 ye they have not their fill, but yet desire
more?«
    »Well, then, what are they waiting, for? Why don't they leave? Nobody's
hindering. Good land, I'm willing to let bygones be bygones, I'm sure.«
    »Leave, is it? Oh, give thyself easement as to that. They dream not of it,
no, not they. They wait to yield them.«
    »Come - really, is that sooth - as you people say? If they want to, why
don't they?«
    »It would like them much; but an ye wot how dragons are esteemed, ye would
not hold them blamable. They fear to come.«
    »Well, then, suppose I go to them instead, and -«
    »Ah, wit ye well they would not abide your coming. I will go.«
    And she did. She was a handy person to have along on a raid. I would have
considered this a doubtful errand, myself. I presently saw the knights riding
away, and Sandy coming back. That was a relief. I judged she had somehow failed
to get the first innings - I mean in the conversation; otherwise the interview
wouldn't have been so short. But it turned out that she had managed the business
well; in fact admirably. She said that when she told those people I was The
Boss, it hit them where they lived: smote them sore with fear and dread was her
word; and then they were ready to put up with anything she might require. So she
swore them to appear at Arthur's court within two days, and yield them, with
horse and harness, and be my knights thenceforth, and subject to my command. How
much better she managed that thing than I should have done it myself! She was a
daisy.
 

                                   Chapter 15

                                  Sandy's Tale

»And so I'm proprietor of some knights,« said I, as we rode off. »Who would ever
have supposed that I should live to list-up assets of that sort. I shan't know
what to do with them; unless I raffle them off. How many of them are there,
Sandy?«
    »Seven, please you sir, and their squires.«
    »It is a good haul. Who are they? Where do they hang out?«
    »Where hang they out?«
    »Yes; where do they live?«
    »Ah, I understood thee not. That will I tell thee eftsoons
