Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/136

 if such there be. Now first, what say ye to Osberne Wulfgrimson?

Straightway arose a great cheer and the clashing of weapons, and well-nigh every man as it seemed cried out Yea. But when the noise and cry was abated, the Lawman bade any man who would put forth another name. No man spake for a little, till at last Surly John pushes forth to the front and says: I name Erling Thomasson, a good man and true! Break forth then great laughter and whooping, for the said Erling was a manifest niggard, a dastard who sweated in his bed when the mouse squeaked in the wall a-night-time. But one man sang out: Yea, Lawman, and I name Surly John. Thereat was there fresh laughter, and men shoved John to and fro till they had hustled him out to the skirts of the throng, and there bid him go a-wolf-hunting.

But now the Lawman takes Osberne by the hand and leads him to the edge of the knoll, and stands there and says: Men of the Dale, ye would go to the war; ye would take a captain to you; ye would have Osberne Wulfgrimson for your captain. All this ye have done uncompelled, of your own will; therefore take not the rue if it turn not out so well as ye looked for. But now I bid all them that be going this journey to lift up their right hands and swear to be leal and true to your captain, Osberne Wulfgrimson, in all things, for life or for death.

Even so they did with a hearty good will: thereupon Osberne spake and said, after he had