Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/242

 ously hurt. Therewith Osberne, who must needs let his spear fall, took a short axe from his saddle-bow, for he would not draw Board-cleaver, and abode what was to do. But the Knight of the Fish cried out for fresh spears for him and Sir Godrick, and must needs run again, and this time the knight's spear brake on Sir Godrick, whose shaft held that he drave the Knight of the Fish clean over the arson of his saddle, and but for the goodness of his shield and double jazerant the spear-head had been in his breast withal.

Then Sir Godrick cast up his spear-head, and lifted the visor of his basnet and looked around, and saw Osberne sitting still upon his horse and the long man in the arms of his fellows, and he cried out: Now this comes of fools! here is our journey tarried, and one man or two, who be not of our foes, slain or sore hurt, and all for nought. Ho ye, give my man his spear. And thou, Red Lad, come away before they make us do more hurt.

But therewith the Knight of the Fish sat up and had come to his wit, and laughed and said: Here is a surly one! Why, thou mightst complain more if ye had come to the worse, as we have. Come now, all the sort of you, into my house, and drink a cup with us for the washing away of all grudge against the honourable custom of the Fish. Sir Godrick shook his head, but the wrath ran off him and he said: Sir Knight, thou art debonair in thy folly, and I thank thee; this thy bidding might we have taken with a good will