esterday."

"I answer not for his mettle," Roger said; "but if he fights as well as
he talks, he will not do discredit to himself."

As they took their places, facing each other, the lookers on, men well
qualified to judge of strength and sinew, murmured to each other that
it would be difficult to find a better-matched pair. They were about
the same height, both stood lightly on their feet, and their figures
seemed full of life and activity. Both were smiling, Robert Baird with
a smile of confidence, and of assurance in his skill; while Oswald's
face expressed only good temper and, as the others took it, a belief
that he would, at any rate, be able to make such a defence as would
assure his being taken into the Bairds' service.

The first rally, indeed, proved more than this. Robert Baird had at
once taken the offensive, and showered his blows heavily down, while
springing backwards and forwards with wonderful quickness and activity;
but Oswald's blade ever met his, and he did not give way an inch, even
when Baird most fiercely attacked him. Then suddenly he adopted the
same tactics as his opponent, and pressed him so hotly that he was,
several times, obliged to give ground. Oswald could twice have got in a
heavy blow, but he abstained from doing so. He could see that his
antagonist was a favourite among his kinsmen, and felt that, were he to
discomfit him, he would excite a feeling of hostility against himself.
Both, panting from their exertions, drew a step backwards and lowered
their swords.

"Enough!" William Baird said, "The matter need be pushed no further.
'Tis long since I have seen so good a bout of swordplay. This young
fellow has learned his business, and if, in other respects, he does as
well, he will make a good recruit, indeed.

"What say you, lad? Will you join us for a month, till you see whether
you like our service, and we can judge how your service will suit us?
For that time you will have your living here, and drink money. After
that, if we agree, you can either be a retainer here, or we will give
you a holding on the moor, build you a shelter, give you a horse, and,
after our next foray, a clump of cattle."

"That will suit me well," Oswald said; "and I like well the month of
trial you propose."

"I will take him, if you will let me, Uncle, as my own man," Robert
Baird said. "If, at the end of the month, he chooses service with us,
and likes better to follow a master, with half a dozen men,