here is no more to be said but this, that there
is one who will ride with you, and that is my own self. And though I
be but a lad I have a stroke of work in me, as some hereby can
witness; and if thou wilt, I will ride down the Dale with you and give
you my furtherance with the goodmen there. But as for these good
fellows--which of you will ride with this Knight against the good
town's foemen and ours?" They all cried aye to this and rose up and
shouted. But Osberne said: "Well, lads, but someone must be left
behind to look to the goodman and the women, and husband field and
fold. I will take with me but six and Stephen the Eater, my man." And
he named them one after the other.

Who were joyous now save the Knight and his men-at-arms, and they all
drank a cup to the young master; but sooth to say, some of them
wondered how so young a lad would bear him in the fight. But others
said, Let-a-be, no man so well beloved as this shall be a dastard.

So merry were they in the hall and drank a bout, but not for long,
whereas the captain would not have his men so drunk that they might
not ride fast and far upon the morrow. So the voidee cup was drunk,
and Osberne led the Knight to his bed and gave him good-night. But ere
he was asleep came Stephen to his bedside and asked was he fain of a
tale; and the Knight yeasaid it; so Stephen told much about the Dale
and its folk, and about the Dwarfs and the Land-wights. And at last he
fell to talk about his master, the young one, and told much of him and
his valiancy and kindness and prowess; and he told at length all the
tale how Hardcastle had sped at his hands. And the captain marvelled
and said: "I am in luck to see this lad and be his fellow then; for
such marvels come not to hand more than once or twice in a ten score
years, and this is one of them."

Chapter XXII. Osberne Takes Leave of Elfhild

So they rose on the morrow and dight them in their armour; and Osberne
did on him Hardcastle's long byrny and gilded basnet, and girded
Boardcleaver to him, and took his spear in hand and hung his shield at
his back. But his bow and wonder-shafts he gave to Stephen to bear
with him; and Stephen and the other men were fairly well bedight; and
the captain said that if there was any lack of weapons or armour to
any of them it mattered but little, as they had good stores of gear at
the cheaping.

So they ate a morsel and drank one cup and then rode their ways down
the Dale. And the l