And that night
they lay in the wild-wood not very far from the Dale's end; for they
went softly, faring amongst so many friends.
CHAPTER LVI. TALK UPON THE WILD-WOOD WAY
On the morrow morning when they were on their way again Face-of-god
left his own folk to go with the House of the Steer a while; and
amongst them he fell in with the Sun-beam going along with Bow-may.
So they greeted him kindly, and Face-of-god fell into talk with the
Sun-beam as they went side by side through a great oak-wood, where
for a space was plain green-sward bare of all underwood.
So in their talk he said to her: 'What deemest thou, my speech-
friend, concerning our coming back to guest in Silver-dale one day?'
'The way is long,' she said.
'That may hinder us but not stay us,' said Face-of-god.
'That is sooth,' said the Sun-beam.
Said Face-of-god: 'What things shall stay us? Or deemest thou that
we shall never see Silver-dale again?'
She smiled: 'Even so I think thou deemest, Gold-mane. But many
things shall hinder us besides the long road.'
Said he: 'Yea, and what things?'
'Thinkest thou,' said the Sun-beam, 'that the winning of Silver-stead
is the last battle which thou shalt see?'
'Nay,' said he, 'nay.
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