CHAPTER XIII. STEELHEAD GIVES OSBERNE THE SWORD BOARD-CLEAVER.
WHEN morning was, the guest came into the hall and found the household there, and he spake to the goodwife and said: Dame, I would have done off this raiment which ye lent me last night and done on mine, and left thine lying there, but mine I might not find. Nor thou nor anyone else, she said, shall find thy rags any more, good guest, unless they come to life when thou risest from the dead on the day of doom; for I have peaceably burned them in the garth this hour ago. God help us if the stead of Wethermel cannot spare a yard or two of home-spun to a guest who cometh in stripped by the storm. The guest nodded kindly to her; but Osberne said: Which way ridest thou this morning, guest, for I would fain lead thee a little way? I wend south from thy door, fair master, said the newcomer; but as to riding, 't is Shanks' mare must be my way-beast, unless I go stealing a horse. There is no need for that, said Osberne, we can find thee a good horse, and if thou bringest him not back it will be no loss to us, as the less hay-need we shall have through winter. Stephen, go thou and see to it that the horses be ready saddled and bridled when we have eaten a morsel. The guest laughed and looked to the carle-master, and said: How sayest thou, goodman, is the
