THIS BOOK 

 IS DEDICATED 



To the memory of the daysinTallac's 

 Pines, where by the fire I heard this 

 epic tale. 



Kind memory calls the picture up 

 before me now, clear, living clear: I see 

 them as they sat, the one small and 

 slight, the other tall and brawny, 

 leader and led, rough men of the hills. 

 They told me this tale in broken 

 bits they gave it, a sentence at a time. 

 They were ready to talk but knew not 

 how. Few their words, and those they 

 used would be empty on paper, mean- 



2050969 



