The basket maker was cross at first, but none was able to be angry with
Havelok long, and he too began to smile.
"It is 'curan' that you are, master," he said; "not even Arthur himself
could have done that."
"Many times have I heard your folk call me that. I would learn what it
means," said Havelok.
But the old man could hardly find the English word for the name, which
means "a wonder," and nothing more. Nevertheless the marsh folk were
wont to call their friend "Hablok Curan" in their talk, for a wonder he
was to all who knew him.
So he came home with his great basket, and said, "Here sit I by the
fire, eating more than my share, and helping to win it not at all. Now
will I make amends, for I will go the fisher's rounds through the
marshlands with my basket, and I think that I shall do well."
Now my father tried to prevent him doing this, because, as I know now,
it was not work for a king's son. But Havelok would not be denied.
"Fat and idle am I, and my muscles need hardening," he said. "Let me go,
father, for I was restless at home."
So from that time he went out into the marshland far and wide, and the
people grew to know and love him well. Always he came back with his fish
sold, and gave money and full account to my father, and mostly the
account would end thus:
"Four fish also there were more, but the burden was heavy, and so I even
gave them to a certain old dame.
Pages:
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98