ance of him there: and yet again, if
they met there and were espied on, would not that ruin everything for
her as well as for him?

At last he said: "Good fellow, this may be true, but how shall I know
it for true before I run the risk of fleeing away, instead of going on
to Utterbol, whereas folk deem honour awaiteth me."

Said Redhead: "There is no honour at Utterbol save for such as are
unworthy of honour. But thy risk is as I say, and I shall tell thee
whence I had my tale, since I love thee for thy kindness to me, and thy
manliness. It was told me yester-eve by a woman who is in the very
privity of the Lady of Utterbol, and is well with the Lord also: and it
jumpeth with mine own thought on the matter; so I bid thee beware: for
what is in me to grieve would be sore grieved wert thou cast away."

"Well," said Ralph, "let us sit down here on the bank and then tell me
more; but go on with thine angling the while, lest any should see us."

So they sat down, and Redhead did as Ralph bade; and he said: "Lord, I
have bidden thee to flee; but this is an ill land to flee from, and
indeed there is but one pass whereby ye may well get away from this
company betwixt this and Utterbol; and we shall encamp hard by it on
the second day of our faring hence. Yet I must tell thee that it is no
road for a dastard; for it leadeth through the forest up into the
mountains: yet such as it is, for a man bold and strong like thee, I
bid thee take it: and I can see to it that leaving this company shall
be easy to thee: only thou must make up thy mind speedily, since the
time draws so nigh, and when thou art come to Utterbol with all this
rout, and the house full, and some one or other dogging each footstep
of thine, fleeing will be another matter. Now thus it is: on that same
second night, not only is the wood at hand to cover thee, but I shall
be chief warder of the side of the camp where thou lodgest, so that I
can put thee on the road: and if I were better worth, I would say, take
me with thee, but as it is, I will not burden thee with that prayer."

"Yea," said Ralph, "I have had one guide in this country-side and he
bewrayed me. This is a matter of life and death, so I will speak out
and say how am I to know but that thou also art going about to bewray
me?"

Redhead lept up to his feet, and roared out: "What shall I say? what
shall I say? By the soul of my father I am not bewraying thee. May
all the curses of Utterbol