ned of this land of the
wild folk whiles thou wert lying asleep that morning."

So they left that pleasant place by the water, and came into the open
valley, and went their ways through the pass; and it soon became stony
again, as they mounted the bent which went up from out the dale. And
when they came to the brow of the said bent, they had a sight of the open
country lying fair and joyous in the sunshine, and amidst of it, against
the blue hills, the walls and towers of a great city.

Then said the Maid: "O, dear friend, lo you! is not that our abode that
lieth yonder, and is so beauteous? Dwell not our friends there, and our
protection against uncouth wights, and mere evil things in guileful
shapes? O city, I bid thee hail!"

But Walter looked on her, and smiled somewhat; and said: "I rejoice in
thy joy. But there be evil things in yonder city also, though they be
not fays nor devils, or it is like to no city that I wot of. And in
every city shall foes grow up to us without rhyme or reason, and life
therein shall be tangled unto us."

"Yea," she said; "but in the wilderness amongst the devils, what was to
be done by manly might or valiancy? There hadst thou to fall back upon
the guile and wizardry which I had filched from my very foes. But when
we come down yonder, then shall thy valiancy prevail to cleave the tangle
for us. Or at the least, it shall leave a tale of thee behind, and I
shall worship thee."

He laughed, and his face grew brighter: "Mastery mows the meadow," quoth
he, "and one man is of little might against many. But I promise thee I
shall not be slothful before thee."

CHAPTER XXXI: THEY COME UPON NEW FOLK

With that they went down from the bent again, and came to where the pass
narrowed so much, that they went betwixt a steep wall of rock on either
side; but after an hour's going, the said wall gave back suddenly, and,
or they were ware almost, they came on another dale like to that which
they had left, but not so fair, though it was grassy and well watered,
and not so big either. But here indeed befell a change to them; for lo!
tents and pavilions pitched in the said valley, and amidst of it a throng
of men, mostly weaponed, and with horses ready saddled at hand. So they
stayed their feet, and Walter's heart failed him, for he said to himself:
Who wotteth what these men may be, save that they be aliens? It is most
like that we shall be taken as thralls; and then, at the bes