'On the dewy break of morning of Thor's own day -just such a
day as this - I laid the babe outside the Hill here, and the People
flocked up and wondered at the sight.

'"You've brought him, then?" Sir Huon said, staring like any
mortal man.

'"Yes, and he's brought his mouth with him, too," I said. The
babe was crying loud for his breakfast.

'"What is he?" says Sir Huon, when the womenfolk had
drawn him under to feed him.

'"Full Moon and Morning Star may know," I says. "I don't.
By what I could make out of him in the moonlight, he's without
brand or blemish. I'll answer for it that he's born on the far side of
Cold Iron, for he was born under a shaw on Terrible Down, and
I've wronged neither man, woman, nor child in taking him, for
he is the son of a dead slave-woman.

'"All to the good, Robin," Sir Huon said. "He'll be the less
anxious to leave us. Oh, we'll give him a splendid fortune, and we
shall act and influence on folk in housen as we have always
craved." His Lady came up then, and drew him under to watch
the babe's wonderful doings.'
'Who was his Lady?'said Dan.
'The Lady Esclairmonde. She had been a woman once, till she
followed Sir Huon across the fern, as we say. Babies are no special
treat to me - I've watched too many of them - so I stayed on the
Hill. Presently I heard hammering down at the Forge there.'Puck