trap?"

"There is no need to talk of ransom," said the elder; "thou mayst go
out of this house when thou wilt, nor will any meddle with thee if
thou strayest about the Isle, when I have set a mark on thee and
given thee a token: nor wilt thou be hindered if thou hast a mind to
leave the Isle, if thou canst find means thereto; moreover as long as
thou art in the Isle, in this house mayst thou abide, eating and
drinking and resting with us."

"How then may I leave this Isle?" said Hallblithe.

The elder laughed: "In a ship," said he.

"And when," said Hallblithe, "shall I find a ship that shall carry
me?"

Said the old carle, "Whither wouldest thou my son?" Hallblithe was
silent a while, thinking what answer he should make; then he said:
"I would go to the land of the Glittering Plain."

"Son, a ship shall not be lacking thee for that voyage," said the
elder. "Thou mayst go to-morrow morn. And I bid thee abide here to-
night, and thy cheer shall not be ill. Yet if thou wilt believe my
word, it will be well for thee to say as little as thou mayst to any
man here, and that little as little proud as maybe: for our folk are
short of temper and thou knowest there is no might against many.
Indeed it is not unlike that they will not speak one word to thee,
and if that be so, thou hast no need to open thy mouth to them. And
now I will tell thee that it is good that thou hast chosen to go to