“There is something strange happening in the market,” he said, “and I think that you have a hand in it.  The decency of the place is wonderful, and you said that you thought I might have less trouble with the men than I was wont if you went down with the loaves.  What did you?  For I went to the baker’s stalls and bought, and looked round for the tail that is after me always; and I was alone, and all the market folk were agape to see what was to be done.  I thought that I had offended the market by yesterday’s business, as they had called out on me, and I thought that I should have to come and fetch your—­that is, if it pleased you.  But first I called, as is my wont, for porters.  Now all that rabble sat in a row along a wall, and, by Baldur, when I looked, they had cleaned themselves!  Whereupon an old gaffer, who has carried things once or twice for me when there has been no crowd and he has been able to come forward, lifted up his voice and asked how many men I wanted, so please me.

“’Two,’I said, wondering, and at that two got up and came to me, and I sent them off.  It was the same at the next booth, and the next, for he told off men as I wanted them; and here am I back a full half-hour earlier than ever before, and no mud splashes from the crowd either.  It is said that they have made a porters’ guild; and who has put that sense into their heads unless your—­that is, unless you have done so, I cannot say.”

Havelok laughed.

“Well, I did tell them that they should take turns, or somewhat like that; and I also told them that if you complained of them I would see to it.”

“Did you say that you would pay them, may I ask—­that is, of course, if they were orderly?  For if so, I thank—­”

“I told them that if you complained I would knock their heads together,” said Havelok.

And that was the beginning of the Lincoln porters’ guild; and in after days Havelok was wont to say that he would that all lawmaking was as easy as that first trial of his.  Certainly from that day forward there was no man in all the market who would not have done aught for my brother, and many a dispute was he called on to settle.  It is not always that a law, however good it may be, finds not a single one to set himself against it.  But then Havelok was a strong man.

Now there is naught to tell of either Havelok or myself for a little while, for we went on in our new places comfortably enough.  One heard much of Havelok, though, for word of him and his strength and goodliness, and of his kindness moreover, went through the town, with tales of what he had done.  But I never heard that any dared to ask him to make a show of himself by doing feats of strength.  Only when he came down to the guardroom sometimes with me would he take part in the weapon play that he loved, and the housecarls, who were all tried and good warriors, said that he was their master in the use of every weapon, and it puzzled them to know where he had learned so well, for he yet wore his fisher’s garb.  They sent his arms with mine from Grimsby, thinking that he also needed them; but he left them with the widow.