rle.

But now the fellowship took to riding so fast down the slopes of the
mountains on a far better road, that talking together was not easy.
They kept good watch, both behind and ahead, nor were they set upon
again, though whiles they saw clumps of men on the hill-sides.

So after a while, when it was a little past noon, they came adown to
the lower slopes of the mountains and the foot-hills, which were green
and unstony; and thereon were to be seen cattle and neatherds and
shepherds, and here and there the garth of a homestead, and fenced
acres about it.

So now that they were come down into the peopled parts, they displayed
the banners of their fellowships, to wit, the Agnes, the White Fleece,
the Christopher, and the Ship and Nicholas, which last was the banner
of the Faring-knights of Whitwall; but Ralph was glad to ride under the
banner of St. Nicholas, his friend, and deemed that luck might the
rather come to him thereby. But they displayed their banners now,
because they knew that no man of the peopled parts would be so hardy as
to fall upon the Chapmen, of whom they looked to have many matters for
their use and pleasure.

So now that they felt themselves safe, they stayed them, and sat down
by a fair little stream, and ate their dinner of such meat and drink as
they had; and Ralph departed his share with his thrall, and the man was
hungry and ate well; so that Clement said mockingly: "Thou feedest thy
thrall over well, lord, even for a king's son: is it so that thou art
minded to fatten him and eat him?" Then some of the others took up the
jest, and bade the carle refrain him of the meat, so that he might not
fatten, and might live the longer. He hearkened to them, and knit his
brows and looked fiercely from one to the other. But Ralph laughed
aloud, and shook his finger at him and refrained him, and his wrath ran
off him and he laughed, and shoved the victual into him doughtily, and
sighed for pleasure when he had made an end and drunk a draught of wine.

CHAPTER 22

Ralph Talks With Bull Shockhead

When they rode on again, Ralph rode beside Bull, who was merry and
blithe now he was full of meat and drink; and he spake anon: "So thou
art a king's son, master? I deemed from the first that thou wert of
lineage. For as for these churls of chapmen, and the sworders whom
they wage, they know not the name of their mother's mother, nor have
heard one word of the beginner of their kindred; and the