eard shall be red when it hath
grown greater, though his hair is yellow and shiny as glass. Wherefore
now I shall call him the Red Lad; and by that name meseemeth he shall
be known far and wide."

Then they laughed all three, and the two knights drank, both of them,
to the Red Lad, and Osberne thanked them and pledged them in turn. And
well content was he with the way that things had gone.

Chapter XL. Osberne Rides with Sir Godrick

Osberne tarried at Eastcheaping for half a month while Sir Godrick was
doing his business, which was, in short, gathering good men for his
fellowship; at the end of that time he had gotten him one score and
five besides Osberne, of whom a half score were well known to Osberne
from the war of Deepdale: and he was fain of them.

At last they departed, and Sir Medard took a kind leave of Osberne.
And Sir Godrick rode oftenest beside the Red Lad and talked much with
him. They had a let-pass through the lands of the Baron of Deepdale,
but he would not suffer Sir Godrick to take any men from his country.
So they came to Deepham, which was the Baron's chief town, in a very
fair and fertile dale, well watered. And there was nought for it but
that the Baron would see the Red Lad, for Sir Godrick must needs speak
of him to the lord; and it must be said that there was now no enmity
between the Baron and Eastcheaping. So the Baron feasted them well
amongst his folk in his great hall; and when he saw Osberne he knew
him, and had been told as aforesaid that the Red Lad had been at the
carrying him away from the midst of his warriors; but the Baron hailed
him merrily, and cried out to Sir Godrick: "Sir Knight, if thou
wouldst have any man-stealing done thou art in the luck of it, for
this youngling is a past-master in the craft." And before the feast
was over, he sent for Osberne to talk to him, and asked many things
concerning the war as Osberne saw it from his side; and he showed that
he owed him no grudge for the stealing, for he gave Osberne gifts, a
fair gown of crimson cloth of gold, and a ruby ring. So all went well:
nevertheless Osberne was nought loth to leave Deepham, and thought it
not ill that his life lay not overnigh to the lord thereof.

Now when they had left the lands of Deepdale they turned away toward
the south, and rode two days through a fair country and peaceful, of
much tillage, besprinkled with goodly thorps, where they had
entertainment for their money and none seemed to