ts. Go to sleep again,
neighbour, the night is not yet half worn; but I will watch a while."

Then Simon sheathed his sword, and turned about and stood uneasily a
little while, and then cast him down as one who would sleep hastily;
but slept not forsooth, though he presently made semblance of it: as for
Christopher, he drew together the brands of the fire, and sat beside it
with his blade over his knees, until the first beginning of the summer
dawn was in the sky; then he began to nod, and presently lay aback and
slept soundly. Simon slept not, but durst not move. So they lay till it
was broad day, and the sunbeams came thrusting through the boughs of the
thicket.

CHAPTER VIII. CHRISTOPHER COMES TO THE TOFTS.

When they arose in the sunshine, Simon went straightway to see to the
horses, while Christopher stayed by the fire to dight their victuals;
he was merry enough, and sang to himself the while; but when Simon came
back again, Christopher looked on him sharply, but for a while Simon
would not meet his eye, though he asked divers questions of him
concerning little matters, as though he were fain to hear Christopher's
voice; at last he raised his eyes, and looked on him steadily, and then
Christopher said: "Well, wayfarer mine, and whither away this morning?"

Said Simon: "As thou wottest, to the Long Pools."

Said the lad: "Well, thou keepest thy tidings so close, that I will ask
thee no more till we come to the Long Pools; since there, forsooth,
thou must needs tell me; unless we sunder company there, whereof I were
nought grieving."

"Mayhappen thou shalt fare a long way to-day," muttered Simon.

But the lad cried out aloud, while his eye glittered and his cheek
flushed: "Belike thou hadst well-nigh opened the door thereto last
night!" And therewith he leapt to his feet and drew his short-sword, and
with three deft strokes sheared asunder an overhanging beech-bough as
thick as a man's wrist, that it fell crashing down, and caught Simon
amongst the fall of its leafy twigs, while Christopher stood laughing
on him, but with a dangerous lofty look in his eyes: then he turned away
quietly toward the horses and mounted his nag, and Simon followed and
did the like, silently; crestfallen he looked, with brooding fierceness
in his face.

So they rode their ways, and spake but little each to each till they
came to where the trees of the wood thinned speedily, and gave out at
last at the foot of a low stony s