where the wood was nought cumbered with undergrowth; and presently
they were all gone to the last horse-tail, and no man took any more
note of Ralph.



CHAPTER 9

Another Adventure in the Wood Perilous


Ralph left alone pondered a little; and thought that he would
by no means go hastily to the Burg of the Four Friths.
Said he to himself; This want-way is all unlike to the one near
our house at home: for belike adventures shall befall here:
I will even abide here for an hour or two; but will have my horse
by me and keep awake, lest something hap to me unawares.

Therewith he whistled for Falcon his horse, and the beast came to him,
and whinnied for love of him, and Ralph smiled and tied him to a
sapling anigh, and himself sat down on the grass, and pondered many things;
as to what folk were about at Upmeads, and how his brethren were faring;
and it was now about five hours after noon, and the sun's rays fell aslant
through the boughs of the noble oaks, and the scent of the grass and bracken
trodden by the horse-hoofs of that company went up into the warm summer air.
A while he sat musing but awake, though the faint sound of a little stream
in the dale below mingled with all the lesser noises of the forest did
its best to soothe him to sleep again: and presently had its way with him;
for he leaned his head back on the bracken, and in a minute or two was
sleeping once more and dreaming some dream made up of masterless memories