and bade the mariners take in sail and be right heedful。 And when
Walter asked him what he looked for； and wherefore he spake not to
him thereof； he said surlily： 〃Why should I tell thee what any fool
can see without telling； to wit that there is weather to hand？〃
So they abode what should befall； and Walter went to his room to
sleep away the uneasy while； for the night was now fallen； and he
knew no more till he was waked up by great hubbub and clamour of the
shipmen； and the whipping of ropes； and thunder of flapping sails；
and the tossing and weltering of the ship withal。 But； being a very
stout…hearted young man； he lay still in his room； partly because he
was a landsman； and had no mind to tumble about amongst the shipmen
and hinder them； and withal he said to himself： What matter whether
I go down to the bottom of the sea； or come back to Langton； since
either way my life or my death will take away from me the fulfilment
of desire？ Yet soothly if there hath been a shift of wind； that is
not so ill； for then shall we be driven to other lands； and so at
the least our home…coming shall be delayed； and other tidings may
hap amidst of our tarrying。 So let all be as it will。
So in a little while； in spite of the ship's wallowing and the
tumult of the wind and waves； he fell asleep again； and woke no more
till it was full daylight； and there was the shipmaster standing in
the door of his room； the sea…water all streaming from his wet…
weather raiment。 He said to Walter： 〃Young master； the sele of the
day to thee！ For by good hap we have gotten into another day。 Now
I shall tell thee that we have striven to beat； so as not to be
driven off our course； but all would not avail； wherefore for these
three hours we have been running before the wind； but； fair sir； so
big hath been the sea that but for our ship being of the stoutest；
and our men all yare； we had all grown exceeding wise concerning the
ground of the mid…main。 Praise be to St。 Nicholas and all Hallows！
for though ye shall presently look upon a new sea； and maybe a new
land to boot； yet is that better than looking on the ugly things
down below。〃
〃Is all well with ship and crew then？〃 said Walter。
〃Yea forsooth；〃 said the shipmaster； 〃verily the Bartholomew is the
darling of Oak Woods； come up and look at it； how she is dealing
with wind and waves all free from fear。〃
So Walter did on his foul…weather raiment； and went up on to the
quarter…deck； and there indeed was a change of days； for the sea was
dark and tumbling mountain…high； and the white…horses were running
down the valleys thereof； and the clouds drave low over all； and
bore a scud of rain along with them； and though there was but a rag
of sail on her； the ship flew before the wind； rolling a great wash
of water from bulwark to bulwark。
Walter stood looking on it all awhile； holding on by a stay…rope；
and saying to himself that it was well that they were driving so
fast toward new things。
Then the shipmaster came up to him and clapped him on the shoulder
and said： 〃Well； shipmate； cheer up！ and now come below again and
eat some meat； and drink a cup with me。〃
So Walter went down and ate and drank； and his heart was lighter
than it had been since he had heard of his father's death； and the
feud awaiting him at home； which forsooth he had deemed would stay
his wanderings a weary while； and therewithal his hopes。 But now it
seemed as if he needs must wander； would he； would he not； and so it
was that even this fed his hope； so sore his heart clung to that
desire of his to seek home to those three that seemed to call him
unto them。
CHAPTER V： NOW THEY COME TO A NEW LAND
Three days they drave before the wind； and on the fourth the clouds
lifted； the sun shone out and the offing was clear； the wind had
much abated； though it still blew a breeze； and was a head wind for
sailing toward the country of Langton。 So then the master said
that； since they were bewildered； and the wind so ill to deal with；
it were best to go still before the wind that they might make some
land and get knowledge of their whereabouts from the folk thereof。
Withal he said that he deemed the land not to be very far distant。
So did they； and sailed on pleasantly enough； for the weather kept
on mending； and the wind fell till it was but a light breeze； yet
still foul for Langton。
So wore three days； and on the eve of the third； the man from the
topmast cried out that he saw land ahead； and so did they all before
the sun was quite set； though it were but a cloud no bigger than a
man's hand。
When night fell they struck not sail； but went forth toward the land
fair and softly； for it was early summer； so that the nights were
neither long nor dark。
But when it was broad daylight； they opened a land； a long shore of
rocks and mountains； and nought else that they could see at first。
Nevertheless as day wore and they drew nigher； first they saw how
the mountains fell away from the sea； and were behind a long wall of
sheer cliff； and coming nigher yet； they beheld a green plain going
