the gate, taking
Osberne and a trumpet with him, and there bade blow a point of peace
and crave speech of the captain of the guard.

Then stood up a tall man on the gate, armed at all points in white
armour, and by him were two or three men-at-arms and one with a
cross-bow ready bent. Cried out the tall man: "Go ye, trumpet and all,
and let us see the last of you! For we know you, outlaws of Longshaw.
The better luck for you if we come not to your house speedily. Go ye,
make ready for us!" Sir Godrick burst out a-laughing and turned his
horses head; but even therewith Osberne, who was exceeding
keen-sighted, saw the cross-bowman raise his engine; but the Red Lad
had his dwarf-wrought bow bended in his hand, so that ere the
cross-bow stock came to the man's shoulder he fell clattering down
with a shaft through his throat, and Osberne rode back speedily after
his lord with a half dozen shafts and quarrels whistling about him,
but none touched him, and great was the cry and yell that came from
the town gate.

Now when Osberne was with his captain again, that one spake to him and
said: "Red Lad, Red Lad, a sharp shaft is somewhat of a fierce answer
to a rough word. Next time let them shoot ere ye shoot."

"Nay, lord," said Osberne, "had I waited this time thou might'st have
come by a knock from yonder carle's quarrel." And he told him what he
had seen. Then said Sir Godrick: "Then I am wrong and thou right, and
I thank thee for the shaft. I might have known that thou wouldst be
wise."

So they fetched a compass about that surly town, and rode a two hours
ere they took harbour in a little wood, and held good watch and ward
all that night. But none meddled with them.

The day after, by the rede of the shepherd-folk, they turned up into
the hills again, for they had no wish to raise the country against
them; and to say sooth, Sir Godrick was somewhat pensive that he found
enmity so far off his own land. So they rode the hills for five days,
falling in with few folk, and going slowly because of the rough ways.
Thereafter they needed victual, and had been fain of better lodging
might they get it; and whereas they saw a fair plain well builded and
tilled, with good roads through the same, and knew that this was the
nighest way to the Wood Masterless, they turned down thither at all
adventure, and found no evil haps there, but that the folk were well
enough pleased to make their market of the riders, and had neither
fear of