Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/103

 wrong-doing. This is the best way out of thy folly; what sayest thou to it? But such fury was in the ruffler's heart now, that he had no words for it, but rolled about in the high-seat snorting and blowing. Said Osberne: I see thou wilt not take this way, and that is the worse for thee. Now the next is that we hazel a field and fight therein. Wilt thou have this? The champion roared out: Yea, that will I! but in such wise that thou take sword and shield and I a bunch of birch twigs; and if I catch thee not and unbreech thee and whip thee as a grammar master his scholar, then will I lay down sword and shield for ever.

Said Osberne coldly: Thou seest not that I am girt with a sword, and I tell thee it is a good one. Or wilt thou take Surly John's knife this morning and do as I did with it last night? And I did it for a warning to thee, but belike thou wert drunk and noted it not.

Hardcastle's face fell somewhat, for now he did remember the feat of the knife. But Osberne spake again: I ask thee, warrior, wilt thou enter the field that I shall hazel for thee? Quoth the ruffler, but in a lower voice: I cannot fight with a boy; whether I slay him or am slain I am shamed.

Spake Osberne: Then depart from the house with as little shame as a ruffler and a churl may have. But if thou wilt neither of these things, then will it befall that I shall draw my blade and fall on thee to slay thee, and make the most of it that here stands by me my man Stephen, a true