Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/291

 once and I will well reward thee. Nay, said the carle, but there comes something before that; my master is a chapman, and liveth by selling, not by giving; and he will take of thee two hundred nobles before thou hast his tale. Thou and I may call that weregild for the slaying of his brother. Yea, said Osberne, but I carry not two hundred nobles in my pouch. Well then, said the carle, I will be here to-morrow or the day after, if thou wilt. O nay, nay, said Osberne, but abide thou here, and I will go up to the castle and fetch the gold. So be it, said the carle; and he sat him down by the way-side, and pulled out victuals and wine from his scrip and fell to dining.

But Osberne put forth all his swiftness of foot, and was speedily in his lodging, and came to his treasury and took forth the gold and set it in a bag, and hastened back again, and found the carle where he had left him. Thou art swift-foot indeed, said the carle, but belike thou shalt not often again run so fast as thou hast e'en now. But thou art breathed; wilt thou not sit down a while till thou come round? No, said Osberne shortly, I will on at once. Well then, said the carle with a grin, suffer me to carry thy bag. Take it, said Osberne, and reached it out to him. The carle handled the bag and said: Plump are the nobles, lord, if there be but two hundred herein. There is more in it, said Osberne, for there is the gift for thee. But lead thou on straightway. So the carle led on, and they went by divers woodland paths for some two hours,