of the hostel) and twisted it swiftly into a strange knot
of many plies, and opening the purse laid it therein and said:
"King's son, this is the token whereby it shall be known amongst
our folk that I have made thee my brother: were the flames
roaring about thee, or the swords clashing over thine head,
if thou cry out, I am the brother of Bull Shockhead, all those
of my kindred who are near will be thy friends and thy helpers.
And now I say to thee farewell: but it is not altogether
unlike that thou mayst hear of me again in the furthest East."
So Ralph departed from him, and Clement went with Ralph to the Gate
of Goldburg, and bade him farewell there; and or they parted he said:
"Meseems I have with me now some deal of the foreseeing of Katherine
my wife, and in my mind it is that we shall yet see thee at
Wulstead and Upmeads, and thou no less famous than now thou art.
This is my last word to thee." Therewith they parted, and Ralph
rode his ways.

He came on his way-leader about a bowshot from the gate and they greeted
each other: the said guide was clad no otherwise than yesterday:
he had saddle-bags on his horse, which was a strong black roadster:
but he was nowise armed, and bore but a satchel with a case of
knives done on to it, and on the other side a fiddle in its case.
So Ralph smiled on him and said: "Thou hast no weapon, then?"
"What need for weapon?" said he; "since we are not of might for battle.
This is my weapon," said he, touching his fiddle, "and withal it
is my field and mine acre that raiseth flesh-meat and bread for me:
yea, and whiles a little drink."

So they rode on together and the man was blithe and merry:
and Ralph said to him: "Since we are fellows for a good while,