a warrior-like man, and not ill-looking. He was of middle height,
strong and well-knit, with black hair like a beast's mane for shagginess,
and bright blue eyes. He was clad in a short coat of grey homespun,
with an ox-skin habergeon laced up over it; he had neither helm nor hat,
nor shoes, but hosen made of a woollen clout tied about his legs;
his shield of wood and ox-hide lay on the ground a few paces off,
and his hammer beside it, which he had dropped when Ralph first handled him,
but a great ugly knife was still girt to him.

Now Ralph saith to him: "Which wilt thou--be slain, or serve me?"
Said the carle, grinning, yet not foully: "Guess if I would
not rather serve thee!" "Wilt thou serve me truly?" said Ralph.
"Why not?" quoth the carle: "yet I warn thee that if thou beat me,
save in hot blood, I shall put a knife into thee when I may."

"O," said one, "thrust him through now at once, lord Ralph."
"Nay, I will not," said Ralph; "he hath warned me fairly.
Maybe he will serve me truly. Master Clement, wilt thou
lend me a horse for my man to ride?" "Yea," said Clement;
"yet I misdoubt me of thy new squire." Then he turned
to the men-at-arms and said: "No tarrying, my masters!
To horse and away before they gather gain!"

So they mounted and rode away from that valley of the pass, and Ralph
made his man ride beside him. But the man said to him, as soon as they
were riding: "Take note that I will not fight against my kindred."
"None biddeth thee so," said Ralph; "but do thou take heed that if
thou fight against us I will slay thee outright." Said the man:
"A fair bargain!" "Well," said Ralph, "I will have thy knife of thee,
lest it tempt thee, as is the wont of cold iron, and a maiden's body."