of words as was due amongst that folk, and which were somewhat long to tell here.  Then was silence again for a little, and then the old man spake:  “Few words are best to-day, neighbours; for wherefore are we met together?” There arose a hum of assent from the Shepherds as he spoke and men clashed their weapons together; but none said any clear word.  Then spake the old man:  “We be met together because we have trouble on hand, and because there is a helper to hand, of whom the words of the wise and tales of old have told us; and because as he shall help us, so shall we help him, since indeed our trouble is his also:  now, neighbours, shall I say the word for you which ye would say to this young man, who is nevertheless old in wisdom, and true-hearted and kind?”

Then came the hum of yeasay again, the clashing of weapons, and the old man spake again:  “Ralph of Upmeads, there thou standest, wilt thou help us against the tyrants, as we shall help thee?”

“Yea,” said Ralph.  Said the Elder:  “Wilt thou be our Captain, if we do according to thy bidding?  For thou needest not fear our failing thee.”

“Yea verily,” said Ralph.

Said the Elder:  “Ralph of Upmeads, wilt thou be our Captain as an alien and a hireling, or as a brother?”

“As a brother,” quoth Ralph.

“Come up here then, Captain of our folk, and take my hand in thine, and swear by our fathers and thine to be a true brother of us, and take this ancient staff of war in thine hand.  And, ye kindred of the Shepherds, bear witness of his swearing.  Yea and ye also, O neighbours of the Dry Tree!”

So Ralph went up on the wall-top and took the Elder’s hand, and took from him the ancient guisarme, which was inlaid with gold letters of old time; and he swore in a loud voice to be a true brother of the Shepherd-folk, and raised the weapon aloft and shook it strongly, and all the Folk cried, “Hail our brother!” and the Champions shouted gladly withal, and great joy there was in that ingle of the ancient work.

Then spake the Elder and said:  “Ye champions of the Dry Tree, will ye wend with us under the Captain our brother against his foemen and ours?”

Then stood forth Stephen a-Hurst and said, “Master shepherd, for nought else are we come hither.”

Said the Elder:  “Will ye come with us as friends or as hirelings? for in any case we would have you by our sides, and not in face of us; and though we be shepherds, and unhoused, or ill-housed, yet have we wherewithal to wage you, as ye know well enough, who have whiles lifted our gear.”

Then Stephen laughed and said:  “True it is that we have whiles driven prey in your country, yea, and had some hard knocks therein; but all that was in playing the game of war, and now since we are to fight side by side, we will be paid by our foes and not by our friends; so neither hair nor wool will we have of yours, whatever we may have of the Burgers; and it is like that we shall be good friends of yours hence-forward.”