sire to
see how the Lord of Longshaw arrayeth his battles, and would bring
back some fair stories to the maidens' ears?"

Now it was soon seen that no few there were that would be fain to ride
with the Knight, who soon had his choice of ten tall men, stout, and
deft in weapons, and the end of the feast was merrier than the
beginning.

Next morning they were away early, and the old man led them out over
his meadows, which were exceeding rich of neat and sheep; and at
parting he said: "Fair Knight of Longshaw, I have gone as far as I may
this day, and must turn again; but this I say to thee, If ever the
world goes amiss with thee, as it yet may for all thy valiancy, or
forsooth because of it, come hither to me, or if I be dead, to my sons
and my grandsons, and abide here as merrily as thou mayst. And spare
not to bring whomso of thine thou wilt, as maybe this goodly youngling
here," laying his hand on Osberne's shoulder, "of whom some of thy men
were telling tales to some of mine last night. And now I bid farewell
to thee and thine."

So Sir Godrick and his went their ways, and the new fellows led them
by the shortest road, when they knew whither Sir Godrick will to wend.
And when they were out of that valley they came up on to the
down-country, which ran along the edge of the plain like a wall; and
thereby they went due south for three days, seeing but few folk and no
houses, save here and there the cot of a shepherd, and that often
builded on a wain. The three days ended, they come on a dale in the
downs where a little river cleft them, running about south-west, and
by the rede of their shepherd-fellows they turned and followed it out
of the down-country, and were presently in a land of mingled tillage
and pasture, well builded, but more with single homesteads than
thorps, though these were not lacking: albeit the folk of them were
not very free with their guesting, but yet for money, and as if half
compelled, they yielded up such good as the riders would have of them.
The next day, riding the samelike country, they saw on a bent a fair
town with white walls, and many goodly gables and slim spires rising
above them. But when they drew nigh thereto, an hour before sunset,
they found that the said walls were of other uses than to be looked
at, to wit to keep them out of their night's lodging; for the gates
were shut, and there were spears and basnets glittering over the
battlements. So Sir Godrick rode forward toward