whither thou wilt, and if thou be a traitor to me, on thine own head be
it; in good sooth, since I know nought of this wood and since I might
go astray and so come back to the Burg where be those whom thou hast
now made my foemen, I am content to take thee on thy word, and to hope
the best of thee, and ask no question of thee, save whitherward."

"Fair sir," said Roger, "away from this place at least; for we are as
yet over nigh to the Burg to be safe: but as to elsewhither we may
wend, thereof we may speak on the road as we have leisure."

Therewith he smote his horse with his heel and they went forward at a
smart trot, for the horses were unwearied, and the wood thereabouts of
beech and clear of underwood; and Roger seemed to know his way well,
and made no fumbling over it.

Four hours or more gone, the wood thinned and the beeches failed, and
they came to a country, still waste, of little low hills, stony for the
more part, beset with scraggy thorn-bushes, and here and there some
other berry-tree sown by the birds. Then said Roger: "Now I deem us
well out of the peril of them of the Burg, who if they follow the chase
as far as the sundering of us and the others, will heed our slot
nothing, but will follow on that of the company: so we may breathe our
horses a little, though their bait will be but small in this rough
waste: therein we are better off than they, for lo you, saddle bags on
my nag and meat and drink therein."

So they lighted down and let their horses graze what they could, while
they ate and drank; amidst which Ralph again asked Roger of whither
they were going. Said Roger: "I shall lead thee to a good harbour,
and a noble house of a master of mine, wherein thou mayst dwell certain
days, if thou hast a mind thereto, not without solace maybe."

"And this master," said Ralph, "is he of the Dry Tree?" Said Roger: "I
scarce know how to answer thee without lying: but this I say, that
whether he be or not, this is true; amongst those men I have friends
and amongst them foes; but fate bindeth me to them for a while." Said
Ralph reddening: "Be there any women amongst them?" "Yea, yea," quoth
Roger, smiling a little, "doubt not thereof."

"And that Lady of the Dry Tree," quoth Ralph, reddening yet more, but
holding up his head, "that woman whereof the Burgher spoke so bitterly,
threatening her with torments and death if they might but lay hold of
her; what wilt thou tell me concerning her?" "But litt