he lay down and was asleep at once. Then Hallblithe went and lay
down again full of sorrow: Yet so weary was he that he presently
fell asleep, and dreamed no more.



CHAPTER VI: OF A DWELLING OF MAN ON THE ISLE OF RANSOM



When he awoke again the sun shone on him, and the morning was calm
and windless. He sat up and looked about him, but could see no signs
of Fox save the lair wherein he had lain. So he arose to his feet
and sought for him about the crannies of the rocks, and found him
not; and he shouted for him, and had no answer. Then he said,
"Belike he has gone down to the boat to put a thing in, or take a
thing out." So he went his ways to the stair down into the water-
cave, and he called on Fox from the top of the stair, and had no
answer.

So he went down that long stair with a misgiving in his heart, and
when he came to the last step there was neither man nor boat, nor
aught else save the water and the living rock. Then was he exceeding
wroth, for he knew that he had been beguiled, and he was in an evil
case, left alone on an Isle that he knew not, a waste and desolate
land, where it seemed most like he should die of famine.

He wasted no breath or might now in crying out for Fox, or seeking
him; for he said to himself: "I might well have known that he was
false and a liar, whereas he could scarce refrain his joy at my folly