By the time they had reached Southampton, which they did in rather less than three hours from leaving Winchester, he felt on perfectly easy terms with everyone, including Eustace Bowerman even, who, however, did not seem inclined to be very friendly to him, seeming not to relish the remark of Maurice Woodville when he said,-- "Certes, Bowerman, Lisle oweth thee many thanks. Had it not been for thy kind thought, he would never have done so hardily as he hath. He would have been sitting his nag like any stick, such as you and old Pudding Face, when the bull ran at our lord--but now he hath gotten himself a name at the first start; our Captain will never forget." Bowerman bit his lip. It was quite true. "Marry, young Maurice, don’t you be talking. If Lisle’s horse took fright and bolted when the bull came blundering down that alley, I don’t see why the Captain should make such a fuss about it." "His horse didn’t bolt," said Dicky hotly; "you know right well Lisle spurred him in the way." "Nay, Master Dicky malapert, I know no such thing." "Then you don’t know much, as I always said," retorted Dicky. "Marry, Dicky, I’ll have to wallop thee once more, I see. You’re growing saucy again." "Wallop me i’ faith!" sneered Dicky; "I’d like to see you doing it." "Wait till we get on board the barge then, and you’ll soon be satisfied." Willie Newenhall never engaged in these wordy contests. He only thought of his appearance, when he was going to feed again, or of the danger he was always in from the fair sex, by reason of his own good looks. The other pages knew well his weak points, and would always chaff him on the risks he ran from his many fascinations. "I’ faith, Willie, there’s a pretty lass looking at thee; and that’s her brother, or sweetheart, with her. How fierce he looks. Ah, if you look at her that way, he’ll be murdering you presently," added Dicky, as Willie looked round nervously, to see the group his comrade was referring to, only to meet with a jeering remark from the apprentice who was standing by the girl, of "Hi, young round knave, pudding chops or pig’s eyes, what do you lack here?" or some equally elegant observation, which caused Maurice and Dicky to laugh derisively, and the men-at-arms and archers, who were close behind, to grin broadly. But Willie was far too stupid to make any retort, he only grunted angrily, and leered at the people on the other side of the street. Then they passed through Southampton, under the noble Bargate, with its figure of Bevis of Hampton, and the giant Ascapart, whose reality all true townsfolk believed in, and of whose doughty deeds with Guy of Warwick Ralph had often heard and longed to emulate. The cavalcade rode down the long street under the old west gate tower, and outside the splendid old walls, on to the town quay.