en the blade was hidden in the sheath before the
throne of thine hall."

But the King cried out in a loud harsh voice. "Thou, young man, beware
thou! and try not thy luck overmuch. We are as many as these trees,
and thou canst not prevail over us. Go thy ways free, and leave me
what thou canst not help leaving."

"Yea, fool," cried Ralph, "and what wilt thou do with these two?"

Said the King: "The traitor I will flay, and the woman I will bed."

Scarce were the words out of his mouth ere Ralph gave forth a great cry
and drew his sword, set spurs to his horse, and gallopped on up the
road with all his band at his back for they had drawn anigh amidst this
talk. But or ever they came on the foemen, they heard a great confused
cry of onset mingled with affright, and lo! the King threw up his arms,
and fell forward on his horse's neck with a great arrow through his
throat.

Ralph drave on sword in hand, crying out, "Home, home to Upmeads!" and
anon was amidst of the foe smiting on either hand. His men followed,
shouting: "Ho, for the Friend of the Well!" And amongst the foemen,
who were indeed very many, was huge dismay, so that they made but a
sorry defence before the band of the wayfarers, who knew not what to
make of it, till they noted that arrows and casting-spears were coming
out of the wood on either side, which smote none of them, but many of
the foemen. Short was the tale, for in a few minutes there were no men
of the foe together save those that were fleeing down the road to
Cheaping Knowe.

Ralph would not suffer his men to follow the chase, for he wotted not
with whom he might have to deal besides the King's men. He drew his
men together and looked round for Ursula, and saw that the Sage had
brought her up anigh him, and there she sat a-horseback, pale and
panting with the fear of death and joy of deliverance.

Now Ralph cried out from his saddle in a loud voice, and said: "Ho ye
of the arrows of the wood! ye have saved me from my foemen; where be
ye, and what be ye?" Came a loud voice from out of the wood on the
right hand: "Children, tell the warrior whose sons ye be!" Straightway
brake out a huge bellowing on either side of the road, as though the
wood were all full of great neat.

Then cried out Ralph: "If ye be of the kindred of the Bull, ye will
belike be my friends rather than my foes. Or have ye heard tell of
Ralph of Upmeads? Now let your captain come forth and speak with me."