mered the steward.

"Here am I, therefore," answered Havelok, "and where is the load?"

"Truth to tell, I have bought but this at present," said the steward,
pointing to a small basket of green stuff on the stall at which he stood.

"Well, I suppose there is more to come," Havelok said, taking it up; "it
will be a beginning."

"I will not ask you to carry more than that," Berthun began.

"Why, man, this is foolishness. If you have a porter, make him carry all
he can, else he will not earn his keep."

"As you will," answered the steward, shrugging his shoulders as one who
cannot account for some folk's whims, and going on to the next booth.

Now, I suppose that the idlers looked to see Havelok walk away with this
light load gladly, as any one of them would have done, and that then
their turn would have come; but this was not what they expected. Maybe
they would have liked to see the strong man sweep up all the palace
marketing and carry it, as a show, but it might interfere with their own
gains. So there was a murmur or two among them, and this grew when
Havelok took the next burden in like manner.

"Ho, master cook," cried a ragged man at last, "this is not the custom,
and it is not fair that one man should do all the work, and all for one
wage."

Berthun took no notice of this; and so the cry was repeated, and that by
more than one. And at last he turned round and answered.

"Go to, ye knaves," he said with a red face and angrily; "if I find a
man who will save me the trouble of your wrangles every day, shall I not
do as I please?"

Then there was a tumult of voices, and some of them seemed sad, as if a
last hope was gone, and that Havelok heard.

"There is somewhat in this," he said to the cook. "What pay have you
given to each man who carries for you?"

"A yesterday's loaf each," answered Berthun, wondering plainly that
Havelok paid any heed to the noise.

"Well, then, let us go on, and we will think of somewhat," Havelok said;
and then he turned to the people, who were silent at once.

"I am a newcomer, and a hungry one," he said, smiling quietly, "and I
have a mind to earn my loaf well. Hinder me not for today, and hereafter
I will take my chance with the rest, if need is."

Thereat the folk began to laugh also, for it was plain that none had any
chance at all if he chose to put forth his strength; but an old man said
loudly, "Let the good youth alone now, and he shall talk with us when he
has do