"This is my uncle, Captain Alwyn Forster," Oswald said, "of whom Lord
Percy has written to you."
"I am glad to see so stout a soldier here," the knight said, holding
out his hand to Alwyn; "and I am grateful to Lord Percy for sending, in
answer to my request, one in whom he has such perfect confidence; and I
specially thank you for having willingly relinquished so important a
post, to head so small a following."
"I was glad to come, Sir Edmund, for I had rested so long, at Alnwick,
that I longed for some brisk action, and fell gladly into my lord's
view, when he requested me to come hither. I can answer for my men, for
they are all picked, by myself, from among the stoutest of Sir Henry's
following."
"That I can well believe," the knight said, as he looked at the twenty
troopers. "Tall, strong men all; and as brave as they are strong, I
doubt not. I shall be glad to have so stout a band to ride behind me,
if these Welshmen break out.
"You are all accustomed to border warfare, but this differs a good deal
from that in Northumberland. While the northern forays are mostly made
by horsemen, it is rare that your Welshman adventures himself on
horseback. But they are as active as your wild ponies, and as swift;
and, if the trouble increases, they will give you plenty to do.
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