And how could I tell that the Erne would
give thee up unstolen? Yea, thou sayeth sooth, O noble and spotless
maiden; all my deeds, both good and ill, have I done for others; and
so I deem it shall be while my life lasteth."
Then Hallblithe laughed and said: "Art thou nettled, fellow-in-arms,
at the word of a woman who knoweth thee not? She shall yet be thy
friend, O Fox. But tell me, beloved, I deemed that thou hadst not
seen Fox before; how then can he have helped the Erne against thee?"
"Yet she sayeth sooth," said Fox, "this was of my sleight: for when
I had to come before her, I changed my skin, as I well know how;
there are others in this land who can do so much as that. But what
sayest thou concerning the brotherhood with the Erne?"
"Let it be so," said Hallblithe, "he is manly and true, though
masterful, and is meet for this land of his. I shall not fall out
with him; for seldom meseemeth shall I see the Isle of Ransom."
"And I never again," said the Puny Fox.
"Dost thou loathe it, then," said the Hostage, "because of the evil
thou hast done therein?"
"Nay," said he, "what is the evil, when henceforth I shall do but
good? Nay, I love the land. Belike thou deemest it but dreary with
its black rocks and black sand, and treeless wind-swept dales; but I
know it in summer and winter, and sun and shade, in storm and calm.
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