_ Chapter LXVII. A Friend at Need
       It was some three years after this that weaponed men came down into the Dale. It was told to Osberne, and he took his sword and went to meet them. He came across them as they fared slowly down the bent, looking weary and fordone. He looked at them, and he saw that there was nothing for it but that the chiefest of them, and there were but three, was the Knight of Longshaw. So he ran up to him, and cast his arms about him, and kissed him, and asked him what ailed. And the Knight said, and laughed withal: "That has befallen me which befals most men: I have been overcome, and I believe that my foes are hard on my heels."
       "Will they be a many?" said Osberne. "Not in this first stour," said the Knight. "Well," said Osberne, "I will go and look to it to get a few men together to show them out of the Dale." So he turned hand in hand with the Knight of Longshaw, and cried out to Stephen the Eater to gather forth; and in an hour or so they had enough men and to spare. By that time the pursuers came glittering over the bent, so Osberne and his gathered themselves together and stood till the others came. And when they were within hail, Osberne asked: "What would ye here in arms? We are peaceable men." Said the pursuers: "We have nought to do with you, but we would have the body of a felon and a traitor hight the Knight of Longshaw."
       Osberne laughed and said: "Here he stands beside me; come and take him!" And the foe were some three score, all a-horseback. So they fell on without more words; but they made nothing of it, and the Wethermelers kept them aloof with spear and bill. Albeit Osberne did not draw his sword, nor did the Knight of Longshaw.
       Then the foemen held off a little, and they said: "Hark ye, ye up-countrymen, if ye do not give up this man, then will we burn your house to the threshold."
       "Yea," said Osberne, "ye have all day long to do it in, make no delay therefore. Or did ye ever hear who I am?" And they said: "Nay, we know not." Then he let his red cloak float over him and let his byrny show glittering, and he drew Boardcleaver and suddenly cried out, "The Red Lad! The Red Lad!" and all the others did in like wise. Then the foemen fled up the bent. And Osberne said: "Lightfoot men of Wethermel, here is a job for you: let not one of these men escape from out of the Dale." So they fell to, and hard they worked at it, and so they wrought that they slew them every one.
       Then Osberne went back to the Knight of Longshaw and said: "See, master, it is still a name to conjure with. And now what wilt thou do? Wilt thou gather men in the Dale here? We can find thee a ten score or thereabout of as good men as need be."
       "Nay," said the Knight, "I will not have them, for meseems I am getting towards the end of my tether, and I will not carry away your good men and true from your wives and your children." So therewith they went into the stead and were joyful together. _

Chapter 1. Of A River Called The Sundering Flood...
Chapter 2. Of Wethermel And The Child Osberne
Chapter 3. Wolves Harry The Flock
Chapter 4. Surly John Falls Out With The Goodman
Chapter 5. Osberne Slays The Wolves
Chapter 6. They Fare To The Cloven Mote
Chapter 7. Of A Newcomer, And His Gift To Osberne
Chapter 8. The Goodman Gets A New Hired Man
Chapter 9. The Bight Of The Cloven Knoll
Chapter 10. Osberne And Elfhild Hold Converse Together
Chapter 11. Osberne Shoots A Gift Across The Flood
Chapter 12. Of A Guest Called Waywearer
Chapter 13. Steelhead Gives Osberne The Sword Boardcleaver
Chapter 14. The Gifts Of Steelhead
Chapter 15. Surly John Brings A Guest To Wethermel
Chapter 16. Hardcastle Would Seize Wethermel
Chapter 17. The Slaying Of Hardcastle
Chapter 18. Elfhild Hears Of The Slaying
Chapter 19. The Winter Passes...
Chapter 20. Osberne Fares To Eastcheaping...
Chapter 21. Warriors From Eastcheaping Ride Into The Dale
Chapter 22. Osberne Takes Leave Of Elfhild
Chapter 23. Osberne Is Chosen Captain Of The Dalesmen
Chapter 24. A Skirmish With The Baron Of Deepdale In The Marshes
Chapter 25. Stephen Tells Of An Adventure In The Camp Of The Foemen
Chapter 26. They Bring The Baron Into Eastcheaping
Chapter 27. They Parley From The Walls
Chapter 28. The Baron Of Deepdale Makes Peace
Chapter 29. Osberne And His Men Return To Wethermel
Chapter 30. Osberne Goes To The Trysting-Place
Chapter 31. They Meet Through Autumn And Winter
Chapter 32. Foemen Among The West Dalers
Chapter 33. Osberne Seeks Tidings Of Elfhild
Chapter 34. Osberne Sorrows For The Loss Of Elfhild
Chapter 35. Osberne Seeks Counsel Of Steelhead
Chapter 36. The Staves Which Osberne Taught To The Dalesmen
Chapter 37. Osberne Takes Leave Of Wethermel
Chapter 38. Osberne Parts From Stephen The Eater
Chapter 39. Osberne Gets Him A New Master
Chapter 40. Osberne Rides With Sir Godrick
Chapter 41. They Joust With The Knight Of The Fish
Chapter 42. They Deliver The Thorp-Dwellers From The Black Skinners
Chapter 43. They Come To The Edge Of The Wood Masterless
Chapter 44. They Reach Longshaw And Osberne Gets Him A New Name
Chapter 45. The Red Lad Scatters The Host Of The Barons
Chapter 46. Osberne Enters The City Of The Sundering Flood
Chapter 47. The Battle In The Square
Chapter 48. Sir Godrick Is Chosen Burgreve Of The City
Chapter 49. Of The City King And The Outland King
Chapter 50. The Red Lad Speaks Privily With Sir Godrick
Chapter 51. Osberne Is Beguiled By Felons
Chapter 52. The Meeting Of Osberne And Elfhild
Chapter 53. Strangers Come To Wethermel
Chapter 54. The Carline Beginneth Her Tale
Chapter 55. The Blue Knight Buys The Maiden Of The Chapman
Chapter 56. The Blue Knight Talks With The Maiden By The Way
Chapter 57. They Come To Brookside
Chapter 58. Peaceful Days In The Castle Of Brookside
Chapter 59. Tidings Of Longshaw...
Chapter 60. The Blue Knight Gathers Men And Departs From Brookside
Chapter 61. The Maiden And The Carline Flee To The Grey Sisters
Chapter 62. They Fall In With Three Chapmen
Chapter 63. They Escape From The Chapmen By The Carline's Wizardry
Chapter 64. The Carline Endeth Her Tale
Chapter 65. Osberne And Elfhild Make Themselves Known To Their People
Chapter 66. The Lip Of The Sundering Flood
Chapter 67. A Friend At Need
Chapter 68. The Knight Of Longshaw Gathereth Force