They draw
rein by the mound, and one lights down, and lo! it is Long Nicholas;
and he took Ralph in his arms, and kissed him and wept over him for all
his grizzled beard and his gaunt limbs; but few words he had for him,
save this: "My little Lord, was it thou that was the wise captain
to-day, or this stout lifter and reiver!" But the other man was Stephen
a-Hurst, who laughed and said: "Nay, Nicholas, I was the fool, and this
stripling the wise warrior. But, Lord Ralph, thou wilt pardon me, I
hope, but we could not kill them all, for they would not fight in any
wise; what shall we do with them?" Ralph knit his brows and thought a
little; then he said: "How many hast thou taken?" Said Stephen: "Some
two hundred alive." "Well," quoth Ralph; "strip them of all armour and
weapons, and let a score of thy riders drive them back the way they
came into the Debateable Wood. But give them this last word from me,
that or long I shall clear the said wood of all strong-thieves."

Stephen departed on that errand; and presently comes Giles and another
of the Shepherds with a like tale, and had a like answer.

Now amidst all these deeds it yet lacked an hour of noon. So presently
Ralph arose and took Richard apart for a while and spoke with him a
little, and then came back to Ursula and took her by the hand, and
said: "Beloved, Richard shall take thee now to a pleasant abode this
side the water; for I grudge that thou shouldst enter the High House
without me; and as for me I must needs ride back to Wulstead to bring
hither my father and mother, as I promised to do after the battle. In
good sooth, I deemed it would have lasted longer." Said Ursula: "Dear
friend, this is even what I should have bidden thee myself. Depart
speedily, that thou mayst be back the sooner; for sorely do I long to
enter thine house, beloved." Then Ralph turned to Nicholas, and said:
"Our host is not so great but that thou mayst victual it well; yet I
deem it is little less than when we left Wulstead early this morning."

"True is that, little lord," said Nicholas. "Hear a wonder amongst
battles: of thy Shepherds and the other footmen is not one slain, and
but some five hurt. The Champions have lost three men slain outright,
and some fifteen hurt; of whom is thy brother Hugh, but not sorely."
"Better than well is thy story then," said Ralph. "Now let them bring
me a horse." So when he was horsed, he kissed Ursula and went his
ways. And she abod