greatly beholden to your lordship," Oswald said, "and will try to
justify the commendations that you have given me."

At daybreak on the following morning, the little party rode out from
the castle. Oswald with his uncle rode in front; the former in the
highest spirits, while the sturdy old soldier was himself scarce less
pleased, at this change from the monotony of life in garrison.

"Years seem to have fallen off my shoulders, lad," he said, "and I feel
as young as I did when I fought at Otterburn."

"That was a bad business, Uncle; and I trust that no such misfortune as
that will befall us, this time."

"I hope not, indeed, Oswald. It was a sore fight, and we are scarce
likely to have a pitched battle with these Welsh carls. They fight not
much in our fashion, as I have heard; but dash down from their hills,
and carry fire and sword through a district, and are off again before a
force can be gathered to strike a blow. Then there are marches to and
fro among their hills, but it is like chasing a will-o'-the-wisp; and
like enough, just when you think you have got them cooped up, and
prepare to strike a heavy blow, they are a hundred miles away,
plundering and ravaging on our side of the frontier. They are half-wild
men, short in stature, and no match for us when it comes to
hand-to-hand fighting; but broad in the shoulder, tireless, and active
as our shaggy ponies, and well-nigh as untamable. 'Tis fighting in
which there is little glory, and many hard knocks to be obtained; but
it is a good school for war. It teaches a man to be ever watchful and
on his guard, prepared to meet sudden attacks, patient under
difficulties; and, what is harder, to be able to go without eating or
drinking for a long time, for they say that you might as well expect to
find corn and ale on the crest of the Grampians, as you would on the
Welsh hills."

"The prospect doesn't look very pleasant, Uncle," Oswald laughed.
"However, their hills can scarcely be more barren than ours, nor can
they be quicker on the stroke than the border raiders; and for such
work, we of the northern marches have proved far more useful than the
beefy men of the south."

"No doubt, no doubt; and maybe that, for that reason, Sir Edmund prayed
Hotspur to send a detachment to his aid; for he would know that we are
accustomed to a country as rough, and to a foe as active as he has now
to meet.

"I wonder what has stirred up the Welsh now, knowing as they do that,