et,
who stood on his other hand, and said to him: "Well, David the Sage, is
this the sort of man? Is he goodly enough?"

Then the elder put on a pair of spectacles and eyed Ralph curiously a
while, and then said: "There are no two words to be said about it; he
is a goodly and well-fashioned a young man as was ever sold."

"Well," said the lord, turning towards Morfinn, "the catch is good,
lucky man: David will give thee gold for it, and thou mayst go back
west when thou wilt. And thou must be lucky again, moreover; because
there are women needed for my house; and they must be goodly and meek,
and not grievously marked with stripes, or branded, so that thou hadst
best take them, luckily if thou mayst, and not buy them. Now go, for
there are more than enough men under this woven roof, and we need no
half-men to boot."

Said David, the old man, grinning: "He will hold him well paid if he
go unscathed from before thee, lord: for he looked not to meet thee
here, but thought to bring the young man to Utterness, that he might be
kept there till thou camest."

The lord said, grimly: "He is not far wrong to fear me, maybe: but he
shall go for this time. But if he bring me not those women within
three months' wearing, and if there be but two uncomely ones amongst
them, let him look to it. Give him his gold, David. Now take ye the
new man, and let him rest, and give him meat and drink. And look you,
David, if he be not in condition when he cometh home to Utterbol, thou
shalt pay for it in one way or other, if not in thine own person, since
thou art old, and deft of service, then through those that be dear to
thee. Go now!"

David smiled on Ralph and led him out unto a tent not far off, and
there he made much of him, and bade bring meat and drink and all he
needed. Withal he bade him not to try fleeing, lest he be slain; and
he showed him how nigh the guards were and how many.

Glad was the old man when he saw the captive put a good face on
matters, and that he was not down-hearted. In sooth that hatred of the
tyrant mingled with hope sustained Ralph's heart. He had been minded
when he was brought before the lord to have shown the letter of the
Queen of Goldburg, and to defy him if he still held him captive. But
when he had beheld him and his fellowship a while he thought better of
it. For though they had abundance of rich plenishing, and gay raiment,
and good weapons and armour, howbeit of strange and uncou