" "Yea," said
David, screwing his face into a grin, would he or no. Ralph beheld
him, and it came into his mind that this was not the Queen whom he had
looked on when they first came into Vale Turris, and he said: "What
then! this woman is not the Queen?"

David spake not for a while, and then he answered: "Sir Knight, there
be matters whereof we servants of my Lord say little or nothing, and
thou wert best to do the like." And no more would he say thereon.

CHAPTER 41

Redhead Keeps Tryst

They rode not above a dozen miles that day, and pitched their tents and
pavilions in the fair meadows by the wayside looking into the thick of
the forest. There this betid to tell of, that when Ralph got off his
horse, and the horse-lads were gathered about the men-at-arms and high
folk, who should take Ralph's horse but Redhead, who made a sign to him
by lifting his eyebrows as if he were asking him somewhat; and Ralph
took it as a question as to whether his purpose held to flee on the
morrow night; so he nodded a yeasay, just so much as Redhead might note
it; and naught else befell betwixt them.

When it was barely dawn after that night, Ralph awoke with the sound of
great stir in the camp, and shouting of men and lowing and bleating of
beasts; so he looked out, and saw that the wains and the flocks and
herds were being got on to the road, so that they might make good way
before the company of the camp took the road. But he heeded it little
and went to sleep again.

When it was fully morning he arose, and found that the men were not
hastening their departure, but were resting by the wood-side and
disporting them about the meadow; so he wandered about amongst the
men-at-arms and serving-men, and came across Redhead and hailed him;
and there was no man very nigh to them; so Redhead looked about him
warily, and then spake swiftly and softly: "Fail not to-night! fail
not! For yesterday again was I told by one who wotteth surely, what
abideth thee at Utterbol if thou go thither. I say if thou fail, thou
shalt repent but once--all thy life long to wit."

Ralph nodded his head, and said: "Fear not, I will not fail thee." And
therewith they turned away from each other lest they should be noted.

About two hours before noon they got to horse again, and, being no more
encumbered with the wains and the beasts, rode at a good pace. As on
the day before the road led them along the edge of the wildwood, and
whiles it even