others in arms in the
wildwood: for they had not as yet builded their stronghold of the
Scaur, whereas thou and I shall be in two days time. Many a wild deed
did our folk in their company, and many that had been better undone.
Whiles indeed they went on journeys wherein we were not partakers, as
when they went to the North and harried the lands of the Abbot of
Higham, and rode as far even as over the Downs to Bear Castle and
fought a battle there with the Captain of Higham: whereas we went never
out of the Wood Perilous to the northward; and lifted little save in
the lands of our own proper foemen, the friends of the king.

"Now I say not of the men of the Dry Tree that they were good and
peaceable men, nor would mercy hold their hands every while that they
were hard bestead and thrust into a corner. Yet I say now and once for
all that their fierceness was and is but kindness and pity when set
against the cruelty of the Burg of the Four Friths; men who have no
friend to love, no broken foe to forgive, and can scarce be kind even
to themselves: though forsooth they be wise men and cautelous and well
living before the world, and wealthy and holy."

She stayed her speech a while, and her eyes glittered in her flushed
face and she set her teeth; and she was as one beside herself till
Ralph kissed her feet, and caressed her, and she went on again.

"Dear friend, when thou knowest what these men are and have been thou
wilt bless thy friend Roger for leading thee forth from the Burg by
night and cloud, whatever else may happen to thee.

"Well, we abode in the wildwood, friends and good fellows from the
first; and that young man, though he loved me ever, was somewhat healed
of the fever of love, and was my faithful friend, in such wise that
neither I nor my lord had aught to find fault with in him. Meanwhile
we began to grow strong, for many joined us therein who had fled from
their tyrants of the good towns and the manors of the baronage, and at
last in the third year naught would please my lord but we must enter
into the Kingdom of the Tower, and raise his banner in the wealthy
land, and the fair cities.

"Moreover, his father, the King of the Tower, died in his bed in these
days, and no word of love or peace had passed between them since that
morning when I was led out to be burned in the Great Square.

"So we came forth from the forest, we, and the Champions of the Dry
Tree; and made the tale a short one. For the