said: Well now, I will tell thee the way out of this thraldom, as thou wilt call it; and the more to thee, bairn, because thou wilt become my man and wilt be bold and deft, I doubt not; therefore thou shouldst learn early the fashions of great and bold men. Hearken! ever when I offer to some man a lot that seemeth hard unto him, then I bid him, if it likes him not, to pitch me the hazelled field hard by his house, and we to go thereinto and see what point and edge may say to it; and if he slay me or hurt me so much that I must be borne off the field within the four corners, then is he quit, and hath his land again, and hath gained mickle glory of my body. Moreover if he may not fight himself, yet will I meet any champion that he may choose to do battle with me. Now this is a good and noble custom of the bold, and hath been deemed so from time long agone. And indeed I deem pity of it that here to-day the goodman may not fight nor hath found any champion to fight for him. But three days first will I give him to find such a champion. . . . Thou wretch, said he to Stephen, why wilt thou still skelly at me? Because the champion is found, said Stephen.
Hardcastle snorted and his beard bristled, but forth stood Osberne, and he still smiling; and he said: Thou warrior, three things I offer thee to choose from, and the first is that thou depart hence, thou and thy man; because thou hast not dealt with us as a guest should, but hast smitten me and threatened all of us, and brazened out thy
