Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/156

So they clomb the dyke, and as they topped it they saw a weaponed man on his feet betwixt them and the sky. Stephen stood up straightway and fell a-whistling a merry tune, but softly enough, while he made a sign to the others to fetch a compass and go creeping past this man. So did they, while Stephen and the warder walked toward one another; but so soon as they met, the warder knew his friend, and hailed him and said: Well, minstrel, thou art back again pretty soon; what is toward, man? Said Stephen: Sooth to say, I went not all the way home; for it came into my mind that maybe the Baron might call for me again; and when it rains florins I am fain to have my hat under the spout. Said the warder: Thou art come in time, for the Baron is somewhat ailing, and whiles he sleeps not well a-nights; it was but last night when it was so, and he sends for me and asks me of thee, and biddeth me fetch thee; and St. Peter! the uproar when I told him that thou wert gone; and it was hardly that I escaped a whipcord supper. Howsoever, his wrath ran off him in a little, and then he bade me look out for thee, and if I find thee I am to bring thee to him at any hour of day or night wherein the armour is off him: wherefore, see thou, in happy hour art thou come. So abide me till I go and fetch a fellow to keep my watch, and then will I go on with thee to my lord. Wait awhile, said Stephen; to say sooth I have hereby an old carle, my uncle, and his son, a young swain, and both they are good at song, and the older man a very