Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/43

 might show her darling and her champion to the neighbours. It was a matter of seven miles down the water to the Mote-stead, and they went aslant over the snow-covered fields, and hit the river-bank about half way, and went thence along the very lip of the water. And by then it was pretty much daylight; and Osberne looked over the water and saw about half-a-mile off, for the day was clear, two little knolls rising from the field, and betwixt them and about them a show of small wood; and he asked his grandsire what that might be, for hitherto he had never been so far down the water; whereas before he slew the wolves, down the water was banned to him, and after that he had been busy about the houses and folds, or driving the sheep to the bents day by day. So his grandsire answered him: That is hight Hart Shaw, and we are told that on the other side of the shaw and the knolls looking west is a stead with houses inhabited, and the whole place is hight Hart Shaw Knolls. Said Osberne: I would we were there awhile, for as I look at the stead it seemeth friendly to me, and I fare to feel that the folk thereof shall come into my life some day. Answered the goodman: We hear that little dwelleth there save a widow woman and her one child, a little maiden. And as to thy one day, it shall be a long while coming; for long and long shall it be for any one to encompass the Sundering Flood, save the Winter of Fear come upon us, and all the land be overlaid with ice, and the waters of the Flood be stayed; which may God and Allhallows forfend.