with　wonder；　this　is　not　because　we　did
  not　look　to　meet　thee；　but　because　thou　art　so　fair　and　goodly　a　man：
  so　abide　thou　here　till　we　come　back　to　thee　from　out　of　the　wood。〃
  Therewith　she　stroked　his　hand；　and　with　her　fellows　lifted　the　old
  man　once　more；　and　they　bore　him　out　of　sight　into　the　thicket。
  But　Hallblithe　went　to　and　fro　a　dozen　paces　from　the　wood；　and
  looked　across　the　flowery　meads　and　deemed　he　had　never　seen　any　so
  fair。　　And　afar　off　toward　the　hills　he　saw　a　great　roof　arising；　and
  thought　he　could　see　men　also；　and　nigher　to　him　were　kine　pasturing；
  and　horses　also；　whereof　some　drew　anear　him　and　stretched　out　their
  necks　and　gazed　at　him；　and　they　were　goodly　after　their　kind；　and　a
  fair　stream　of　water　came　round　the　corner　out　of　the　wood　and　down
  the　meadows　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　the　damsel；　drawing　nearer　to　him　again；　〃Mayst　thou　find　it；
  thou　lovely　man；　and　whatsoever　else　thou　desirest。〃
  Then　he　said：　　〃Hath　a　woman　named　the　Hostage　been　brought　hither　of
  late　days？　　A　fair　woman；　bright…haired　and　grey…eyed；　kind　of
  countenance；　soft　of　speech；　yet　outspoken　and　nought　timorous；　tall
  according　to　our　stature；　but　very　goodly　of　fashion；　a　woman　of　the
  House　of　the　Rose；　and　my　troth…plight　maiden。〃
  They　looked　on　each　other　and　shook　their　heads；　and　the　black…haired
  damsel　spake：　　〃We　know　of　no　such　a　woman；　nor　of　the　kindred　which
  thou　namest。〃
  Then　his　countenance　fell；　and　became　piteous　with　desire　and　grief；
  and　he　bent　his　brows　upon　them；　for　they　seemed　to　him　light…minded
  and　careless；　though　they　were　lovely。
  But　they　shrank　from　him　trembling；　and　drew　aback；　for　they　had　all
  been　standing　close　to　him；　beholding　him　with　love；　and　she　who　had
  spoken　most　had　been　holding　his　left　hand　fondly。　　But　now　she　said：
  〃Nay；　look　not　on　us　so　bitterly！　　If　the　woman　be　not　in　the　land；
  this　cometh　not　of　our　malice。　　Yet　maybe　she　is　here。　　For　such　as
  come　hither　keep　not　their　old　names；　and　soon　forget　them　what　they
  were。　　Thou　shalt　go　with　us　to　the　King；　and　he　shall　do　for　thee
  what　thou　wilt；　for　he　is　exceeding　mighty。〃
  Then　was　Hallblithe　appeased　somewhat；　and　he　said：　　〃Are　there　many
  women　in　the　land？〃
  〃Yea；　many；〃　said　that　damsel。
  〃And　many　that　are　as　fair　as　ye　be？〃　said　he。　　Then　they　laughed　and
  were　glad；　and　drew　near　to　him　again　and　took　his　hands　and　kissed
  them；　and　the　black…haired　damsel　said：　　〃Yea；　yea；　there　be　many　as
  fair　as　we　be；　and　some　fairer；〃　and　she　laughed。
  〃And　that　King　of　yours；〃　said　he；　〃how　do　ye　name　him？〃
  〃He　is　the　King；〃　said　the　damsel。
  〃Hath　he　no　other　name？〃　said　Hallblithe。
  〃We　may　not　utter　it；〃　she　said；　〃but　thou　shalt　see　him　soon；　that
  there　is　nought　but　good　in　him　and　mightiness。〃
  CHAPTER　XI：　　THE　SEA…EAGLE　RENEWETH　HIS　LIFE
  But　while　they　spake　together　thus；　came　a　man　from　out　of　the　wood
  very　tall　of　stature；　red…bearded　and　black…haired；　ruddy…cheeked；
  full…limbed；　most　joyous　of　aspect；　a　man　by　seeming　of　five　and
  thirty　winters。　　He　strode　straight　up　to　Hallblithe；　and　cast　his
  arms　about　him；　and　kissed　his　cheek；　as　if　he　had　been　an　old　and
  dear　friend　newly　come　from　over　seas。
  Hallblithe　wondered　and　laughed；　and　said：　　〃Who　art　thou　that
  deemest　me　so　dear？〃
  Said　the　man：　　〃Short　is　thy　memory；　Son　of　the　Raven；　that　thou　in
  so　little　space　hast　forgotten　thy　shipmate　and　thy　faring…fellow；
  who　gave　thee　meat　and　drink　and　good　rede　in　the　Hall　of　the
  Ravagers。〃　　Therewith　he　laughed　joyously　and　turned　about　to　the
  three　maidens　and　took　them　by　the　hands　and　kissed　their　lips；　while
  they　fawned　upon　him　lovingly。
  Then　said　Hallblithe：　　〃Hast　thou　verily　gotten　thy　youth　again；
  which　thou　badest　me　wish　thee？〃
  〃Yea；　in　good　sooth；〃　said　the　red…bearded　man；　〃I　am　the　Sea…eagle
  of　old　days；　and　I　have　gotten　my　youth；　and　love　therewithal；　and
  somewhat　to　love　moreover。〃
  Therewith　he　turned　to　the　fairest　of　the　damsels；　and　she　was　white…
  skinned　and　fragrant　as　the　lily；　rose…cheeked　and　slender；　and　the
  wind　played　with　the　long　locks　of　her　golden　hair；　which　hung　down
  below　her　knees；　so　he　cast　his　arms　about　her　and　strained　her　to
  his　bosom；　and　kissed　her　face　many　times；　and　she　nothing　loth；　but
  caressing　him　with　lips　and　hand。　　But　the　other　two　damsels　stood　by
  smiling　and　joyous：　　and　they　clapped　their　hands　together　and　kissed
  each　other　for　joy　of　the　new　lover；　and　at　last　fell　to　dancing　and
  skipping　about　them　like　young　lambs　in　the　meadows　of　Spring…tide。
  But　amongst　them　all；　stood　up　Hallblithe　leaning　on　his　spear　with
  smiling　lips　and　knitted　brow；　for　he　was　pondering　in　his　mind　in
  what　wise　he　might　further　his　quest。
  But　after　they　had　danced　a　while　the　Sea…eagle　left　his　love　that　he
  had　chosen　and　took　a　hand　of　either　of　the　two　damsels；　and　led　them
  tripping　up　to　Hallblithe；　and　cried　out：　　〃Choose　thou；　Raven's
  baby；　which　of　these　twain　thou　wilt　have　to　thy　mate；　for　scarcely
  shalt　thou　see　better　or　fairer。〃
  But　Hallblithe　looked　on　them　proudly　and　sternly；　and　the　black…
  haired　damsel　hung　down　her　head　before　him　and　said　softly：　　〃Nay；
  nay；　sea…warrior；　this　one　is　too　lovely