Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/67

 indoor work either, for nought but the shepherding is to my mind. But now tell me, what canst thou do? He said: Meseems I cannot keep my sheep together so well as thou; but last autumn I learned how to slay wolves that would tear the sheep.

She rose up as if to look at him the better, and strained her hands together hard, and gazed eagerly at him. He saw that she was wondering at him and praising him, so he said lightly: It is no so great a matter as some think; what is most needed is a good heart and a quick eye. Thus I slew the three of them. O, she said, now I know that thou art that fair child and champion of whom I have heard tell, that thy deed was a wonder; and now thou art so kind that thou wilt wear the day talking to a poor and feeble maiden. Said he: I do that because it is my will and it pleases me to see thee and talk to thee, for thou art good to look at and dear. Then she said: But what else canst thou do, Champion? Said he: Of late I am thought to be somewhat deft at shooting in the bow, so that whatso I aim at, that I hit. Thus I am not like to lack for meat. Yea, she said, but that is wonderful; and besides, now canst thou shoot at the wolves from afar without their being able to come at thee to bite thee. But now it is hard to get thee to tell of thy prowess, and I must ask after every deal. Tell me of something else. Quoth he: At home they deem me somewhat of a scald, so that I can smithy out staves. She clapped her hands together and cried: Now