As for the damsel, she put her brother aside, and held the stirrup
for Ralph; and when he was in the saddle she said to him:

"All luck go with thee! Forsooth I deem thee safer in the Wood than my
words said. Verily I deem that if thou wert to meet a company of foemen,
thou wouldest compel them to do thy bidding."

"Farewell to thee maiden," said Ralph, "and mayst thou find thy
beloved whole and well, and that speedily. Fare-well!"

She said no more; so he shook his rein and rode his ways; but looked
over his shoulder presently and saw her standing yet barefoot on the dusty
highway shading her eyes from the afternoon sun and looking after him,
and he waved his hand to her and so went his ways between the houses
of the Thorp.



CHAPTER 8

Ralph Cometh to the Wood Perilous. An Adventure Therein


Now when he was clear of the Thorp the road took him out
of the dale; and when he was on the hill's brow he saw that
the land was of other fashion from that which lay behind him.
For the road went straight through a rough waste, no pasture,
save for mountain sheep or goats, with a few bushes scattered
about it; and beyond this the land rose into a long ridge;
and on the ridge was a wood thick with trees, and no break in them.