there came a smile in his face that was both sly and somewhat sad.
Walter looked on him and said: "Was it from hence that thou wouldst
go that road?"

"Yea," said the carle.

Said Walter: "And now wilt thou tell me what that road was; whither
it went and whereto it led, that thou must needs wend it, though thy
first stride were over a dead man?"

"I will not tell thee," said the carle.

Then they held their peace, both of them, and thereafter got on to
other talk of no import.

So wore the day till night came; and they slept safely, and on the
morrow after they had broken their fast, the more part of them set
off with the carle to the hunting, and they went, all of them, a
three hours' faring towards the foot of the cliffs, which was all
grown over with coppice, hazel and thorn, with here and there a big
oak or ash-tree; there it was, said the old man, where the venison
was most and best.

Of their hunting need nought be said, saving that when the carle had
put them on the track of the deer and shown them what to do, he came
back again with Walter, who had no great lust for the hunting, and
sorely longed to have some more talk with the said carle. He for
his part seemed nought loth thereto, and so led Walter to a mound or
hillock amidst the clear of the plain, whence all was to be seen
save where the wood covered it; but just before where they now lay