s
mother-wit in dealing with it." The captain of the Eastcheapers smiled
upon him kindly and said: "My son, he who can use his mother-wit to
any purpose when the edges be aloft hath learned the more part of
battle-craft. Withal it is but a few hours agone that I saw thee
handling the men of thine household like to a ripe man. Fear not, my
son, but that thou shalt do well enough; and moreover I promise that I
will learn thee the craft all I may. And know that if thou deny this,
then shalt thou take the heart out of these good fellows, who be eager
enough to help the good town and be no mannikins, I warrant them.
Naysay it not, my lad, naysay it not."

Now was Osberne's heart thumping against his ribs, what for sudden
wonder, what for the hope of renown that flashed upon him as a sudden
flame of strange light. But withal he thought in himself, and that all
suddenly also: If the Sundering Flood is to be encompassed here is
indeed the beginning of it, if this good Knight shall be my friend and
shall learn me the craft of war, and thereby I become a man of might,
to be desired and waged by them who have not had either the craft or
the courage to fight for themselves face to face with their foemen.

Wherefore now he turned to the Lawman and said: "Master, it is enough;
if the Mote of the neighbours will have me captain I may not naysay
it: and may my luck be enough to overcome my childish years: and if
not, may I lie on the field and not come back again to hear the
mothers and maids curse me for having cast away the lives of their
sons and their dears."

Then spake the Lawman, after he had smiled on Osberne and laid his
hand on the lad's shoulder: "Men of the East Dale, ye be met together
to see if ye can in any wise help our friends and neighbours of
Eastcheaping, and ye have told off certain men to go in arms for their
avail, and will have a captain over them. Now it hath been said to me
that he who seems likeliest for the said captain is the young man
Osberne Wulfgrimsson of Wethermel, and if this be so, let me hear your
voices saying Yea. But even then there will be time for any man of you
to name another, if it seem good to him, and that name will also be
put to the Mote, and a dozen others if such there be. Now first, what
say ye to Osberne Wulfgrimsson?"

Straightway arose a great cheer and the clashing of weapons, and
well-nigh every man as it seemed cried out Yea. But when the noise and
cry was abated, the Lawma