The Wood Beyond the World | Page 7

Withal he said that he deemed

the land not to be very far distant.
So did they, and sailed on pleasantly enough, for the weather kept on
mending, and the wind fell till it was but a light breeze, yet still foul for
Langton.
So wore three days, and on the eve of the third, the man from the
topmast cried out that he saw land ahead; and so did they all before the
sun was quite set, though it were but a cloud no bigger than a man's
hand.
When night fell they struck not sail, but went forth toward the land fair
and softly; for it was early summer, so that the nights were neither long
nor dark.
But when it was broad daylight, they opened a land, a long shore of
rocks and mountains, and nought else that they could see at first.
Nevertheless as day wore and they drew nigher, first they saw how the
mountains fell away from the sea, and were behind a long wall of sheer
cliff; and coming nigher yet, they beheld a green plain going up after a
little in green bents and slopes to the feet of the said cliff-wall.
No city nor haven did they see there, not even when they were far
nigher to the land; nevertheless, whereas they hankered for the peace of
the green earth after all the tossing and unrest of the sea, and whereas
also they doubted not to find at the least good and fresh water, and
belike other bait in the plain under the mountains, they still sailed on
not unmerrily; so that by nightfall they cast anchor in five-fathom water
hard by the shore.
Next morning they found that they were lying a little way off the mouth
of a river not right great; so they put out their boats and towed the ship
up into the said river, and when they had gone up it for a mile or
thereabouts they found the sea water failed, for little was the ebb and
flow of the tide on that coast. Then was the river deep and clear,
running between smooth grassy land like to meadows. Also on their left
board they saw presently three head of neat cattle going, as if in a
meadow of a homestead in their own land, and a few sheep; and

thereafter, about a bow-draught from the river, they saw a little house
of wood and straw-thatch under a wooded mound, and with orchard
trees about it. They wondered little thereat, for they knew no cause why
that land should not be builded, though it were in the far outlands.
However, they drew their ship up to the bank, thinking that they would
at least abide awhile and ask tidings and have some refreshing of the
green plain, which was so lovely and pleasant.
But while they were busied herein they saw a man come out of the
house, and down to the river to meet them; and they soon saw that he
was tall and old, long-hoary of hair and beard, and clad mostly in the
skins of beasts.
He drew nigh without any fear or mistrust, and coming close to them
gave them the sele of the day in a kindly and pleasant voice. The
shipmaster greeted him in his turn, and said withal: "Old man, art thou
the king of this country?"
The elder laughed; "It hath had none other a long while," said he; "and
at least there is no other son of Adam here to gainsay."
"Thou art alone here then?" said the master.
"Yea," said the old man; "save for the beasts of the field and the wood,
and the creeping things, and fowl. Wherefore it is sweet to me to hear
your voices."
Said the master: "Where be the other houses of the town?"
The old man laughed. Said he: "When I said that I was alone, I meant
that I was alone in the land and not only alone in this stead. There is no
house save this betwixt the sea and the dwellings of the Bears, over the
cliff-wall yonder, yea and a long way over it."
"Yea," quoth the shipmaster grinning, "and be the bears of thy country
so manlike, that they dwell in builded houses?"
The old man shook his head. "Sir," said he, "as to their bodily fashion,

it is altogether manlike, save that they be one and all higher and bigger
than most. For they be bears only in name; they be a nation of half wild
men; for I have been told by them that there be many more than that
tribe whose folk I have seen, and that they spread wide about behind
these mountains from east to west. Now, sir, as to their