m he will,"
said the knight, "he was none the less our sworn man. Ye fools," said
he, turning toward the men in the barrier, "why did ye not slay him?"
"He slipped out," said they, "before we wotted what he was about." Said
the knight, "Where were your bows, then?"

Said a man: "They were pressing so hard on the barrier, that we could
not draw a bowstring. Besides, how might we shoot him without hitting
thee, belike?"

The knight turned toward Ralph, grown wroth and surly, and that the
more he saw Stephen and Richard grinning; he said: "Fair sir, ye have
strengthened the old saw that saith, Tell me what thy friends are, and
I will tell thee what thou art. Thou hast stolen our man with not a
word on it."

"Fair sir," said Ralph, "meseemeth thou makest more words than enough
about it. Shall I buy my brother of thee, then? I have a good few
pieces in my pouch." The captain shook his head angrily.

"Well," said Ralph, "how can I please thee, fair sir?"

Quoth the knight: "Thou canst please me best by turning thy horses'
heads away from Higham, all the sort of you." He stepped back toward
the barriers, and then came forward again, and said: "Look you,
man-at-arms, I warn thee that I trust thee not, and deem that thou
liest. Now have I mind to issue out and fall upon you: for ye shall be
evil guests in my Lord Abbot's lands."

Now at last Ralph waxed somewhat wroth, and he said: "Come out then, if
you will, and we shall meet you man for man; there is yet light on this
lily lea, and we will do so much for thee, churl though thou be."

But as he spoke, came the sounds of horns, and lo, over the bent showed
the points of spears, and then all those five-score of the Dry Tree
whom the captain had sent after Ralph came pouring down the bent. The
knight looked on them under the sharp of his hand, till he saw the Dry
Tree on their coats also, and then he turned and gat him hastily into
the barriers; and when he was amongst his own men he fell to roaring
out a defiance to Ralph, and a bolt flew forth, and two or three
shafts, but hurt no one. Richard and Stephen drew their swords, but
Ralph cried out: "Come away, friends, tarry not to bicker with these
fools, who are afraid of they know not what: it is but lying under the
naked heaven to-night instead of under the rafters, but we have all
lodged thus a many times: and we shall be nigher to our journey's end
to-morrow when we wake up."

Therewith he turned his ho