Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/31

 had he gone far from the stead, for so he was bidden of his grandsire.

A little after comes in the goodman with John, neither of them in very sweet temper; they had seen nought of the sheep save the hides and bones of a half-score, but the wolves they had not failed to see; they had come to the same place as the last night, and seemed by no means afraid of the man-host with its spears and shields, wherefore these last had turned their backs and run from them stoutly, and now sat together glowering on each other, and casting now and again a gibe each at each. But they were at one in this, that the wolves were huge and fierce beyond measure, and such as any man might fear. But at last John spake and said: Well, master, it is as they say down the Dale, that this is no lucky house; meseems ye are beset with no common wolves, but with skinchangers who have taken the shape of wolves, whether they be Land-wights or Dwarfs, or ride-a-nights of the outlaws.

At that word waxed the master wood-wrath, as was his wont if any spake of the luck of Wethermel; and he forgot his fear in his anger, and said: Hearken the fool-talk of him! Thou hadst not the heart for all thine inches to go forward before the master, and a man on the downward side of years; and now thou must needs make up fairy tales to cover thy cowardice. O! said John, grinning, keep thy head, master; for sooth it is that thou wert the first to run, and wert the first through the door. Thou liest, said the goodman;