'
Therewith he sat down, and there strode a man up the hall, strong-
built and sturdy, but short of stature; black-haired, red-bearded,
and ruddy-faced: and he stood on the dais, and took up the sword and
laid its point on the Boar, and said:
'I am Bristler, son of Brightling, a man of the Shepherds. Here by
the Holy Boar I swear to follow up the ransackers of Penny-thumb and
the slayers of Rusty. And I take this feud upon me, although they be
no good men, because I am of the kin and it falleth to me, since
others forbear; and when the Court was hallowed hereon I was away out
of the Dale and the Downs. So help me the Warrior, and the God of
the Earth.'
Then the Alderman nodded his head to him kindly, and reached him out
a cup of wine, and as he drank there went up a rumour of praise from
the hall; and men said that his oath was manly and that he was like
to keep it; for he was a good man-at-arms and a stout heart.
Then came up three men of the Shepherds and two of the Dale and swore
to help Bristler in his feud, and men thought it well sworn.
After that came a braggart, a man very gay of his raiment, and swore
with many words that if he lived the year through he would be a
captain over the men of the Plain, and would come back again with
many gifts for his friends in the Dale.
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