Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/290

 folk. Said the newcomer: Thou art far from the host to-day, and hast no angry look on thee, wherefore I shall risk thy wrath by saying that thou lookest somewhat less than gleeful, great warrior. Said Osberne: I have a trouble on me, and I have been forced to let many men know thereof. Wilt thou tell me thereof? said the newcomer; maybe I shall be the last to whom thou shalt tell it. Osberne looked on him a while doubtfully and anxiously; at last he said: This it is. Five years ago a maiden was stolen from me, and I have sought her since in many places, and have heard no word concerning her of any avail. Said the carle: Dost thou remember the battle in the square and the carfax of the great City, and how there was a man before thy mighty hand who cried out to spare his life, for that he could tell thee of the said maiden? and thereon thou wert about to give him peace, but ere thou couldst take him to thy mercy he was slain by one of the carle-weavers? Yea, said Osberne, I remember it. Now, said the carle, I shall make no mystery of it, but shall tell thee at once that that same man was the brother of the master whom now I serve. And I have an errand from him unto thee, and he saith that what his brother knew, he knows, and somewhat more; and thy maiden is yet alive, and that he can tell thee how to find her surely if thou wilt. And he is not far hence. Osberne looked somewhat wildly, and he caught the carle by the hand and cried out: Good fellow, bring me to him at