Just then the mare turned round her pretty head to look at me, and neighed again.
"Is this thy mare?" asked he who held the bridle.
"Well--yes," I answered; "at least, that is, I thought it was; but now it seems as though I must have been mistaken."
"Thou hast a mocking tongue, young man," whined he who held the lantern.
"Yet that were surely better than a thieving hand," quoth I.
"What mean you?" he asked, taking a step towards me.
"Exactly what I say," I answered slowly. "In other words, you are a pair of sneaking thieves."
At that each laid a hand upon his sword and eyed me fiercely, while he with the light came forward in a threatening fashion.
"We are no thieves," he hissed, showing his yellow teeth. "We claim thy mare for the cause."
"And, prithee, what cause is that?" I asked.