All these were satisfactorily replied to.
"He knows Dunbar, there is no question about that.
"And you can use your arms?"
"I think so."
"We will have a trial," Baird said. "A man is no use to me, who cannot
use his weapon. Send Robert here."
In a minute, one of the young Bairds entered. He was a man of about
twenty-five, tall and sinewy, and was accounted the best swordsman of
his family.
"Cousin Robert," William Baird said, "this young fellow would enter our
service; but before I take him, I must see that he knows his business.
Do you take a turn with the sword with him.
"No, no, not a two-handed sword; I don't want him to be slain. Take a
couple of swords from the wall. Give him another steel cap, and full
body armour. That of his own would not keep out a good, downright
stroke."
By the time that Oswald was armed, a number of the Bairds and their
friends had assembled in the hall, hearing of what was going to take
place.
"A fine young fellow, truly," Rotherglen said. "In height and width, he
matches Robert well, though of course your cousin must be the more
powerful, seeing that he is some four or five years older than this
young fellow; who, when he reaches his age, bids fair to be well-nigh
as strong a man as that monk.
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