or a year and a
day, and to do his will in all wise. So help us God and Allhallows!"

And therewith he gave the sword to the others, and each man of them
kissed it as he had.

But Ralph said: "Champions, for this oath I thank you all heartily.
But it is not my meaning that I should hold you by me for a year,
whereas I deem I shall do all that my kindred may need in three days'
space from the first hour wherein we set foot in Upmeads."

Stephen smiled friendly at him and nodded, and said: "That may well
be; but now to make a good end of this mote I will tell thee a thing;
to wit, that our Captain, yea, and all we, are minded to try thee by
this fray in Upmeads, now we know that thou hast become a Friend of the
Well. And if thou turn out as we deem is likest, we will give thee
this Castle of the Scaur, for thee and those that shall spring from thy
loins; for we deem that some such man as thou will be the only one to
hold it worthily, and in such wise as it may be a stronghold against
tyrants and for the helping of peaceable folk; since forsooth, we of
the Dry Tree have heard somewhat of the Well at the World's End, and
trow in the might thereof."

He made an end; and Ralph kept silence and pondered the matter. But
Roger lifted up his head and broke in, and said: "Yea, yea! that is
it: we are all become men of peace, we riders of the Dry Tree!" And he
laughed withal, but as one nowise best pleased.

But as Ralph was gathering his words together, and Ursula was looking
up to him with trouble in her face again, came a man of the thorp
rushing into the hall, and cried out: "O, my lords! there are weaponed
men coming forth from the thicket. Save us, we pray you, for we are
ill-weaponed and men of peace."

Roger laughed, and said: "Eh, good man! So ye want us back again?
But my Lord Ralph, and thou Richard, and thou Stephen, come ye to the
shot-window here, that giveth on to the forest. We are high up here,
and we shall see all as clearly as in a good mirror. Hast thou shut
the gates, carle?" "Yea, Lord Roger," quoth he, "and there are some
fifty of us together down in the base-court."

Ralph and Richard and Stephen looked forth from the shot window, and
saw verily a band of men riding down the bent into the thorp, and
Ralph, who as aforesaid was far-sighted and clear-sighted, said: "Yea,
it is strange: but without doubt these are riders of the Dry Tree; and
they seem to me to be some ten-score. Thou Stephe