"Why, Walter, you are late," the smith said. "The men are in bed this hour
or more, and I myself can scarce keep awake. Where hast thou been, my
boy?"

"I have been in the swamps and lost my way," Walter replied.

"It is a bad neighbourhood, lad, and worse are the people who live there.
If I had my way the whole posse should be called out, and the marshes
searched from end to end, and all found there should be knocked on head and
thrown into their own ditches. There would be no fear of any honest man
coming to his end thereby; but now to bed, lad. You can tell me all about
it tomorrow; but we have a rare day's work before us, and the fire must be
alight at daybreak."

On his way back Walter had debated with himself whether to inform his
master of what had happened. He was, however, bent upon having an adventure
on his own account, and it was a serious thing in those days for an
apprentice lad to bring an accusation against a noble. The city would not
indeed allow even an apprentice to be overridden, and although Geoffrey
Ward's forge stood beyond the city walls it was yet within the liberties,
the city allowing its craftsmen to open shops just outside the gates, and
to enjoy the same privileges as if dwelling actually within the walls.

On the following afternoon Walter asked leave to cease work an hour earlier
than usual, as he wished to go across into the city. The armourer was
surprised, since this was the first time that such a thing had happened
since the lad had worked for him.

"What are you up to, Walter? - some mischief, I will be bound. Go, lad; you
have worked so steadily that you have well earned more than an hour's