he road toward the
fair greensward of Upmeads. If thou delay to go look on them, then
shall thy work be to begin again amid sorrow of heart and loss that may
not be remedied.' Hast thou heard me, lord?"

"Yea, verily," said Ralph, "and at sunrise shall we be in the saddle to
ride straight to Upmeads. For I know thee, friend."

"Hold a while," said the carle, "for meseemeth I know thee also. But
this withal she said: 'But hearken, Giles, hearken a while, for I see
him clearly, and the men that he rideth with, and the men that are
following to his aid, fierce and fell are they; but so withal are the
foemen that await them, and his are few, howsoever fierce. Therefore
bid him this also. Haste, haste, haste! But haste not overmuch, lest
thou speed the worse: in Bear Castle I see a mote of our folk, and
thee amidst of it with thy champions, and I see the staves of the
Shepherds rising round thee like a wood. In Wulstead I see a valiant
man with sword by side and sallet on head, and with him sitteth a tall
man-at-arms grizzle-headed and red-bearded, big-boned and mighty; they
sit at the wine in a fair chamber, and a well-looking dame serveth
them; and there are weaponed men no few about the streets. Wilt thou
pass by friends, and old friends? Now ride on, Green Coats! stride
forth, Shepherds! staves on your shoulders, Wool-wards! and there goes
the host over the hills into Upmeads, and the Burg-devils will have
come from the Wood Debateable to find graves by the fair river. And
then do thy will, O Friend of the Well.'"

The carle took a breath, and then he said: "Lord, this is the say I
was charged with, and if thou understandest it, well; but if it be dark
to thee, I may make it clear if thou ask me aught."

Ralph pondered a while, and then he said: "Is it known of others than
thy spaewife that the Burgers be in Upmeads?" "Nay, lord," said the
carle, "and this also I say to thee, that I deem what she said that
they be not in Upmeads yet, and but drawing thitherward, as I deem from
the Wood Debateable."

Ralph arose from his seat and strode up and down the chamber a while;
then he went to bed, and stood over Ursula, who lay twixt sleeping and
waking, for she was weary; then he came back to the carle, and said to
him: "Good friend, I thank thee, and this is what I shall do: when
daylight is broad (and lo, the dawn beginning!) I shall gather my men,
and ride the shortest way, which thou shalt show me, to Be