said Ralph,
"we shall have enough."

So then they rode out of the Square and through the streets to the
North Gate, and much folk was abroad to look on them, and they blessed
them as they went, both carles and queans; for the rumour was toward
that there was riding a good and dear Lord and a Friend of the Well to
get his own again from out of the hands of the aliens.

Herewith they ride a little trot through the Freedom of the Burg, and
when they were clear of it they turned aside from the woodland highway
whereon Ralph had erst ridden with Roger and followed the rides a good
way till it was past noon, when they came into a very close thicket
where there was but a narrow and winding way whereon two men might not
ride abreast, and Roger said: "Now, if we were the old Burgers, and the
Dry Tree still holding the Scaur, we should presently know what
steel-point dinner meaneth; if the dead could rise out of their graves
to greet their foemen, we should anon be a merry company here. But at
last they learned the trick, and were wont to fetch a compass round
about Grey Goose Thicket as it hight amongst us."

"Well," said Ralph, "but how if there by any waylaying us; the Burgers
may be wiser still than thou deemest, and ye may have learned them more
than thou art minded to think."

"Nay," said Roger, "I bade a half score turn aside by the thicket path
on our left hands; that shall make all sure; but indeed I look for no
lurkers as yet. In a month's time that may betide, but not yet; not
yet. But tell me, fair Sir, have ye any deeming of where thou mayst
get thee more folk who be not afraid of the hard hand-play? For Richard
hath been telling me that there be tidings in the air."

Said Ralph: "If hope play me not false, I look to gather some stout
carles of the Shepherd Country." "Yea," said Roger, "but I shall tell
thee that they have been at whiles unfriends of the Dry Tree." Said
Ralph: "I think they will be friends unto me." "Then it shall do
well," said Roger, "for they be good in a fray."

So talked they as they rode, but ever Roger would give no heed to
Ursula. but made as if he wotted not that she was there, though ever
and anon Ralph would be turning back to speak to her and help her
through the passes.

At last the thicket began to dwindle, and presently riding out of a
little valley or long trench on to a ridge nearly bare of trees, they
saw below them a fair green plain, and in the midst of it a great