William Morris

“ There he finds them, and bids the four abide their coming back with their prey, which now he nowise doubted of, and takes Steelhead and Osberne along with him, and so brings them to the warder; who laughed when he saw Steelhead, for he went for that time all bent and bowed, and, as he deemed by what he could see under the dim sky, ragged and wretched. Said he: Minstrel, thou wert scarce in luck to happen on this rag of a kinsman of thine. Hast thou no better man? Said Stephen, grinning in the dark: Abide till ye have proved him. Trust me, he hath something better than sour curds in his belly. ”

“ Even so did they, and Stephen led the way, but Osberne came next and Steelhead with him; they spake not together, but Osberne felt the stronger for having him beside him, and his heart was full of joy.
So they clomb the dyke, and as they topped it they saw a weaponed man on his feet betwixt them and the sky. Stephen stood up straightway and fell a-whistling a merry tune, but softly enough, while he made a sign to the others to fetch a compass and go creeping past this man. So did they, while Stephen and the warder walked toward one another ”

“ Even at the door of the Baron's lodging the warder, there was but one and a chamberlain, nodded friendly to the soldier, and let them pass unquestioned. They entered the chamber, wherein now was no man, as the Baron would have it whenas he listed to sleep. The soldier went forward on tip-toe, but Stephen trod heavily, and Steelhead laughed aloud, and went straight up to the great man's bed-head, and fared to pass his hand over his face from his forehead to his chin, just touching him, but the sleeping man waked not. ”