teeth in meat, out of
our own house and land, which hath not been truly given to me by one who
wotteth of me, unless I have conquered it as a prey of battle; neither
will I cast a lie into the loving-cup which shall pass from thy lips to
mine: therefore I will tell thee, that though I laid a stroke or two on
the Puny Fox, and those no light ones, yet was this battle nought true
and real, but a mere beguiling, even as that which I saw foughten in this
hall aforetime, when meseemeth the slain men rose up in time to drink the
good-night cup. Therefore, O men of the Ravagers, and thou, O Puny Fox,
there is nought to bind your hands and refrain your hearts, and ye may
slay me if ye will without murder or dishonour, and may make the head of
Hallblithe a knop for your feast-hall. Yet shall one or two fall to
earth before I fall."

Therewith he shook his sword aloft, and a great roar arose, and weapons
came down from the wall, and the candles shone on naked steel. But the
Puny Fox came and stood by Hallblithe, and spake in his ear amidst the
uproar: "Well now, brother-in-arms, I have been trying to learn thee the
lore of lies, and surely thou art the worst scholar who was ever smitten
by master. And the outcome of it is that I, who have lied so long and
well, must now pay for all, and die for a barren truth."

Said Hallblithe: "Let all be as it will! I love thee, lies and all; but
as for me I cannot handle them. Lo you! great and grim shall be the
slaying, and we shall not fall unavenged."

Said the Puny Fox: "Hearken! for still they hang back. Belike it is I
that have drawn this death on thee and me. My last lie was a fool's lie
and we die for it: for what wouldst thou have done hadst thou wotted that
thy beloved, the Hostage of the Rose--" He broke off perforce; for
Hallblithe was looking to right and left and handling his sword, and
heard not that last word of his; and from both sides of the hall the
throng was drawing round about those twain, weapon in hand. Then
Hallblithe set his eyes on a big man in front who was heaving up a heavy
short-sword and thought that he would at least slay this one. But or
ever he might smite, the great horn blared out over the tumult, and men
forbore a while and fell somewhat silent.

Then came down to them the voice of the chieftain, a loud voice, but
clear and with mirth mingled with anger in it, and he said: "What do
these fools of the Ravagers cumbering the floor of the feas