Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/167

Rh for miles about. But you harpers are like the crows, and you come as promptly when there is aught to eat. No matter, man, there is enough for all.'

"Had I been a minstrel in very truth," the Friar went on, "I might have resented the words that welcomed me; but my stomach forgave him, and I took my seat at the end of the log, where I could enjoy the fumes of the stew, and watched him as he stirred up the broth with his dagger. 'What are you cooking?' I asked. '’Tis a rabbit stew,' he said. 'I saw Goodman Rabbit sitting across the road, and eying me as if to ask me why I came into the woods, and so I up with my crossbow and sent him a message to stay to dinner. I had not tasted rabbit for a week.'

"Then I told him that I was glad he had not asked me to dinner with the same weapon, but hoped he would let me stay, nevertheless. In short, I helped him to dispose of Goodman Rabbit, and then, to pay for my dinner, sang him a ballad of King Arthur, which pleased him mightily, and he invited me to go to the camp and sing a song for the Count. As you may imagine, I made few objections, and after a short discussion, the soldier—a good fellow, whom I hope I shall not have to hurt—with his crossbow over his shoulder, and I with my harp on my back, jogged