up after a little in green bents and slopes to the feet of the said
cliff…wall。
No city nor haven did they see there； not even when they were far
nigher to the land； nevertheless； whereas they hankered for the
peace of the green earth after all the tossing and unrest of the
sea； and whereas also they doubted not to find at the least good and
fresh water； and belike other bait in the plain under the mountains；
they still sailed on not unmerrily； so that by nightfall they cast
anchor in five…fathom water hard by the shore。
Next morning they found that they were lying a little way off the
mouth of a river not right great； so they put out their boats and
towed the ship up into the said river； and when they had gone up it
for a mile or thereabouts they found the sea water failed； for
little was the ebb and flow of the tide on that coast。 Then was the
river deep and clear； running between smooth grassy land like to
meadows。 Also on their left board they saw presently three head of
neat cattle going； as if in a meadow of a homestead in their own
land； and a few sheep； and thereafter； about a bow…draught from the
river； they saw a little house of wood and straw…thatch under a
wooded mound； and with orchard trees about it。 They wondered little
thereat； for they knew no cause why that land should not be builded；
though it were in the far outlands。 However； they drew their ship
up to the bank； thinking that they would at least abide awhile and
ask tidings and have some refreshing of the green plain； which was
so lovely and pleasant。
But while they were busied herein they saw a man come out of the
house； and down to the river to meet them； and they soon saw that he
was tall and old； long…hoary of hair and beard； and clad mostly in
the skins of beasts。
He drew nigh without any fear or mistrust； and coming close to them
gave them the sele of the day in a kindly and pleasant voice。 The
shipmaster greeted him in his turn； and said withal： 〃Old man； art
thou the king of this country？〃
The elder laughed； 〃It hath had none other a long while；〃 said he；
〃and at least there is no other son of Adam here to gainsay。〃
〃Thou art alone here then？〃 said the master。
〃Yea；〃 said the old man； 〃save for the beasts of the field and the
wood； and the creeping things； and fowl。 Wherefore it is sweet to
me to hear your voices。〃
Said the master： 〃Where be the other houses of the town？〃
The old man laughed。 Said he： 〃When I said that I was alone； I
meant that I was alone in the land and not only alone in this stead。
There is no house save this betwixt the sea and the dwellings of the
Bears； over the cliff…wall yonder； yea and a long way over it。〃
〃Yea；〃 quoth the shipmaster grinning； 〃and be the bears of thy
country so manlike； that they dwell in builded houses？〃
The old man shook his head。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃as to their bodily
fashion； it is altogether manlike； save that they be one and all
higher and bigger than most。 For they be bears only in name； they
be a nation of half wild men； for I have been told by them that
there be many more than that tribe whose folk I have seen； and that
they spread wide about behind these mountains from east to west。
Now； sir； as to their souls and understandings I warrant them not；
for miscreants they be； trowing neither in God nor his hallows。〃
Said the master： 〃Trow they in Mahound then？〃
〃Nay；〃 said the elder； 〃I wot not for sure that they have so much as
a false God； though I have it from them that they worship a certain
woman with mickle worship。〃
Then spake Walter： 〃Yea； good sir； and how knowest thou that？ dost
thou deal with them at all？〃
Said the old man： 〃Whiles some of that folk come hither and have of
me what I can spare； a calf or two； or a half…dozen of lambs or
hoggets； or a skin of wine or cyder of mine own making： and they
give me in return such things as I can use； as skins of hart and
bear and other peltries； for now I am old； I can but little of the
hunting hereabout。 Whiles； also； they bring little lumps of pure
copper； and would give me gold also； but it is of little use in this
lonely land。 Sooth to say； to me they are not masterful or rough…
handed； but glad am I that they have been here but of late； and are
not like to come again this while； for terrible they are of aspect；
and whereas ye be aliens； belike they would not hold their hands
from off you； and moreover ye have weapons and other matters which
they would covet sorely。〃
Quoth the master： 〃Since thou dealest with these wild men； will ye
not deal with us in chaffer？ For whereas we are come from long
travel； we hanker after fresh victual； and here aboard are many
things which were for thine avail。〃
Said the old man： 〃All that I have is yours； so that ye do but
leave me enough till my next ingathering： of wine and cyder； such
as it is； I have plenty for your service； ye may drink it till it is
all gone； if ye will： a little corn and meal I have； but not much；
yet are ye welcome thereto； since the standing corn in my garth is
done blossoming； and I have