As he spoke he saw the youth walking up and down in short turns; but his face he could scarce see at all, what for his slouched hat, what for his cloak; and at last he saw him go up to the tall man and speak softly to him awhile.  The tall man nodded his head, and as the youth drew right back nigh to the thicket, spake to Ralph again.

“Fair sir, we grant thine asking; and add this thereto that we give thee the man who has joined himself to thee, Roger of the Rope-walk to wit, to help thee on the road, so that thou mayst not turn thy face back to the Burg of the Four Friths, where thine errand, and thy life withal, were soon sped now, or run into any other trap which the Wood Perilous may have for thee.  And yet if thou think better of it, thou mayst come with us straightway; for we have nought to do to tarry here any longer.  And in any case, here is a good horse that we will give thee, since thou hast lost thy steed; and Roger who rideth with thee, he also is well horsed.”

Ralph looked hard at the big man, who now had his salade thrown back from his face, to see if he gave any token of jeering or malice, but could see nought such:  nay, his face was grave and serious, not ill-fashioned, though it were both long and broad like his body:  his cheek-bones somewhat high, his eyes grey and middling great, and looking, as it were, far away.

Now deems Ralph that as for a trap of the Wood Perilous, he had already fallen into the trap; for he scarce needed to be told that these were men of the Dry Tree.  He knew also that it was Roger who had led him into this trap, although he deemed it done with no malice against him.  So he said to himself that if he went with Roger he but went a roundabout road to the Dry Tree; so that he was well nigh choosing to go on with their company.  Yet again he thought that something might well befall which would free him from that fellowship if he went with Roger alone; whereas if he went with the others it was not that he might be, but that he was already of the fellowship of the Dry Tree, and most like would go straight thence to their stronghold.  So he spake as soberly as the tall man had done.

“Since ye give me the choice, fair sir, I will depart hence with Roger alone, whom ye call my man, though to me he seemeth to be yours.  Howbeit, he has led me to you once, and belike will do so once more.”

“Yea,” quoth the big man smiling no whit more than erst, “and that will make the fourth time.  Depart then, fair sir, and take this word with thee that I wish thee good and not evil.”

CHAPTER 16

Ralph Rideth the Wood Perilous Again

Now Roger led up to Ralph a strong horse, red roan of hue, duly harnessed for war, and he himself had a good grey horse, and they mounted at once, and Ralph rode slowly away through the wood at his horse’s will, for he was pondering all that had befallen him, and wondering what next should hap.  Meanwhile those others had not loitered, but were a-horseback at once, and went their ways from Ralph through the wildwood.