Come on then, or else (and therewith he half drew his sword)
is this Lord of Utterbol but another name for the Devil in Hell?"

But the minstrel still stared wild and trembled; then he stammered out:
"I thought I should bring thee to Utterness first, and that some other should
lead thee thence, I did not look to see him. I dare not, I dare not!
O look, look!"

As he spake the wind arose and ran along the wood-side, and beat back
from it and stirred the canvas of the tents and raised the folds
of the banner, and blew it out, so that the bearing was clear to see;
yet Ralph deemed it naught dreadful, but an armoury fit for a baron,
to wit, a black bear on a castle-wall on a field of gold.

But as Ralph sat on his horse gazing, himseemed that men
were looking towards him, and a great horn was sounded hard
by the pavilion; then Ralph looked toward the minstrel fiercely,
and laughed and said: "I see now that thou art another traitor:
so get thee gone; I have more to do than the slaying of thee."
And therewith he turned his horse's head, and smote the spurs
into the sides of him, and went a great gallop over the field
on the right side of the road, away from the gay pavilion;
but even therewith came a half-score of horsemen from the camp,
as if they were awaiting him, and they spurred after him straightway.

The race was no long one, for Ralph's beast was wearied,
and the other horses were fresh, and Ralph knew naught of
the country before him, whereas those riders knew it well.
Therefore it was but a few minutes till they came up with him,
and he made no show of defence, but suffered them to lead