Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/206

 us from any more such! And it seemed as if the goodman were weeping-ripe, whereof none marvelled. But Osberne spake, and the sound of his own voice seemed strange unto him: Tell me, goodman, have ye lost nought by the murder of men whenas the strong-thieves fell on some stead? Nay, said Wulfstan, the thieves have wasted no other stead save Longryggs, whereas, as I said, the folks escaped the murder, and this little house which is hard hereby of Hart Shaw Knolls. There forsooth the two women be missing, but no slain body of carle or quean have we found, nought of slaughter save the slaughter of kine and sheep. And I must tell you that this morning our folk sought all about heedfully, yea and looked into every thicket and nook of the wood.

Belike, quoth Osberne, they will have carried off the two women? Said Wulfstan: I fear me it may well be so. Said Osberne: Well, this loss of two women, whom maybe ye shall find again, is but little; but grievous is the man-fall of the battles. Yet not soon meseems shall reivers fall upon West Dale now they have learned the valour of the folk thereof. Heried be the Lord God that the folk yet liveth and shall live!

He spake measuredly and in a loud voice, so that all heard, and they cheered his speech with deep and strong voice; but they who stood nighest unto Osberne say that his face was stern and very pale as he spake; and it seemed to them that had Board-cleaver been naked on the West