The Well at the World's End: A Tale

  CHAPTER 8

  Ralph Cometh to the Wood Perilous. An Adventure Therein

  Now when he was clear of the Thorp the road took him out of the dale;and when he was on the hill's brow he saw that the land was of otherfashion from that which lay behind him. For the road went straightthrough a rough waste, no pasture, save for mountain sheep or goats,with a few bushes scattered about it; and beyond this the land roseinto a long ridge; and on the ridge was a wood thick with trees, and nobreak in them. So on he rode, and soon passed that waste, which wasdry and parched, and the afternoon sun was hot on it; so he deemed itgood to come under the shadow of the thick trees (which at the firstwere wholly beech trees), for it was now the hottest of the day. Therewas still a beaten way between the tree-boles, though not overwide,albeit, a highway, since it pierced the wood. So thereby he went at asoft pace for the saving of his horse, and thought but little of all hehad been told of the perils of the way, and not a little of the fairmaid whom he had left behind at the Thorp.

  After a while the thick beech-wood gave out, and he came into a placewhere great oaks grew, fair and stately, as though some lord'swood-reeve had taken care that they should not grow over closetogether, and betwixt them the greensward was fine, unbroken, andflowery. Thereby as he rode he beheld deer, both buck and hart androe, and other wild things, but for a long while no man.

  The afternoon wore and still he rode the oak wood, and deemed it agoodly forest for the greatest king on earth. At last he came to whereanother road crossed the way he followed, and about the crossway wasthe ground clearer of trees, while beyond it the trees grew thicker,and there was some underwood of holly and thorn as the ground fell offas towards a little dale.

  There Ralph drew rein, because he doubted in his mind which was hisright road toward the Burg of the Four Friths; so he got off his horseand abode a little, if perchance any might come by; he looked abouthim, and noted on the road that crossed his, and the sward about it,the sign of many horses having gone by, and deemed that they had passedbut a little while. So he lay on the ground to rest him and let hishorse stray about and bite the grass; for the beast loved him and wouldcome at his call or his whistle.

  Ralph was drowsy when he lay down, and though he said to himself thathe would nowise go to sleep, yet as oft happens, he had no defence tomake against sleepiness, and presently his hands relaxed, his head fellaside, and he slept quietly. When he woke up in a little space oftime, he knew at once that something had awaked him and that he had nothad his sleep out; for in his ears was the trampling of horse-hoofs andthe clashing of weapons and loud speech of men. So he leapt uphastily, and while he was yet scarce awake, took to whistling on hishorse; but even therewith those men were upon him, and two came up tohim and laid hold of him; and when he asked them what they would, theybade him hold his peace.

  Now his eyes cleared, and he saw that those men were in goodlywar-gear, and bore coats of plate, and cuir-bouilly, or of brightsteel; they held long spears and were girt with good swords; there wasa pennon with them, green, whereon was done a golden tower, embattled,amidst of four white ways; and the same token bore many of the men ontheir coats and sleeves. Unto this same pennon he was brought by thetwo men who had taken him, and under it, on a white horse, sat a Knightbravely armed at all points with the Tower and Four Ways on his greensurcoat; and beside him was an ancient man-at-arms, with nought but anoak wreath on his bare head, and his white beard falling low over hiscoat: but behind these twain a tall young man, also on a white horseand very gaily clad, upheld the pennon. On one side of these threewere five men, unarmed, clad in green coats, with a leafless tree doneon them in gold: they were stout carles, bearded and fierce-faced:their hands were bound behind their backs and their feet tied togetherunder their horses' bellies. The company of those about the Knight,Ralph deemed, would number ten score men.

  So when those twain stayed Ralph before the Knight, he turned to theold man and said:

  "It is of no avail asking this lither lad if he be of them or no: forno will be his answer. But what sayest thou, Oliver?"

  The ancient man drew closer to Ralph and looked at him up and down andall about; for those two turned him about as if he had been a joint offlesh on the roasting-jack; and at last he said:

  "His beard is sprouting, else might ye have taken him for a maid oftheirs, one of those of whom we wot. But to say sooth I seem to knowthe fashion of his gear, even as Duke Jacob knew Joseph's tabard. Soask him whence he is, lord, and if he lie, then I bid bind him and leadhim away, that we may have a true tale out of him; otherwise let him goand take his chance; for we will not waste the bread of the Good Townon him."

  The Knight looked hard on Ralph, and spake to him somewhat courteously:

  "Whence art thou, fair Sir, and what is thy name? for we have many foesin the wildwood."

  Ralph reddened as he answered: "I am of Upmeads beyond the downcountry; and I pray thee let me be gone on mine errands. It is meetthat thou deal with thine own robbers and reivers, but not with me."

  Then cried out one of the bounden men: "Thou liest, lad, we be norobbers." But he of the Knight's company who stood by him smote the manon the mouth and said: "Hold thy peace, runagate! Thou shalt givetongue to-morrow when the hangman hath thee under his hands."

  The Knight took no heed of this; but turned to the ancient warrior andsaid: "Hath he spoken truth so far?"

  "Yea, Sir Aymer," quoth Oliver; "And now meseems I know him better thanhe knoweth me."

  Therewith he turned to Ralph and said: "How fareth Long Nicholas, mylord?"

  Ralph reddened again: "He is well," said he.

  Then said the Knight: "Is the young man of a worthy house, Oliver?"

  But ere the elder could speak, Ralph brake in and said: "Old warrior, Ibid thee not to tell out my name, as thou lovest Nicholas."

  Old Oliver laughed and said: "Well, Nicholas and I have been friendsin a way, as well as foes; and for the sake of the old days his nameshall help thee, young lord." Then he said to his Knight: "Yea, SirAymer, he is of a goodly house and an ancient; but thou hearest how headjureth me. Ye shall let his name alone."

  The Knight looked silently on Ralph for a while; then he said: "Wiltthou wend with us to the Burg of the Four Friths, fair Sir? Wert thounot faring thither? Or what else dost thou in the Wood Perilous?"

  Ralph turned it over in his mind; and though he saw no cause why heshould not join himself to their company, yet something in his heartforbade him to rise to the fly too eagerly; so he did but say: "I amseeking adventures, fair lord."

  The Knight smiled: "Then mayst thou fill thy budget with them if thougoest with us," quoth he. Now Ralph did not know how he might gainsayso many men at arms in the long run, though he were scarce willing togo; so he made no haste to answer; and even therewith came a manrunning, through the wood up from the dale; a long, lean carle, meetfor running, with brogues on his feet, and nought else but a shirt; thecompany parted before him to right and left to let him come to theKnight, as though he had been looked for; and when he was beside him,the Knight leaned down while the carle spake softly to him and all mendrew out of ear-shot. And when the carle had given his message theKnight drew himself straight up in his saddle again and lifted up hishand and cried out:

  "Oliver! Oliver! lead on the way thou wottest! Spur! spur, all men!"

  Therewith he blew one blast from a horn which hung at his saddle-bow;the runner leapt up behind old Oliver, and the whole company went offat a smart trot somewhat south-east, slantwise of the cross-roads,where the wood was nought cumbered with undergrowth; and presently theywere all gone to the last horse-tail, and no man took any more note ofRalph.