clapped him on the back and
said to him: "Brisk man of the Raven, good is thy help at need; even so
shall be mine to thee henceforward."

But the young man stepped up to him lightly, and cast his arms about him,
and kissed him, and said: "O friend and fellow, who knoweth but I may one
day help thee as thou hast holpen me? though thou art one who by seeming
mayst well help thyself. And now mayst thou be as merry as I am to-day!"

Then they all three cried out joyously: "It is the Land! It is the
Land!"

So Hallblithe knew that these men were the two elders and the sad man of
yesterday, and that they had renewed their youth.

Joyously now did those men break their fast: nor did Hallblithe make any
grim countenance, for he thought: "That which these dotards and
drivellers have been mighty enough to find, shall I not be mighty enough
to flee from?" Breakfast done, the seekers made little delay, so eager
as they were to behold the King, and to have handsel of their new sweet
life. So they got them ready to depart, and the once-captain said: "Art
thou able to lead us to the King, O Raven-son, or must we seek another
man to do so much for us?"

Said Hallblithe: "I am able to lead you so nigh unto Wood-end (where, as
I deem, the King abideth) that ye shall not miss him."

Therewith they went to the door, and the Warden unlocked to them, and
spake no word to them when they departed, though they thanked him kindly
for the guesting.

When they were without the garth, the young man fell to running about the
meadow plucking great handfuls of the rich flowers that grew about,
singing and carolling the while. But he who had been king looked up and
down and round about, and said at last: "Where be the horses and the
men?"

But his fellow with the red beard said: "Raven-son, in this land when
they journey, what do they as to riding or going afoot?"

Said Hallblithe: "Fair fellows, ye shall wot that in this land folk go
afoot for the most part, both men and women; whereas they weary but
little, and are in no haste."

Then the once-captain clapped the once-king on the shoulder, and said:
"Hearken, lord, and delay no longer, but gird up thy gown, since here is
no mare's son to help thee: for fair is to-day that lies before us, with
many a new fair day beyond it."

So Hallblithe led the way inward, thinking of many things, yet but little
of his fellows. Albeit they, and the younger man especially, were of
many words; for