As the well-known voice was heard, the swords were sheathed, and the two horsemen greeted him with a loud laugh. "Why, you are living yet, then, Badger!" said one. "We have been calculating your chances; and we had come to the conclusion you would be killed and eaten by this time. You would be worth money, Badger, for your _skins_ alone, this cold weather." "Better shed every extra skin, Badger, or you'll lose your own, I'm thinking," said the other. "Yes, his skins are valuable, but his carcase is good for nothing. Badgers are just carrion, and nothing more." "We are right glad to see you, however," said the pair. And indeed they seemed inclined to hug him in the exuberance of their delight. "Well, and Shaggy's living too! What next, and next. These Normans are becoming most merciful," again broke out the first one. "Yes, yes," retorted the second one, "that's right enough. But they aren't human beings either of them, or they'd have been murdered before this." "What news, Badger? I declare he's gone in a trance. Have they burnt the castle down? Are they murdering everybody?" "They'll have a mighty job to murder some of you," retorted Badger, finding his tongue at last, "unless they could fly. You take mighty good care of your skins. And i' faith, you've only one to take care of. But I wager that will be whole at the finish, unless you should happen to tumble and break your neck with running away." "Hold there!" said the pair, bursting into a loud laugh at Badger's retort. "When the time comes we shall be amongst the first at the Normans' throats." "All in good time, my hearties. They are coming in the morning to disturb your roosts, so there will be a chance for you; but come along, I can't stand here, I must see Oswald forthwith about this matter." "This is our station for the night, Badger. This valley would almost certainly be selected for a night attack, or day attack either, for the matter of that. So we must watch until daybreak." "Oh, come along, I know everything is perfectly quiet. Not a Norman astir, I will be bond for it. You will be useful, so come along." "If you will take the responsibility, Badger." "That I will readily, so come along."