house and an ancient; but thou hearest how he adjureth me.
Ye shall let his name alone."

The Knight looked silently on Ralph for a while; then he said:
"Wilt thou wend with us to the Burg of the Four Friths, fair Sir?
Wert thou not faring thither? Or what else dost thou in
the Wood Perilous?"

Ralph turned it over in his mind; and though he saw no cause why
he should not join himself to their company, yet something in his
heart forbade him to rise to the fly too eagerly; so he did but say:
"I am seeking adventures, fair lord."

The Knight smiled: "Then mayst thou fill thy budget with them if thou
goest with us," quoth he. Now Ralph did not know how he might gainsay
so many men at arms in the long run, though he were scarce willing to go;
so he made no haste to answer; and even therewith came a man running,
through the wood up from the dale; a long, lean carle, meet for running,
with brogues on his feet, and nought else but a shirt; the company parted
before him to right and left to let him come to the Knight, as though
he had been looked for; and when he was beside him, the Knight leaned
down while the carle spake softly to him and all men drew out of ear-shot.
And when the carle had given his message the Knight drew himself straight
up in his saddle again and lifted up his hand and cried out:

"Oliver! Oliver! lead on the way thou wottest! Spur! spur, all men!"

Therewith he blew one blast from a horn which hung at his saddle-bow;
the runner leapt up behind old Oliver, and the whole company went off
at a smart trot somewhat south-east, slantwise of the cross-roads,