the wood beyond the world-第25章

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it　verily　so　as　thou　sayest？　　Look　again！〃

So　he　looked；　and　wondered；　for　lo！　beneath　his　eyes　the　spires　of
the　meadow…sweet　grew　crisp　and　clear　again；　the　eyebright　blossoms
shone　once　more　over　the　whiteness　of　her　legs；　the　eglantine　roses
opened；　and　all　was　as　fresh　and　bright　as　if　it　were　still　growing
on　its　own　roots。

He　wondered；　and　was　even　somedeal　aghast；　but　she　said：　　〃Dear
friend；　be　not　troubled！　did　I　not　tell　thee　that　I　am　wise　in
hidden　lore？　　But　in　my　wisdom　shall　be　no　longer　any　scathe　to　any
man。　　And　again；　this　my　wisdom；　as　I　told　thee　erst；　shall　end　on
the　day　whereon　I　am　made　all　happy。　　And　it　is　thou　that　shall
wield　it　all；　my　Master。　　Yet　must　my　wisdom　needs　endure　for　a
little　season　yet。　　Let　us　on　then；　boldly　and　happily。〃



CHAPTER　XXVI：　　THEY　COME　TO　THE　FOLK　OF　THE　BEARS



On　they　went；　and　before　long　they　were　come　up　on　to　the　down…
country；　where　was　scarce　a　tree；　save　gnarled　and　knotty　thorn…
bushes　here　and　there；　but　nought　else　higher　than　the　whin。　　And
here　on　these　upper　lands　they　saw　that　the　pastures　were　much
burned　with　the　drought；　albeit　summer　was　not　worn　old。　　Now　they
went　making　due　south　toward　the　mountains；　whose　heads　they　saw
from　time　to　time　rising　deep　blue　over　the　bleak　greyness　of　the
down…land　ridges。　　And　so　they　went；　till　at　last；　hard　on　sunset；
after　they　had　climbed　long　over　a　high　bent；　they　came　to　the　brow
thereof；　and；　looking　down；　beheld　new　tidings。

There　was　a　wide　valley　below　them；　greener　than　the　downs　which
they　had　come　over；　and　greener　yet　amidmost；　from　the　watering　of　a
stream　which；　all　beset　with　willows；　wound　about　the　bottom。　　Sheep
and　neat　were　pasturing　about　the　dale；　and　moreover　a　long　line　of
smoke　was　going　up　straight　into　the　windless　heavens　from　the　midst
of　a　ring　of　little　round　houses　built　of　turfs；　and　thatched　with
reed。　　And　beyond　that；　toward　an　eastward…lying　bight　of　the　dale；
they　could　see　what　looked　like　to　a　doom…ring　of　big　stones；　though
there　were　no　rocky　places　in　that　land。　　About　the　cooking…fire
amidst　of　the　houses；　and　here　and　there　otherwhere；　they　saw；
standing　or　going　to　and　fro；　huge　figures　of　men　and　women；　with
children　playing　about　betwixt　them。

They　stood　and　gazed　down　at　it　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　though　all
were　at　peace　there；　yet　to　Walter；　at　least；　it　seemed　strange　and
awful。　　He　spake　softly；　as　though　he　would　not　have　his　voice　reach
those　men；　though　they　were；　forsooth；　out　of　earshot　of　anything
save　a　shout：　　〃Are　these　then　the　children　of　the　Bear？　　What　shall
we　do　now？〃

She　said：　　〃Yea；　of　the　Bear　they　be；　though　there　be　other　folks　of
them　far　and　far　away　to　the　northward　and　eastward；　near　to　the
borders　of　the　sea。　　And　as　to　what　we　shall　do；　let　us　go　down　at
once；　and　peacefully。　　Indeed；　by　now　there　will　be　no　escape　from
them；　for　lo　you！　they　have　seen　us。〃

Forsooth；　some　three　or　four　of　the　big　men　had　turned　them　toward
the　bent　whereon　stood　the　twain；　and　were　hailing　them　in　huge；
rough　voices；　wherein；　howsoever；　seemed　to　be　no　anger　or　threat。
So　the　Maid　took　Walter　by　the　hand；　and　thus　they　went　down
quietly；　and　the　Bear…folk；　seeing　them；　stood　all　together；　facing
them；　to　abide　their　coming。　　Walter　saw　of　them；　that　though　they
were　very　tall　and　bigly　made；　they　were　not　so　far　above　the
stature　of　men　as　to　be　marvels。　　The　carles　were　long…haired；　and
shaggy　of　beard；　and　their　hair　all　red　or　tawny；　their　skins；　where
their　naked　flesh　showed；　were　burned　brown　with　sun　and　weather；
but　to　a　fair　and　pleasant　brown；　nought　like　to　blackamoors。　　The
queans　were　comely　and　well…eyed；　nor　was　there　anything　of　fierce
or　evil…looking　about　either　the　carles　or　the　queans；　but　somewhat
grave　and　solemn　of　aspect　were　they。　　Clad　were　they　all；　saving
the　young　men…children；　but　somewhat　scantily；　and　in　nought　save
sheep…skins　or　deer…skins。

For　weapons　they　saw　amongst　them　clubs；　and　spears　headed　with　bone
or　flint；　and　ugly　axes　of　big　flints　set　in　wooden　handles；　nor　was
there；　as　far　as　they　could　see；　either　now　or　afterward；　any　bow
amongst　them。　　But　some　of　the　young　men　seemed　to　have　slings　done
about　their　shoulders。

