selves, and brought forth fair cushions
and a gilded table, and laid dainty victual thereon and good wine.

So they ate and drank together, and the Sea-eagle and his mate became
very joyous again, and Hallblithe bestirred himself not to be a
mar-feast; for he said within himself: "I am departing, and after this
time I shall see them no more; and they are kind and blithe with me, and
have been aforetime; I will not make their merry hearts sore. For when I
am gone I shall be remembered of them but a little while."

CHAPTER XVI: THOSE THREE GO THEIR WAYS TO THE EDGE OF THE GLITTERING
PLAIN

So the evening wore merrily; and they made Hallblithe lie in an ingle of
the tent on a fair bed, and he was weary, and slept thereon like a child.
But in the morning early they waked him; and while they were breaking
their fast they began to speak to him of his departure, and asked him if
he had an inkling of the way whereby he should get him gone, and he said:
"If I escape it must needs be by way of the mountains that wall the land
about till they come down to the sea. For on the sea is no ship and no
haven; and well I wot that no man of the land durst or can ferry me over
to the land of my kindred, or otherwhere without the Glittering Plain.
Tell me therefore (and I ask no more of you), is there any rumour or
memory of a way that cleaveth yonder mighty wall of rock to other lands?"

Said the damsel: "There is more than a memory or a rumour: there is a
road through the mountains known to all men. For at whiles the earthly
pilgrims come into the Glittering Plain thereby; and yet but seldom, so
many are the griefs and perils which beset the wayfarers on that road.
Whereof thou hadst far better bethink thee in time, and abide here and be
happy with us and others who long sore to make thee happy."

"Nay," said Hallblithe, "there is nought to do but tell me of the way,
and I will depart at once, blessing you."

Said the Sea-eagle: "More than that at least will we do. May I lose the
bliss whereto I have attained, if I go not with thee to the very edge of
the land of the Glittering Plain. Shall it not be so, sweetheart?"

"Yea, at least we may do that," said the damsel; and she hung her head as
if she were ashamed, and said: "And that is all that thou wilt get from
us at most."

Said Hallblithe: "It is enough, and I asked not so much."

Then the damsel busied herself, and set meat and drink in two wallets,
and took one h