teadfastly a
moment, and said: "Farewell! may all good go with thee." Therewith she
turned away and walked off slowly through the wood, and somewhat he
pitied her, and sighed as he got into his saddle; but he said to
himself: "How might I help her? Yet true it is that she may well be
in an evil case: I may not help everyone." Then he shook his rein and
rode his ways.

CHAPTER 2

Ralph Rides the Wood Under the Mountains

A long way now rode Ralph, and naught befell him but the fashion of the
wood. And as he rode, the heart within him was lightened that he had
escaped from all the confusion and the lying of those aliens, who knew
him not, nor his kindred, and yet would all use him each for his own
ends: and withal he was glad that he was riding all alone upon his
quest, but free, unwounded, and well weaponed.

The wood was not very thick whereas he rode, so that he could see the
whereabouts of the sun, and rode east as far as he could judge it.
Some little victual he had with him, and he found woodland fruit
ripening here and there, and eked out his bread therewith; neither did
water fail him, for he rode a good way up along a woodland stream that
cleft the thicket, coming down as he deemed from the mountains, and
thereby he made the more way: but at last he deemed that he must needs
leave it, as it turned overmuch to the north. The light was failing
when he came into a woodlawn amidst of which was a pool of water, and
all that day he had had no adventure with beast or man, since he had
sundered from Agatha. So he lay down and slept there with his naked
sword by his side, and awoke not till the sun was high in the heavens
next morning. Then he arose at once and went on his way after he had
washed him, and eaten a morsel.

After a little the thick of the wood gave out, and the land was no
longer flat, as it had been, but was of dales and of hills, not blinded
by trees. In this land he saw much deer, as hart and wild swine; and
he happened also on a bear, who was about a honey tree, and had taken
much comb from the wild bees. On him Ralph drew his sword and drave
him exceeding loth from his purchase, so that the knight dined off the
bear's thieving. Another time he came across a bent where on the south
side grew vines well fruited, and the grapes a-ripening; and he ate
well thereof before he went on his way.

Before nightfall he came on that same stream again, and it was now
running straight from t