Ah , good days ! Ah , wonderful people ! And I loved them all . ' The knight lifted his arms as though he would hug the whole dear valley , and Swallow , hearing the chink of his chain-mail , looked up and whinnied softly . ` At last , ' he went on , ` after a year of striving and contriving and some little driving , De Aquila came to the valley , alone and without warning . I saw him first at the Lower Ford , with a swineherd 's brat on his saddle-bow . ' `` There is no need for thee to give any account of thy stewardship , '' said he . `` I have it all from the child here . '' And he told me how the young thing had stopped his tall horse at the Ford , by waving of a branch , and crying that the way was barred . `` And if one bold , bare babe be enough to guard the Ford in these days , thou hast done well , '' said he , and puffed and wiped his head . ` He pinched the child 's cheek , and looked at our cattle in the flat by the river . ' `` Both fat , '' said he , rubbing his nose . `` This is craft and cunning such as I love . What did I tell thee when I rode away , boy ? '' ' `` Hold the Manor or hang , '' said I. I had never forgotten it . ' `` True . And thou hast held . '' He clambered from his saddle and with his sword 's point cut out a turf from the bank and gave it me where I kneeled . ' Dan looked at Una , and Una looked at Dan . ` That 's seizin , ' said Puck , in a whisper . '
`` Now thou art lawfully seized of the Manor , Sir Richard , '' said he -- 't was the XXXXX time he ever called me that -- `` thou and thy heirs for ever .
Aquila Dan Ford Puck Una chink first saddle-bow swineherd year