ed and grey-eyed; his
hair was yellow and as fine as silk, and it hung down over his
shoulders.

Now Osberne put as good a face on the meeting as he might, and gave
the newcomer the sele of the day, and he hailed him again in a clear
loud voice, and they stood looking on each other across the stream a
while. Then the newcomer laughed pleasantly and said: "Hast thou any
name that I may call thee by?"

"I am Osberne of Wethermel," said the youngling. "Aha," said the man,
"art thou he that slew the leash of great grey wolves last autumn, who
had put two armed men to flight the day before?" Said Osberne,
reddening: "Well, what was I to do? There fell a leash of hill-dogs on
our sheep, and I made them forbear. Was it a scathe to thee, lord?"
The newcomer laughed again: "Nay, my lad," said he, "I love them no
more than ye do; they were no dogs of mine. But what doest thou here?"

"Thou seest," said the youngling, "that I am shepherding our sheep;
and a many have run from me, and I cannot bring them back to me. So I
was going home with those that be left."

"Well," says the man, "we can soon mend that. Rest thou here and abide
my coming back again, and I will fetch them for thee."

"With a good will," says Osberne, "and I shall can thee many thanks
therefor."

So the man strode on and through the stream, and went his ways up the
further bent, and Osberne sat down on a stone and abode him in no
little wonder. The man was gone somewhat more than an hour, and then
Osberne sees the sheep topping the crest of the bent, and pouring down
into the dale, and the newcomer came next driving them down; and when
they came to the stream they stood there and moved no more than if
they were penned.

Then the newcomer came through them up to Osberne, and said in a kind
voice, though it was loud: "What, art thou here yet? I deemed that
thou wouldst have run home."

"Why should I have run?" said the lad. "For fear of me," said the
other. Said Osberne: "I was somewhat afeard when I first saw thee, and
thou with the grey byrny and the gleaming helm; but then I saw that
thou wert no ill man, and I feared thee no longer. Withal I was fain
to see thee again; for thou art goodly and fair to behold, and I am
fain to remember thee."

Said the man: "Even so have others said ere now." "Were they women?"
said Osberne. "Thou art brisk and keen, youngling," said the man.
"Yes, they were women: but it was long ago." "Yet thou lookest no old
man,"