ly the choice of a man or a hero。〃
Now Buliwyf made some response； but it was low； and lost to me in the howl of the wind that raked the entrance to the cave。 Whatever the words； the dwarf spoke further：
〃That is the hero's answer； Buliwyf； and I would expect none other from you。 Thus shall I help your quest。〃 Then a number of his kind came forward into the light from the dark recesses of the cave。 And they bore many objects。
〃Here；〃 said the tengol； 〃are lengths of rope； made from the skins of seals caught at the first melting of the ice。 These ropes will help you to attain the ocean entrance to the thunder caves。〃
〃I thank you；〃 Buliwyf said。
〃And here also；〃 the tengol said； 〃are seven daggers； forged with steam and magic； for you and your warriors。 Great swords will be of no avail in the thunder caves。 Carry these new weapons bravely； and you shall acplish all you desire。〃
Buliwyf took the daggers； and thanked the dwarf。 He stood。 〃When shall we do this thing？〃 he asked。
〃Yesterday is better than today；〃 the tengol replied； 〃and tomorrow is better than the day which follows that。 So make haste； and carry out your intentions with a firm heart and a strong arm。〃
〃And what follows if we succeed？〃 Buliwyf asked。
〃Then the wendol shall be mortally wounded； and thrash in its death throes a final time； and after this last agony the land shall have peace and sunlight forevermore。 And your name shall be sung glorious in all the halls of the Northlands； forevermore。〃
〃The deeds of dead men are so sung；〃 Buliwyf said。
〃That is true；〃 the dwarf said； and laughed again； the giggle of a child or a young girl。 〃And also the deeds of heroes who live； but never are sung the deeds of ordinary men。 All this you know。〃
Now Buliwyf departed from the cave； and gave to each of us the dagger of the dwarves； and we descended from the rocky windswept crags； and returned to the kingdom and the great hall of Rothgar as night was falling。
All these things took place； and I saw them with my own eyes。
THE EVENTS OF THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ATTACK
NO MIST CAME THAT NIGHT； THE FOG DESCENDED from the hills but hung back among the trees； and did not creep out onto the plain。 In the great hall of Rothgar； a mighty feast was held； and Buliwyf and all his warriors joined in great celebration。 Two great horned sheep38 were slaughtered and consumed； each man drank vast quantities of mead； Buliwyf himself ravished half a dozen slave girls； and perhaps more； but despite merrymaking neither he nor his warriors were truly cheerful。 From one time to another； I saw them glance at the ropes of sealskin and the dwarf daggers； which had been set apart to one side。
Now I joined in the general revelry； for I felt as one of them； having spent much time in their pany； or so it seemed。 Indeed； that night I felt I had been born a Northman。
Herger； much intoxicated； told me freely of the mother of the wendol。 He said this： 〃The mother of the wendol is very old and she lives in the caves of thunder。 These thunder caves lie in the rock of cliffs； not far from here。 The caves have two openings； one from the land and another from the sea。 But the entrance from the land is guarded by the wendol； who protect their old mother； so it is that we cannot attack from the side of the land； for in this way we would all be killed。 Therefore we shall attack from the sea。〃
I inquired of him： 〃What is the nature of this mother of the wendol？〃
Herger said that no Northman knew this thing； but that it was said among them that she was old； older than the old crone they call the angel of death； and also that she was frightful to look upon； and also that she wore snakes upon her head as a wreath； and also； too； that she was strong beyond all accounting。 And he said at the last that the wendol called upon her to direct them in all their affairs of life。39 Then Herger turned from me and slept。
Now this event occurred： in the depths of the night； as the celebrations were drawing to a close and the warriors were drifting into sleep； Buliwyf sought me out。 He sat beside me and drank mead from a horned cup。 He was not intoxicated； I saw； and he spoke slowly in the North tongue； so that I should understand his meaning。
He said first to me： 〃Did you prehend the words of the dwarf tengol？〃
I replied that I did； with the help of Herger； who now snored near to us。
Buliwyf said to me： 〃Then you know I shall die。〃 He spoke thus； with his eyes clear and his gaze firm。 I did not know any reply； or response to make； but finally said to him in the North fashion； 〃Believe no prophecy until it bears fruit。〃40
Buliwyf said： 〃You have seen much of our ways。 Tell me what is true。 Do you draw sounds？〃 I answered that I did。 〃Then look to your safety； and do not be overbrave。 You dress and now you speak as a Northman； and not a foreign man。 See that you live。〃
I placed my hand upon his shoulder； as I had seen his fellow warriors do to him in greeting。
He smiled then。 〃I fear no thing；〃 he said； 〃and need no fort。 I tell you to look to your own safety； for your own account。 Now it is wisest to sleep。〃
So speaking； he turned away from me； and devoted his attention to a slave girl； whom he pleasured not a dozen paces from where I sat； and I turned away hearing the moans and laughter of this woman。 And at length I fell into a sleep。
THE THUNDER CAVES
BEFORE THE FIRST PINK STREAKS OF DAWN LIGHTED the sky； Buliwyf and his warriors； myself among them； rode out from the kingdom of Rothgar and followed the cliff edge above the sea。 On this day I did not feel fit； for my head ached； also was my stomach sour from the celebration of the previous night。 Surely all the warriors of Buliwyf were in like condition； yet no man gave signal of these disforts。 We rode briskly； skirting the border of the cliffs which on all this coast are high and forbidding； and sheer； in a sheet of gray stone they drop to the foaming and turbulent sea below。 In some places along this coastline there are rocky beaches； but often the land and the sea meet directly； and the waves crash like thunder upon the rocks； and this was the circumstance for the most part。
I saw Herger； who carried upon his horse the sealskin ropes of the dwarves； and I rode up to travel alongside him。 I inquired what was our purpose on this day。 In truth； I did not care greatly； so badly did my head ache and my stomach burn。
Herger said to me； 〃On this morning； we attack the mother of the wendol in the thunder caves。 This we shall do by attacking from the sea； as I have told you yesterday。〃
While I rode； I looked from my horse down at the sea； which smashed upon the rock cliffs。 〃Do we attack by boat？〃 I inquired of Herger。
〃No；〃 Herger said； and slapped his hand upon the sealskin ropes。
Then I took his meaning to be that we should climb down the cliffs on the ropes； and thereby in some fashion make an entrance into the caves。 I was much frightened at this prospect； for never have I liked to be exposed upon high places； even high buildings in the City of Peace have I avoided。 I said as much。
Herger said to me； 〃Be thankful； for you are fortunate。〃
I inquired the source of my fortune。 Herger said in reply； 〃If you have the fear of high places； then this day you shall overe it； and so you shall have faced a great challenge； and so you shall be adjudged a hero。〃
I said to him； 〃I do not want to be a hero。〃
At this he laughed and said that I expressed such an opinion only because I was an Arab。 Then also he said that I had a stiff head； by which the Northmen mean the aftermath of drinking。 This was true； as I have already told。
Also it is true that I was much aggrieved at the prospect of climbing down the cliff。 Verily I felt in this manner： that I should rather do any action upon the face of the earth； whether to lie with a woman in menses； to drink from a gold cup； to eat the excrement of a pig； to put out my eyes； even to die itself…any or all of these things should I prefer to the climbing of that accursed cliff。 Also I was in ill temper。 To Herger I said； 〃You and Buliwyf and all your pany may be heroes as suits your temper； but I have no part in this affair； and shall not