Within a while they all slacked somewhat, and presently did but walk, though swiftly, through the paths of the thicket, which Ralph deemed full surely was part of that side of the Wood Perilous that lay south of the Burg of the Four Friths.  And now Roger joined himself to him, and spake to him aloud and said:  “So, fair master, thou art out of the peril of death for this bout.”

“Art thou all so sure of that?” quoth Ralph, “or who are these that be with us? meseems they smell of the Dry Tree.”

“Yea, or rebels and runaways therefrom,” said Roger, with a dry grin.  “But whosoever they may be, thou shalt see that they will suffer us to depart whither we will, if we like not their company.  I will be thy warrant thereof.”

“Moreover,” said Ralph, “I have lost Falcon my horse; it is a sore miss of him.”

“Maybe,” quoth Roger, “but at least thou hast saved thy skin; and whereas there are many horses on the earth, there is but one skin of thine:  be content; if thou wilt, thou shall win somewhat in exchange for thine horse.”

Ralph smiled, but somewhat sourly, and even therewith he heard a shrill whistle a little aloof, and the men stayed and held their peace, for they were talking together freely again now.  Then the big man put his fingers to his mouth and whistled again in answer, a third whistle answered him; and lo, presently, as their company hastened on, the voices of men, and anon they came into a little wood-lawn wherein standing about or lying on the grass beside their horses were more than a score of men well armed, but without any banner or token, and all in white armour with white Gaberdines thereover; and they had with them, as Ralph judged, some dozen of horses more than they needed for their own riding.

Great was the joy at this meeting, and there was embracing and kissing of friends:  but Ralph noted that no man embraced that slender youth, and that he held him somewhat aloof from the others, and all seemed to do him reverence.

Now spake one of the runaways:  “Well, lads, here be all we four well met again along with those twain who came to help us at our pinch, as their wont is, and Roger withal, good at need again, and a friend of his, as it seemeth, and whom we know not.  See ye to that.”

Then stood forth the big man and said:  “He is a fair young knight, as ye may see; and he rideth seeking adventures, and Roger did us to wit that he was abiding in the Burg at his peril, and would have him away, even if it were somewhat against his will:  and we were willing that it should be so, all the more as I have a guess concerning what he is; and a foreseeing man might think that luck should go with him.”  Therewith he turned to Ralph and said:  “How say ye, fair sir, will ye take guesting with us a while and learn our ways?”

Said Ralph:  “Certain I am that whither ye will have me go, thither must I; yet I deem that I have an errand that lies not your way.  Therefore if I go with you, ye must so look upon it that I am in your fellowship as one compelled.  To be short with you, I crave leave to depart and go mine own road.”