Ralph presently, and stopped, and bent
a bow which he held in his hand, and then came towards him warily, with
the arrow nocked. But Ralph went to meet him with his sword in his
sheath, and leading Falcon by the rein, and the man stopped and took
the shaft from the string: he had no armour, but there was a little axe
and a wood-knife in his girdle; he was clad in homespun, and looked
like a carle of the country-side. Now he greeted Ralph, and Ralph gave
him the sele of the day, and saw that the new-comer was both tall and
strong, dark of skin and black-haired, but of a cheerful countenance.
He spake frank and free to Ralph, and said: "Whither away, lord, out of
the woodland hall, and the dwelling of deer and strong-thieves? I would
that the deer would choose them a captain, and gather head and destroy
the thieves--and some few others with them."

Said Ralph: "I may scarce tell thee till I know myself. Awhile ago I
was minded for the Burg of the Four Friths; but now I am for Hampton
under Scaur."

"Yea?" said the carle, "when the Devil drives, to hell must we."

"What meanest thou, good fellow?" said Ralph, "Is Hampton then so evil
an abode?" And indeed it was in his mind that the adventure of the
lady led captive bore some evil with it.

Said the carle: "If thou wert not a stranger in these parts I need not
to answer thy question; but I will answer it presently, yet not till we
have eaten, for I hunger, and have in this wallet both bread and
cheese, and thou art welcome to a share thereof, if thou hungerest
also, as is most like, whereas thou art young and fresh coloured."

"So it is," said Ralph, laughing, "and I also may help to spread this
table in the wilderness, since there are yet some crumbs in my wallet.
Let us sit down and fall to at once."

"By your leave, Sir Gentleman," said the carle, "we will go a few yards
further on, where there is a woodland brook, whereof we may drink when
my bottle faileth."

"Nay, I may better that," said Ralph, "for I have wherewithal."
"Nevertheless," said the carle, "we will go thither, for here is it too
open for so small a company as ours, since this want-way hath an ill
name, and I shall lead thee whereas we shall be somewhat out of the way
of murder-carles. So come on, if thou trusteth in me."

Ralph yeasaid him, and they went together a furlong from the want-way
into a little hollow place wherethrough ran a clear stream betwixt
thick-leaved alders. The carle