when he was young, and even now he could do a man's work in the
battlefield, and his understanding was as good as that of a man in
his prime. So went these and four others up on to the dais and sat
down before the thwart-table looking down the hall, for the meat was
now on the board; and of the others there were some fifty men and
women who were deemed to be of the kindred and sat at the endlong
tables.

So then the Alderman stood up and made the sign of the Hammer over
the meat, the token of his craft and of his God. Then they fell to
with good hearts, for there was enough and to spare of meat and
drink. There was bread and flesh (though not Gold-mane's venison),
and leeks and roasted chestnuts of the grove, and red-cheeked apples
of the garth, and honey enough of that year's gathering, and medlars
sharp and mellow: moreover, good wine of the western bents went up
and down the hall in great gilded copper bowls and in mazers girt and
lipped with gold.

But when they were full of meat, and had drunken somewhat, they fell
to speech, and Iron-face spake aloud to his son, who had but been
speaking softly to the Bride as one playmate to the other: but the
Alderman said: 'Scarce are the wood-deer grown, kinsman, when I must
needs eat sheep's flesh on a Thursday, though my son has lain abroad
in the woods all night to hunt for me.'

And therewith he smiled in the young man's face; but Gold-mane
reddened and said: 'So is it, kinsman, I can hit what I can see; but
not what is hidden.'

Iron-face laughed and said: 'Hast thou been to the Woodland-Carles?