Face-of-god took his place silently amongst the neighbours, but men
made way for him, so that he must needs stand in front, facing his
father and the Wardens; and there went up a murmur of expectation
round about him, both because the word had gone about that he had a
tale of new tidings to tell, and also because men deemed him their
best and handiest man, though he was yet so young.
Now the Alderman looked around and beheld a great throng gathered
together, and he looked on the shadow of the Gate which the
southering sun was casting on the hard white ground of the Thing-
stead, and he saw that it had just taken in the standing-stone which
was in the midst of the place. On the face of the said stone was
carven the image of a fighting man with shield on arm and axe in
hand; for it had been set there in old time in memory of the man who
had bidden the Folk build the Gate and its wall, and had showed them
how to fashion it: for he was a deft house-smith as well as a great
warrior; and his name was Iron-hand. So when the Alderman saw that
this stone was wholly within the shadow of the Gate he knew that it
was the due time for the hallowing-in of the Thing.
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