Then rose up the big man from the helm, and straddled wide in the
boat, and cried out in a great roaring voice: "Crag-nester, I am one
of seven brethren, and the smallest and weakest of them. Art thou
not afraid?"

"No," said Hallblithe, "for the six others are not here. Wilt thou
fight here in boat, O Fox?"

"Nay," said Fox, "rather we will drink a cup of wine together."

So he opened the locker again and drew out thence a great horn of
some huge neat of the outlands, which was girthed and stopped with
silver, and also a golden cup, and he filled the cup from the horn
and gave it into Hallblithe's hand and said: "Drink, O black-fledged
nestling! But call a health over the cup if thou wilt." So
Hallblithe raised the cup aloft and cried: "Health to the House of
the Raven and to them that love it! an ill day to its foemen!" Then
he set his lips to the cup and drank; and that wine seemed to him
better and stronger than any he had ever tasted. But when he had
given the cup back again to Fox, that red one filled it again, and
cried over it, "The Treasure of the Sea! and the King that dieth
not!" Then he drank, and filled again for Hallblithe, and steered
with his knees meanwhile; and thus they drank three cups each, and
Fox smiled and was peaceful and said but little, but Hallblithe sat
wondering how the world was changed for him since yesterday.

But now was the sky blown all clear of clouds and the wind piped
shrill behind them, and the great waves rose and fell about them, and
the sun glittered on them in many colours. Fast flew the boat before