d down the stony slope.

This way and that way and all about he gazed, straining his eyes if
perchance he might see any diversity in the stony waste; and at last
betwixt two peaks of the rock-wall on his left hand he descried a streak
of green mingling with the cold blue of the distance; and he thought in
his heart that this was the last he should see of the Glittering Plain.
Then he spake aloud in that desert, and said, though there was none to
hear: "Now is my last hour come; and here is Hallblithe of the Raven
perishing, with his deeds undone and his longing unfulfilled, and his
bridal-bed acold for ever. Long may the House of the Raven abide and
flourish, with many a man and maiden, valiant and fair and fruitful! O
kindred, cast thy blessing on this man about to die here, doing none
otherwise than ye would have him!"

He sat there a little while longer, and then he said to himself: "Death
tarries; were it not well that I go to meet him, even as the cot-carle
preventeth the mighty chieftain?"

Then he arose, and went painfully down the slope, steadying himself with
the shaft of his gleaming spear; but all at once he stopped; for it
seemed to him that he heard voices borne on the wind that blew up the
mountain-side. But he shook his head and said: "Now forsooth beginneth
the dream which shall last for ever; nowise am I beguiled by it." None
the less he strove the more eagerly with the wind and the way and his
feebleness; yet did the weakness wax on him, so that it was but a little
while ere he faltered and reeled and fell down once more in a swoon.

When he came to himself again he was no longer alone: a man was kneeling
down by him and holding up his head, while another before him, as he
opened his eyes, put a cup of wine to his lips. So Hallblithe drank and
was refreshed; and presently they gave him bread, and he ate, and his
heart was strengthened, and the happiness of life returned to it, and he
lay back, and slept sweetly for a season.

When he awoke from that slumber he found that he had gotten back much of
his strength again, and he sat up and looked around him, and saw three
men sitting anigh, armed and girt with swords, yet in evil array, and
sore travel-worn. One of these was very old, with long white hair
hanging down; and another, though he was not so much stricken in years,
still looked an old man of over sixty winters. The third was a man some
forty years old, but sad and sorry and drooping of