he could see the four ways clearly enough, though it would not be easy
for anyone to see him thence.

Thither he betook him, and he did the rein off Falcon,
but tethered him by a halter in the thickest of the copse, and sat
down himself nigher to the outside thereof; he did off his helm
and drew what meat he had from out his wallet and ate and drank
in the beginning of the summer night; and then sat pondering
awhile on what had befallen on this second day of his wandering.
The moon shone out presently, little clouded, but he saw her not,
for though he strove to wake awhile, slumber soon overcame him,
and nothing waked him till the night was passing, nor did
he see aught of that company of which the lady had spoken,
and which in sooth came not.



CHAPTER 10

A Meeting and a Parting in the Wood Perilous


When the first glimmer of dawn was in the sky he awoke in
the fresh morning, and sat up and hearkened, for even as he woke
he had heard something, since wariness had made him wakeful.
Now he hears the sound of horse-hoofs on the hard road,
and riseth to his feet and goeth to the very edge of the copse;
looking thence he saw a rider who was just come to the very
crossing of the roads. The new comer was much muffled
in a wide cloak, but he seemed to be a man low of stature.