me Osberne had been walking to and fro as he hearkened
to the tale, and now he turned about sharply to Stephen and said:
"Yea, I know; thou wilt mean it in a day or two that we should go, we
two, by night and cloud to the Great Bastide and carry off the Baron
of Deepdale, that we may give him guesting in the good town."

Stephen smote his palms together and said: "Wise art thou, child of
Wethermel; but not so wise as I be. We shall go, we two, but not
alone, but have with us four stout fellows, and of wisdom enough, not
Dalesmen, for too simple are they and lack guile. To say sooth I have
chosen them already, and told them how we fare, and they are all agog
for it."

"Well," said Osberne, "and when shall it be? Of a sooth thou lettest
no grass grow under thy feet. But hast thou told any one else?" Said
Stephen: "Tomorrow night is the time appointed, and I have bidden my
friend the warder of the postern to hold ready a score of men
well-armed against the hour we are to be looked for to knock at the
door with our guest, if so be that we should need them, but I have not
told him what we are about. Well now, what sayest thou? Have I done
anything to amend thine health?" "Thou hast made me whole and well,
friend," said Osberne; "and now I think we shall soon look upon
Wethermel, and I shall never be sick or sorry again."

The Eater smiled, and they fell to talking of other matters as folk
came into the chamber to them; and all that came in wondered to see
the captain looking so much mended in health.

Chapter XXVI. They Bring the Baron into Eastcheaping

So on the morrow just before midnight came Osberne and Stephen and the
four others to the postern above-said. Osberne and the four were clad,
over their armour, in frocks and hoods of up-country fashion; but
Stephen was in his minstrel's raiment, save that he bore no fiddle,
and had a heavy short-sword girt to him under his cotehardy. The night
was moonless, but there was little cloud, so that there was a glimmer
of starlight. As they opened the door, came forth from the ingle a
tall man, unarmed as it seemed, and clad as a gangrel carle, and
Stephen without more ado stretched out his long arm and caught him by
the breast of his coat. The man stirred not nor strove, but said
softly: "Dost thou not know me, Stephen the Eater? I come to see the
child of Wethermel; he shall know me by the token of the Imposition of
Hands. And I am come to help him and all you." That he