“She is not, thou young fool,” said the elder. Then Hallblithe flushed red and spake: “Knowest thou the Puny Fox?”
“How should I not?” said the carle, “since he is the son of one of my sons.”
“Dost thou call him a liar and a rogue?” said Hallblithe.
The elder laughed; “Else were I a fool,” said he; “there are few bigger liars or bigger rogues than the Puny Fox!”
“Is he here in this Isle?” said Hallblithe; “may I see him?”
The old man laughed again, and said: “Nay, he is not here, unless he hath turned fool since yesterday: why should he abide thy sword, since he hath done what he would and brought thee hither?”
Then he laughed, as a hen cackles a long while, and then said: “What more wilt thou ask me?”
But Hallblithe was very wroth: “It availeth nought to ask,” he said; “and now I am in two minds whether I shall slay thee or not.”
“That were a meet deed for a Raven, but not for a man,” said the carle, “and thou that hast wished me luck! Ask, ask!”
But Hallblithe was silent a long while. Then the carle said, “Another cup for the longer after youth!”