Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/89

 CHAPTER XIV. STEELHEAD TAKES LEAVE OF OSBERNE.

OW by then it was high noon, and the sun very hot, and as they lay on the grass after this converse the lad looked on the water; and he was besweated, and longed for the bright pools of the stream after the manner of boys; and he said at last: I were fain to take to the water this hot noon, if it please thee. It is well thought of, lad, said Steelhead, and that the more, as I must needs see thee naked if I am to strengthen thee as I am minded to do. So they did off their raiment, both of them, and went into the biggest of the pools hard by; and if Steelhead were a noble-looking man clad, far nobler was he to look on naked, for he was both big and well shapen, so that better might not be. As for Osberne, there looked but little of him when he was unclad, as is the fashion of lads to be lank, yet for his age he was full well shapen. So Steelhead came out of the water presently, and clad himself, while Osberne yet played awhile. Then Steelhead called the lad to him, all naked as he was, and said: Stand thou before me, youngling, and I will give thee a gift which shall go well with Board-cleaver. And the lad stood still before him, and Steelhead laid his hands on the head of him first, and let them abide there awhile; then he passed his hands over the shoulders and arms of the boy, and his legs and thighs and breast, and