Talbot, "I leave it to you to see that this
young knight is provided with horse and armour. Unfortunately there is
more than one suit without an owner, at present. You will do well to
wait with me while I open this letter; which, maybe, contains matter of
moment."

Feeling that his audience was over, Oswald bowed deeply, and left the
tent to rejoin Roger.

"What said the king, master?"

"He spoke much more highly of what we had done, Roger, than it
deserved; and as a reward for the service, he has just knighted me."

"I think that he has done well, master!" Roger exclaimed, joyously. "I
had hoped that Hotspur would have done it, after that adventure with
the Bairds; of which, as Alwyn told me, he spoke to him in tones of
wondrous praise."

"That was a private business, Roger, and he would know that I would
much rather that, when knighthood came, I should receive it for service
in the field. The king regards our coming here as a service to himself,
and therefore rewarded me; but I would rather that it should have been
for service in the field, against the enemy, than for tramping through
the forest."

"Yes, but a forest full of Welshmen," Roger said, "who are more to be
feared, in that way, than when met in open fight."

"Earl Talbot spoke very kindly of me, and said that he had heard that,
with Percy's men, I had done good service in that fight with the Welsh,
near Knighton."

"That was certainly pretty hot work, master--I shall get to say Sir
Oswald, in time; but at present my tongue is not used to it. What are
we to do now?"

"The king asked Lord Talbot to provide me with armour, and a horse; so
we must wait until he comes this way."

It was half an hour before the earl came out.

"The letter was of importance," he said, "and it is well that it was
brought on.

"Now, Sir Oswald, let us see to your matter. Two days ago Sir William
Baxter was killed, by a sudden attack of the Welsh, while he was
burning a village. His men rallied, beat off the Welsh, and brought his
body in; and methinks his armour will fit you, though he was shorter,
by two or three inches, than yourself."

He accompanied Oswald to one of a small group of tents, standing a
quarter of a mile farther down the road.

"Is Sir William Baxter's squire here?"

A young man at once came up.

"I was his esquire, my lord."

"I have the king's orders," the earl said, "that his arms, armour, and
horses are to be handed over, forthwith, to Si