Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/108

 he came on with uplifted sword, leapt lightly to one side, and thrust forth Board-cleaver and touched his side, so that all could see the blade had drunk a little blood. Fiercely and fast turned Hardcastle about on the lad, but therewith was he within the ruffler's stroke, and Board-cleaver's point was steady before Osberne's breast and met Hardcastle's side, and made a great wound with the point, and the warrior staggered back, and his sword-point was lowered. Then cried out Osberne: What! thou wouldst unbreech me, wouldst thou? but now art thou unbreeched. For therewith Board-cleaver swept round back-handed and came back as swift as lightning, and the edge clave all the right flank and buttock of him, so that the blood ran freely; and then as Hardcastle, still staggering, hove up his sword wildly, Osberne put the slant stroke aside with his shield, and thrust forth Board-cleaver right at his breast, and the point went in, and the whole blade, as there were nought but dough before it, and Hardcastle, nigh rent in two, fell aback off the sword.

Osberne stood still awhile looking on him, but Stephen ran up and knelt beside him, and felt his wrist and laid his hand on the breast, and then turned and looked up at Osberne, who knelt down beside him also and wiped the blood off Board-cleaver with a lap of the dead man's coat. Then he stood up and thrust the blade back into the sheath, and wound the peace-strings about it all. Then came the word into his mouth, and he sang: