Straightway when he had looked and seen none coming he broke the
threads that were wound about the scroll and the arrow, and unrolled
the parchment; and there was writing thereon in black ink of small
letters, but very fair, and this is what he read therein:
Come thou to the Mountain Hall by the path which thou knowest of, on
the morrow of the day whereon thou readest this. Rise betimes and
come armed, for there are other men than we in the wood; to whom thy
death should be a gain. When thou art come to the Hall, thou shalt
find no man therein; but a great hound only, tied to a bench nigh the
dais. Call him by his name, Sure-foot to wit, and give him to eat
from the meat upon the board, and give him water to drink. If the
day is then far spent, as it is like to be, abide thou with the hound
in the hall through the night, and eat of what thou shalt find there;
but see that the hound fares not abroad till the morrow's morn: then
lead him out and bring him to the north-east corner of the Hall, and
he shall lift the slot for thee that leadeth to the Shadowy Yale.
Follow him and all good go with thee.
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