Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/26

 again he showed me more strange plays, which were wondrous; but some did frighten me.

Then his grandsire asked him what like those plays were. Said Osberne: He took a stone and stroked it, and mumbled, and it turned into a mouse, and played with us nought afraid awhile; but presently it grew much bigger, till it was bigger than a hare; and great game meseemed that was, till on a sudden it stood on its hind-legs, and lo it was become a little child, and oh, but so much littler than I; and then it ran away from us into the dark, squeaking the while like a mouse behind the panel, only louder. Well, thereafter, my play-mate took a big knife, and said: Now, drudgling, I shall show thee a good game indeed. And so he did, for he set the edge of the said knife against his neck, and off came his head; but there came no blood, nor did he tumble down, but took up his head and stuck it on again, and then stood crowing like our big red cock. Then he said: Poultry, cockerel, now will I do the like by thee. And he came to me with the knife; but I was afraid, and gat hold of his hand and had the knife from him; and then I wrestled with him and gave him a fall; but I must needs let him get up again presently, whereas he grew stronger under my hand; then he thrust me from him and laughed exceeding much, and said: Here is a champion come into my house forsooth! Well, I will leave thine head on thy shoulders, for belike I might not be able to stick it on again, which were a pity of thee, for a champion shalt thou verily be in the