Shameless Wayne beckoned to his four brothers. "Come hither, lads," he said quietly.
They came and ranged themselves about him, facing the noisy throng.
"Will ye ride with me to Wildwater?" he asked.
"Ay, if thou mean'st to fight," answered Griff. And, "Ay, will we!" cried the rest.
"Then saddle.—Who goes with us?" he went on, turning to his kinsfolk.
They glanced at each other, angrily, sheepishly. If Griff and his stripling brothers were fain to follow this bog-o'-lanthorn chase, could they hold back?
"Think twice about it, Ned, and keep thy strength to meet them in the open," said one of the Long Waynes of Cranshaw.
"I go, and the lads go, whoever follows.—Hark ye, Waynes! These swine have fooled us; they have twice broken hospitality—once in drinking with me here, and once in offering us a friendly cup at Wildwater. Will our sword's rest light in the scabbard, think ye, if we hold back for one single day?"
"Ned is right," struck in Wayne of Cranshaw; "and we shall take them at unawares. They count us unprepared. The first blow will be ours."
He crossed to his cousin's side, and others with him; and those who still thought the enterprise foolhardy could not for shame's sake stand aloof.