noon
`` God prosper you , master , '' said the steward . `` Frenchman or no , you are such a man as I love . Beware of Aelward and his downward stroke , for he has the strength of ten . '' At noon by the Danes ' barrow Jehan met a young tow-headed giant , who spoke with the back of his throat and made surly-response to the other 's greeting . It was a blue winter 's day , with rime still white on the grass , and the forest was very still . The Saxon had the shorter sword and a round buckler ; Jehan fought only with his blade . At the first bout they strove with steel , and were ill-matched at that , for the heavy strength of the fenman was futile against the lithe speed of the hunter .