not even a score of the Dry Tree dare ride so nigh the Burg save
by night and cloud."

So Ralph stayed his horse, and he and Roger lighted down,
and Ralph looked about him and saw a stone tower builded on
a little knoll amidst a wheatfield, and below it some simple
houses thatched with straw; there were folk moreover working,
or coming and going about the fields, who took little heed
of the two when they saw them standing quiet by the horse's head;
but each and all of these folk, so far as could be seen,
had some weapon.

Then said Ralph: "Good fellow, is this the Burg of the Four Friths?"
The carle laughed, and said: "Simple is the question, Sir Knight:
yonder is a watch-tower of the Burg, whereunder husbandmen can live,
because there be men-at-arms therein. And all round the outskirts
of the Frank of the Burg are there such-like towers to the number
of twenty-seven. For that, say folk, was the tale of the winters
of the Fair Lady who erewhile began the building of the Burg, when she
was first wedded to the Forest Lord, who before that building had dwelt,
he and his fathers, in thatched halls of timber here and there
about the clearings of the wild-wood. But now, knight, if thou wilt,
thou mayest go on softly toward the Gate of the Burg, and if thou
wilt I will walk beside thy rein, which fellowship, as aforesaid,
shall be a gain to me."

Said Ralph: "I pray thee come with me, good fellow, and show me how
easiest to enter this stronghold." So, when Falcon was well breathed,
they went on, passing through goodly acres and wide meadows, with here
and there a homestead on them, and here and there a carle's cot.