copse and stood and looked about him; and lo! a man coming slowly through
the wood on Ralph's right hand, and making as it seemed for the want-way;
he saw Ralph presently, and stopped, and bent a bow which he held
in his hand, and then came towards him warily, with the arrow nocked.
But Ralph went to meet him with his sword in his sheath, and leading Falcon
by the rein, and the man stopped and took the shaft from the string:
he had no armour, but there was a little axe and a wood-knife in his girdle;
he was clad in homespun, and looked like a carle of the country-side.
Now he greeted Ralph, and Ralph gave him the sele of the day, and saw
that the new-comer was both tall and strong, dark of skin and black-haired,
but of a cheerful countenance. He spake frank and free to Ralph, and said:
"Whither away, lord, out of the woodland hall, and the dwelling of deer
and strong-thieves? I would that the deer would choose them a captain,
and gather head and destroy the thieves--and some few others with them."

Said Ralph: "I may scarce tell thee till I know myself.
Awhile ago I was minded for the Burg of the Four Friths;
but now I am for Hampton under Scaur."

"Yea?" said the carle, "when the Devil drives, to hell must we."

"What meanest thou, good fellow?" said Ralph, "Is Hampton then so evil
an abode?" And indeed it was in his mind that the adventure of the lady
led captive bore some evil with it.

Said the carle: "If thou wert not a stranger in these parts I
need not to answer thy question; but I will answer it presently,
yet not till we have eaten, for I hunger, and have in this wallet
both bread and cheese, and thou art welcome to a share thereof,
if thou hungerest also, as is most like, whereas thou art young