and the captain turned to Ralph and said courteously: "Young knight,
if thou art seeking adventures, thou shalt find them in our host;
and if thou be but half as wise as thou seemest bold, thou wilt
not fail to gain honour and wealth both, in the service of the Burg;
for we be overmuch beset with foemen that we should not welcome any
wight and wary warrior, though he be an alien of blood and land.
If thou thinkest well of this, then send me thy man here and give me
word of thy mind, and I shall lead thee to the chiefs of the Port,
and make the way easy for thee."

Ralph thanked him and rode through the gate into the street,
and Roger still went beside his stirrup.

Presently Ralph turned to Roger and spake to him somewhat sourly,
and said: "Thou hadst one lie in thy mouth and didst swallow it;
but how shall I know that another did not come out thence?
Withal thou must needs be my fellow here, will I, nill I;
for thou it was that didst put that word into the captain's
mouth that thou shouldst serve me while I abide in the Burg.
So I will say here and now, that my mind misgives me concerning thee,
whether thou be not of those very thieves and tyrants whom thou
didst mis-say but a little while ago."

"Yea," said Roger, "thou art wise indeed to set me down as one of the
Dry Tree; doubtless that is why I delivered thee from their ambush even now.
And as for my service, thou mayst need it; for indeed I deem thee not so safe
as thou deemest thyself in this Burg."

"What!" said Ralph, "Dost thou blow hot and cold? why even now,
when we were in the wood, thou wert telling me that I