As dawn broke, the Worm uncoiled its snaky twine from around the hill, and came to its rock in the river.  When it perceived the Childe waiting for it, it lashed the waters in its fury and wound its coils round the Childe, and then attempted to crush him to death.  But the more it pressed, the deeper dug the spear-heads into its sides.  Still it pressed and pressed, till all the water around was crimsoned with its blood.  Then the Worm unwound itself, and left the Childe free to use his sword.  He raised it, brought it down, and cut the Worm in two.  One half fell into the river, and was carried swiftly away.  Once more the head and the remainder of the body encircled the Childe, but with less force, and the spear-heads did their work.  At last the Worm uncoiled itself, snorted its last foam of blood and fire, and rolled dying into the river, and was never seen more.

[Illustration:  The Lambton Worm]

The Childe of Lambton swam ashore, and raising his bugle to his lips, sounded its note thrice.  This was the signal to the Hall, where the servants and the old lord had shut themselves in to pray for the Childe’s success.  When the third sound of the bugle was heard, they were to release Boris, the Childe’s favourite hound.  But such was their joy at learning of the Childe’s safety and the Worm’s defeat, that they forgot orders, and when the Childe reached the threshold of the Hall his old father rushed out to meet him, and would have clasped him to his breast.

“The vow! the vow!” cried out the Childe of Lambton, and blew still another blast upon his horn.  This time the servants remembered, and released Boris, who came bounding to his young master.  The Childe raised his shining sword, and severed the head of his faithful hound.

But the vow was broken, and for nine generations of men none of the Lambtons died in his bed.  The last of the Lambtons died in his carriage as he was crossing Brugeford Bridge, one hundred and thirty years ago.

The Wise Men of Gotham

Of Buying of Sheep

There were two men of Gotham, and one of them was going to market to Nottingham to buy sheep, and the other came from the market, and they both met together upon Nottingham bridge.

“Where are you going?” said the one who came from Nottingham.

“Marry,” said he that was going to Nottingham, “I am going to buy sheep.”

“Buy sheep?” said the other, “and which way will you bring them home?”

“Marry,” said the other, “I will bring them over this bridge.”

“By Robin Hood,” said he that came from Nottingham, “but thou shalt not.”

“By Maid Marion,” said he that was going thither, “but I will.”

“You will not,” said the one.

“I will.”

Then they beat their staves against the ground one against the other, as if there had been a hundred sheep between them.