n they went
in; and they came to the bushed ground where lay the four townsmen and
stirred them, and so went on all seven with their new fellow the
Baron, who still walked on like a man in his sleep.

They made a compass about the warder who had taken the place of
Stephen's friend, so that he might not challenge them, and came fair
and softly to the dyke, and thereafter to the postern. There Stephen
knocked after the manner appointed, and the door opened and showed the
passage all full of armed men. But Stephen cried out: "All's well,
friend Dickon, and there shall be no sally out tonight, only take us
in, and bring me and Captain Osberne to Sir Medard, for we have
somewhat to show him."

So they gat them into the town, they and their new guest; but ere the
door was shut, Steelhead took Osberne by the skirt and drew him a
little aside and said: "Lad of Wethermel, in all ways thou hast shown
thy valiance, and I am glad of thee. Now I have come from the
hill-sides and the crannies of the rocks to look upon thee, and I must
get me back at once; for within a builded town I may not be. But I can
see that it will not be long till we meet in the mountains. So I tell
thee, when thou deemest thy need and thy grief to be as great as it
may be, hie thee to the little dale where first we met, and call on me
by the token of the bow I gave thee then, and presently thou shalt
have tidings: now farewell."

"Yea, but hold," said Osberne, "wilt thou not enter, even if it be to
go forth at once by another gate with much company? Else wilt thou be
tangled amongst all these foemen."

"Trouble not thyself about me," said Steelhead; "it shall not be hard
for me to go where I will in despite of any foeman."

Chapter XXVII. They Parley from the Walls

Therewith he was gone and Osberne entered the town after his fellows,
and the Baron of Deepdale was brought to Sir Medard in the great
tower. There they would have served him with all honour, but he was
not yet come out of that trance; so they laid him to rest in Sir
Medard's own bed, and had warders both within the chamber and without;
and Osberne sat talking with Sir Medard in the said chamber till dawn
was, when the Baron awoke really and fairly, and called for drink. And
Sir Medard brought it unto him with his own hand, and the Baron stared
at him and said: "Art thou of the service tonight? I know thee not."
Quoth Sir Medard: "And yet we have been near enough together ere this,
Lor