Warbel says they will bait a bull, and perhaps a bear; and that there will be fighting with the quarterstaff and shooting with cross and long bow, and many other like spectacles.

He will attend us, and we may be off with the light of day, an we will.

That is what we came to tell thee, Edred." Edred was boy enough to be well pleased at this news.

Any variety in the day's round was pleasing to the lads, who found life a little monotonous, albeit pleasant enough.

It was a relief, too, to turn from grave thoughts and anxious forebodings to the anticipation of simpler pleasures, and the boys all ran to seek Warbel and ask him what these village fairs were like; for they had been much interrupted during the recent wars, and only now that peace had been for some years established did they begin to revive and gain their old characteristics.
At break of day on the morning following, the little party started forth on foot to walk the five miles which separated them from the village of Chadwick.