of past days.

When he awoke again he lay still a little while, wondering where in the world
he was, but as the drowsiness left him, he arose and looked about,
and saw that the sun was sinking low and gilding the oakboles red.
He stood awhile and watched the gambols of three hares, who had drawn
nigh him while he slept, and now noted him not; and a little way he saw
through the trees a hart and two hinds going slowly from grass to grass,
feeding in the cool eventide; but presently he saw them raise their heads
and amble off down the slope of the little dale, and therewith he himself
turned his face sharply toward the north-west, for he was fine-eared
as well as sharp-eyed, and on a little wind which had just arisen came
down to him the sound of horse-hoofs once more.

So he went up to Falcon and loosed him, and stood by him bridle
in hand, and looked to it that his sword was handy to him:
and he hearkened, and the sound drew nigher and nigher to him.
Then lightly he got into the saddle and gathered the reins into
his left hand, and sat peering up the trodden wood-glades, lest
he should have to ride for his life suddenly. Therewith he heard
voices talking roughly and a man whistling, and athwart the glade
of the wood from the northwest, or thereabout, came new folk;
and he saw at once that there went two men a-horseback and armed;
so he drew his sword and abode them close to the want-ways. Presently
they saw the shine of his war-gear, and then they came but a little
nigher ere they drew rein, and sat on their horses looking toward him.
Then Ralph saw that they were armed and clad as those of the company
which had gone before. One of the armed men rode a horse-length
after his fellow, and bore a long spear over his shoulder.
But the other who rode first was girt with a sword, and had a little