s, since the
night is yet young?"

"I am thy fellow-farer, Roger," said the speaker, "and this thou hast
to do, get on thy raiment speedily, and take thy weapons without noise,
if thou wouldst not be in the prison of the Burg before sunrise."

Ralph did as he was bidden without more words; for already when he lay
down his heart misgave him that he was in no safe place; he looked to
his weapons and armour that they should not clash, and down they came
into the hall and found the door on the latch; so out they went and
Ralph saw that it was somewhat cloudy; the moon was set and it was
dark, but Ralph knew by the scent that came in on the light wind, and a
little stir of blended sounds, that it was hard on dawning; and even
therewith he heard the challenge of the warders on the walls and their
crying of the hour; and the chimes of the belfry rang clear and loud,
and seeming close above him, two hours and a half after midnight.
Roger spake not, and Ralph was man-at-arms enough to know that he must
hold his peace; and though he longed sore to have his horse Falcon with
him, yet he wotted that it availed not to ask of his horse, since he
durst not ask of his life.

So they went on silently till they were out of the Great Place and came
into a narrow street, and so into another which led them straight into
the houseless space under the wall. Roger led right on as if he knew
the way well, and in a twinkling were they come to a postern in the
wall betwixt the East Gate and the South. By the said postern Ralph
saw certain men standing; and on the earth near by, whereas he was
keen-eyed, he saw more than one man lying moveless.

Spake Roger softly to the men who stood on their feet: "Is the rope
twined?" "Nay, rope-twiner," said one of them. Then Roger turned and
whispered to Ralph: "Friends. Get out thy sword!" Wherewithal the
gate was opened, and they all passed out through the wall, and stood
above the ditch in the angle-nook of a square tower. Then Ralph saw
some of the men stoop and shoot out a broad plank over the ditch, which
was deep but not wide thereabout, and straightway he followed the
others over it, going last save Roger. By then they were on the other
side he saw a glimmer of the dawn in the eastern heaven, but it was
still more than dusk, and no man spoke again. They went on softly
across the plain fields outside the wall, creeping from bush to bush,
and from tree to tree, for here, if nowhere about th