f men, and anon they came into a little wood-lawn wherein
standing about or lying on the grass beside their horses were more than
a score of men well armed, but without any banner or token, and all in
white armour with white Gaberdines thereover; and they had with them,
as Ralph judged, some dozen of horses more than they needed for their
own riding.

Great was the joy at this meeting, and there was embracing and kissing
of friends: but Ralph noted that no man embraced that slender youth,
and that he held him somewhat aloof from the others, and all seemed to
do him reverence.

Now spake one of the runaways: "Well, lads, here be all we four well
met again along with those twain who came to help us at our pinch, as
their wont is, and Roger withal, good at need again, and a friend of
his, as it seemeth, and whom we know not. See ye to that."

Then stood forth the big man and said: "He is a fair young knight, as
ye may see; and he rideth seeking adventures, and Roger did us to wit
that he was abiding in the Burg at his peril, and would have him away,
even if it were somewhat against his will: and we were willing that it
should be so, all the more as I have a guess concerning what he is; and
a foreseeing man might think that luck should go with him." Therewith
he turned to Ralph and said: "How say ye, fair sir, will ye take
guesting with us a while and learn our ways?"

Said Ralph: "Certain I am that whither ye will have me go, thither
must I; yet I deem that I have an errand that lies not your way.
Therefore if I go with you, ye must so look upon it that I am in your
fellowship as one compelled. To be short with you, I crave leave to
depart and go mine own road."

As he spoke he saw the youth walking up and down in short turns; but
his face he could scarce see at all, what for his slouched hat, what
for his cloak; and at last he saw him go up to the tall man and speak
softly to him awhile. The tall man nodded his head, and as the youth
drew right back nigh to the thicket, spake to Ralph again.

"Fair sir, we grant thine asking; and add this thereto that we give
thee the man who has joined himself to thee, Roger of the Rope-walk to
wit, to help thee on the road, so that thou mayst not turn thy face
back to the Burg of the Four Friths, where thine errand, and thy life
withal, were soon sped now, or run into any other trap which the Wood
Perilous may have for thee. And yet if thou think better of it, thou
mays