“Son,” said the other, “hast thou heard it called the Isle of Ransom?”
“Yea,” said Hallblithe, “but what wilt thou call it?”
“By no other name,” said the hoary carle.
“It is far from other lands?” said Hallblithe.
“Yea,” said the carle, “when the light winds blow, and the ships sail slow.”
“What do ye who live here?” said Hallblithe. “How do ye live, what work win ye?”
“We win diverse work,” said the elder, “but the gainfullest is robbing men by the high hand.”
“Is it ye who have stolen from me the Hostage of the Rose?” said Hallblithe.
Said the Long-hoary, “Maybe; I wot not; in diverse ways my kinsmen traffic, and they visit many lands. Why should they not have come to Cleveland also?”
“Is she in this Isle, thou old runagate?” said Hallblithe.