And I would we could put the life back
into half we have taken; but they did bite so readily that we had too
many suddenly. Still, if we eat naught to speak of but fish, we may
make away with most and so be spared evil."
While Humphrey dressed the too numerous fish, Hugo sought sufficient
fuel to cook them, and came back to find the serving-man well
satisfied. "Even as I did begin to dress the fish," he said, "there
came a sound of wings, and I looked up and did behold a glede. And I
did cease to move; so came he nearer, and did snatch a fish. Then came
another and did snatch a fish. In quietness I did wait. Then came the
first glede back and did take a fish, and the second did like-wise.
And, by waiting with patience, the gledes did take two more. And now we
have but six fish, and no evil will befall us, for those we can eat."
Hugo smiled, for the big serving-man had spoken with the faith of a
child.
Their noon rest taken, they went on again toward the south and came by
nightfall to what Humphrey decided to be a suitable place to pass the
night. "I mean not," he said, "that the place would please me were we
out of the fen.
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