of my
serving-men, without whom I seldom rode in those troublous times, ran
up from behind a shed, laying hands upon their short swords, on seeing
which the idlers took to their heels.

When they had gone I turned to look at the stranger, whose hood had
fallen back in the hustling, and saw that he was about thirty years of
age, and of a dark and noble countenance, beardless, but with straight
black hair, black flashing eyes, and an aquiline nose. Another thing
I noted about him was that the lobe of his ear was pierced and in a
strange fashion, since the gristle was stretched to such a size that
a small apple could have been placed within its ring. For the rest the
man's limbs were so thin as though from hunger, that everywhere his
bones showed, while his skin was scarred with cuts and scratches, and
on his forehead was a large bruise. He seemed bewildered also and very
weak, yet I think he understood that I was playing a friend's part to
him, for he bowed towards me in a stately, courteous way and kissed the
air thrice, but what this meant at the time I did not know.

I spoke to him in English, but he shook his head gently to show that he
did not understand. Then, as though by an afterthought, he touched his
breast several times, and after each touch, said in a voice of strange
softness, "Kari," which I took it he meant was his name. At any rate,
from that time forward I called him Kari.

Now the question was how to deal with him. Leave him there to be mocked
or to perish I could not, nor was there anywhere whither I could send
him. Therefore it seemed the only thing to do was to take him home with
me. So grasping his arm gently I led him off the quay where our horses
were and motioned to him to mount one that had been ridden by a servant
whom I bade to walk. At the sight of these horses, however, a great
terror took hold of him for he trembled all over, a sweat bursting
out upon his face, and clung to me as though for protection, making it
evident that he had never seen such an animal before. Indeed, nothing
would persuade him to go near them, for he shook his head and pointed
to his feet, thus showing me that he preferred to walk, however weak his
state.

The end of it was that walk he did and I with him from Thames side to
the Cheap, since I dared not leave him alone for fear lest he should
run away. A strange sight we presented, I leading this dusky wanderer
through the streets, and glad was I that night was fal