bout the
clearings of the wild-wood. But now, knight, if thou wilt, thou mayest
go on softly toward the Gate of the Burg, and if thou wilt I will walk
beside thy rein, which fellowship, as aforesaid, shall be a gain to me."

Said Ralph: "I pray thee come with me, good fellow, and show me how
easiest to enter this stronghold." So, when Falcon was well breathed,
they went on, passing through goodly acres and wide meadows, with here
and there a homestead on them, and here and there a carle's cot. Then
came they to a thorp of the smallest on a rising ground, from the
further end of which they could see the walls and towers of the Burg.
Thereafter right up to the walls were no more houses or cornfields,
nought but reaches of green meadows plenteously stored with sheep and
kine, and with a little stream winding about them.

CHAPTER 12

Ralph Entereth Into the Burg of the Four Friths

When they came up to the wall they saw that it was well builded of good
ashlar, and so high that they might not see the roofs of the town
because of it; but there were tall towers on it, a many of them, strong
and white. The road led up straight to the master-gate of the Burg,
and there was a bailey before it strongly walled, and manned with
weaponed men, and a captain going about amongst them. But they entered
it along with men bringing wares into the town, and none heeded them
much, till they came to the very gate, on the further side of a moat
that was both deep and clean; but as now the bridge was down and the
portcullis up, so that the market-people might pass in easily, for it
was yet early in the day. But before the door on either side stood
men-at-arms well weaponed, and on the right side was their captain, a
tall man with bare grizzled head, but otherwise all-armed, who stopped
every one whom he knew not, and asked their business.

As Ralph came riding up with Roger beside him, one of the guard laid
his spear across and bade them stand, and the captain spake in a dry
cold voice: "Whence comest thou, man-at-arms?" "From the Abbey of St.
Mary at Higham," said Ralph. "Yea," said the captain, smiling grimly,
"even so I might have deemed: thou wilt be one of the Lord Abbot's
lily lads." "No I am not," quoth Ralph angrily. "Well, well," said the
captain, "what is thy name?"

"Ralph Motherson," quoth Ralph, knitting his brow. Said the captain
"And whither wilt thou?" Said Ralph, "On mine own errands." "Thou
answerest not