stood up and sang:

From the Wethermel reek
I set me to seek
The world-ways unkenned
And the first of the end.
For when out there I be
Each way unto me
Shall seem nought save it lead
Back to Wethermel's need,
And many a twilight twixt dawning and day
Shall the feet of the waker dream wending the way.

When the war-gale speeds
Point-bitter reeds,
And the edges flash
O'er the war-board's clash,
Through the battle's rent
Shall I see the bent,
And the gable's peace
Midst the Dale's increase,
And the victory-whooping shall seem to me oft
As the Dale shepherd's cry where the reek wends aloft.

When to right and left
The ranks are cleft,
And the edges wan
Mate master and man,
It shall be as the fall
Of a hindering wall
Twixt my blade and me
And the garth on the lea;
So shall day unto day tell the hope of the year,
And season on season shall draw the Dale near.

This they deemed kindly sung and well; and now so high rose their
hearts, that it was to them as if they saw the day of his returning
and the gladness of fellowship renewed.

Chapter XXXVIII. Osberne Parts from Stephen the Eater

The next morning Osberne went his way riding on a good horse, and not
without treasure in his scrip. He was girt to Boardcleaver and had the
wonder-bow and shafts with him; but the byrny, Hardcastle's Loom, he
left behind, and had but a white basnet on his head, for he deemed
that his friend Sir Medard would purvey him of armour. All the
household were without in the garth to see him off, but none went
further with him save Stephen the Eater, who rode with him as far as
the bent, and closely and lovingly they spake together on the way. But
when they were come to the crown of the bent Osberne drew rein and
said: "Now, my friend, shalt thou turn about and let me go my ways."
And they turned about both and looked down on Wethermel, and Stephen
cast his arm abroad and spake: "Best-beloved of all men, how long
deemest thou it shall be ere thou seest this again?"

"I wot not," said Osberne; "I am in the hands of Weird, to wend as she
will have me: but I will tell thee that I have hoped and prayed that
it might be in no longer space than five years; then shall I be of
twenty years and three, and she but a few weeks younger, and manhood
and womanhood and due service of the kindred shall lie before us both
if I find he