my horse and my ponies. But I wish you all speed, and my house is open
to you, if ever you come back this way again.”
     They thanked him, of course, with many bows and sweepings of their
hoods and with many an “at your service, O master of the wide wooden
halls!” But their spirits sank at his grave words, and they all felt
that the adventure was far more dangerous than they had thought, while
all the time, even if they passed all the
     All that morning they were busy with preparations. Soon after midday
they ate with Beorn for the last time, and after the meal they mounted
the steeds he was lending them, and bidding him many farewells they
rode off through his gate at a good pace.
     As soon as they left his high hedges at the east of his fenced lands
they
     turned north and then bore to the north-west. By his advice they were
no
     longer making for the main forest-road to the south of his land. Had
they