"What have I done to them? If I had my laugh at them, they had their laugh
at me; and we are quits."

"There is another score, my lord, which you have forgotten, and that is
all on your side."

"Eh?"

"You killed the bear. Do you expect them to forgive you that, till they
have repaid you with interest?"

"Pish!"

"You do not want for wit, my lord. Use it, and think. What right has a
little boy like you to come here, killing bears which grown men cannot
kill? What can you expect but just punishment for your insolence,--say, a
lance between your shoulders while you stoop to drink, as Sigfried had for
daring to tame Brunhild? And more, what right have you to come here, and
so win the hearts of the ladies, that the lady of all the ladies should
say, 'If aught happen to my poor boy,--and he cannot live long,--I would
adopt Hereward for my own son, and show his mother what a fool some folks
think her?' So, my lord, put on your mail shirt to-morrow, and take care
of narrow ways, and sharp corners. For to-morrow it will be tried, that I
know, before my Lord Gilbert comes back from the Highlands; but by whom I
know not, and care little, seeing that there are half a dozen in the house
who would be glad enough of the chance."

Hereward took his advice, and rode out with three or four knights the next
morning into the fir-forest; not afraid, but angry and sad. He was not yet