Now　when　they　were　come　but　three　fathom　from　them；　the　Maid　lifted
up　her　voice；　and　spake　clearly　and　sweetly：　　〃Hail；　ye　folk　of　the
Bears！　we　have　come　amongst　you；　and　that　for　your　good　and　not　for
your　hurt：　　wherefore　we　would　know　if　we　be　welcome。〃

There　was　an　old　man　who　stood　foremost　in　the　midst；　clad　in　a
mantle　of　deer…skins　worked　very　goodly；　and　with　a　gold　ring　on　his
arm；　and　a　chaplet　of　blue　stones　on　his　head；　and　he　spake：
〃Little　are　ye；　but　so　goodly；　that　if　ye　were　but　bigger；　we　should
deem　that　ye　were　come　from　the　Gods'　House。　　Yet　have　I　heard；　that
how　mighty　soever　may　the　Gods　be；　and　chiefly　our　God；　they　be　at
whiles　nought　so　bigly　made　as　we　of　the　Bears。　　How　this　may　be；　I
wot　not。　　But　if　ye　be　not　of　the　Gods　or　their　kindred；　then　are　ye
mere　aliens；　and　we　know　not　what　to　do　with　aliens；　save　we　meet
them　in　battle；　or　give　them　to　the　God；　or　save　we　make　them
children　of　the　Bear。　　But　yet　again；　ye　may　be　messengers　of　some
folk　who　would　bind　friendship　and　alliance　with　us：　　in　which　case
ye　shall　at　the　least　depart　in　peace；　and　whiles　ye　are　with　us
shall　be　our　guests　in　all　good　cheer。　　Now；　therefore；　we　bid　you
declare　the　matter　unto　us。〃

Then　spake　the　Maid：　　〃Father；　it　were　easy　for　us　to　declare　what
we　be　unto　you　here　present。　　But；　meseemeth；　ye　who　be　gathered
round　the　fire　here　this　evening　are　less　than　the　whole　tale　of　the
children　of　the　Bear。〃

〃So　it　is；　Maiden；〃　said　the　elder；　〃that　many　more　children　hath
the　Bear。〃

〃This　then　we　bid　you；〃　said　the　Maid；　〃that　ye　send　the　tokens
round　and　gather　your　people　to　you；　and　when　they　be　assembled　in
the　Doom…ring；　then　shall　we　put　our　errand　before　you；　and
according　to　that；　shall　ye　deal　with　us。〃

〃Thou　hast　spoken　well；〃　said　the　elder；　〃and　even　so　had　we　bidden
you　ourselves。　　To…morrow；　before　noon；　shall　ye　stand　in　the　Doom…
ring　in　this　Dale；　and　speak　with　the　children　of　the　Bear。〃

Therewith　he　turned　to　his　own　folk　and　called　out　something；
whereof　those　twain　knew　not　the　meaning；　and　there　came　to　him；　one
after　another；　six　young　men；　unto　each　of　whom　he　gave　a　thing　from
out　his　pouch；　but　what　it　was　Walter　might　not　see；　save　that　it
was　little　and　of　small　account：　　to　each；　also；　he　spake　a　word　or
two；　and　straight　they　set　off　running；　one　after　the　other；　turning
toward　the　bent　which　was　over　against　that　whereby　the　twain　had
come　into　the　Dale；　and　were　soon　out　of　sight　in　the　gathering
dusk。

Then　the　elder　turned　him　again　to　Walter　and　the　Maid；　and　spake：
〃Man　and　woman；　whatsoever　ye　may　be；　or　whatsoever　may　abide　you
to…morrow；　to…night；　ye　are　welcome　guests　to　us；　so　we　bid　you　come
eat　and　drink　at　our　fire。〃

So　they　sat　all　together　upon　the　grass　round　about　the　embers　of
the　fire；　and　ate　curds　and　cheese；　and　drank　milk　in　abundance；　and
as　the　night　grew　on　them　they　quickened　the　fire；　that　they　might
have　light。　　This　wild　folk　talked　merrily　amongst　themselves；　with
laughter　enough　and　friendly　jests；　but　to　the　new…comers　they　were
few…spoken；　though；　as　the　twain　deemed；　for　no　enmity　that　they
bore　them。　　But　this　found　Walter；　that　the　younger　ones；　both　men
and　women；　seemed　to　find　it　a　hard　matter　to　keep　their　eyes　off
them；　and　seemed；　withal；　to　gaze　on　them　with　somewhat　of　doubt；
or；　it　might　be；　of　fear。

So　when　the　night　was　wearing　a　little；　the　elder　arose　and　bade　the
twain　to　come　with　him；　and　led　them　to　a　small　house　or　booth；
which　was　amidmost　of　all；　and　somewhat　bigger　than　the　others；　and
he　did　them　to　wit　that　they　should　rest　there　that　night；　and　bade
them　sleep　in　peace　and　without　fear　till　the　morrow。　　So　they
entered；　and　found　beds　thereon　of　heather　and　ling；　and　they　laid
them　down　sweetly；　like　brother　and　sister；　when　they　had　kissed
each　other。　　But　they　noted　that　four　brisk　men　lay　without　the
booth；　and　across　the　d