第15章

NowdeemsRalphthatasforatrapoftheWoodPerilous，hehadalreadyfallenintothetrap；forhescarceneededtobetoldthattheseweremenoftheDryTree。HeknewalsothatitwasRogerwhohadledhimintothistrap，althoughhedeemeditdonewithnomaliceagainsthim。SohesaidtohimselfthatifhewentwithRogerhebutwentaroundaboutroadtotheDryTree；

sothathewaswellnighchoosingtogoonwiththeircompany。

YetagainhethoughtthatsomethingmightwellbefallwhichwouldfreehimfromthatfellowshipifhewentwithRogeralone；

whereasifhewentwiththeothersitwasnotthathemightbe，butthathewasalreadyofthefellowshipoftheDryTree，andmostlikewouldgostraightthencetotheirstronghold。

Sohespakeassoberlyasthetallmanhaddone。

“Sinceyegivemethechoice，fairsir，IwilldeparthencewithRogeralone，whomyecallmyman，thoughtomeheseemethtobeyours。Howbeit，hehasledmetoyouonce，andbelikewilldosooncemore。”

“Yea。”quoththebigmansmilingnowhitmorethanerst，“andthatwillmakethefourthtime。Departthen，fairsir，andtakethiswordwiththeethatIwishtheegoodandnotevil。”

RalphRideththeWoodPerilousAgainNowRogerleduptoRalphastronghorse，redroanofhue，dulyharnessedforwar，andhehimselfhadagoodgreyhorse，andtheymountedatonce，andRalphrodeslowlyawaythroughthewoodathishorse’swill，forhewasponderingallthathadbefallenhim，andwonderingwhatnextshouldhap。

Meanwhilethoseothershadnotloitered，butwerea-horsebackatonce，andwenttheirwaysfromRalphthroughthewildwood。

NoughtspakeRalphforawhiletillRogercamecloseuptohimandsaid：

“Whithershallwebetakeus，fairlord？hastthouaninklingoftheroadwhereonliesthineerrand？”

NowtoRalphthisseemedbutmockery，andheansweredsharply：

“Iwotnot，thouwiltleadwhitherthouwilt，evenasthouhasttrainedmehitherwardwithliesandaforgedtale。IsupposethouwiltleadmenowbysomeroundaboutroadtothestrongholdoftheDryTree。

Itmatterslittle，sincethoudurstnotleadmebackintotheBurg。

YetnowIcometothinkofit，itiseviltobealonewithafoundouttraitorandliar；andIhadbelikehavedonebettertogowiththeircompany。”

“Naynay。”quothRoger，“thouartangry，andImarvelnotthereat；

butletthywrathrunofftheeifthoumayest；forindeedwhatI

havetoldtheeofmyselfandmygriefsisnotallmerelying。

NeitherwasitanyliethatthouwertinperilofthylifeamongstthosetyrantsoftheBurg；thouwiththymanlybearing，andfreetongue，andbred，asIjudge，tohatecrueldeedsandinjustice。

Suchfreedomtheycannotawaywithinthatfellowshipofhardmen-at-arms；andsoonhadstthoucometoharmamongstthem。

Andfurther，letalonethatitisnotilltobesunderedfromyondercompany，whomayhapwillhaveroughworktodoorevertheywinhome，IhavenoughttodotobringtheetoHamptonunderScaurifthouhastnowilltogothither：

thoughcertesIwouldleadtheesomewhither，whereofthoushaltaskmenoughtasnow；yetwillIsaythereofthismuch，thattherethoushaltbebothsafeandwellatease。

Nowlastlyknowthis，thatwhateverIhavedone，Ihavedoneittodotheegoodandnotill；andthereisalsoanotherone，whomIwillnotnametothee，whowisheththeebetteryet，bythetokenofthosetwostrokesstrickenbytheeintheWoodPerilousbeforeyesterdaywasaday。”

NowwhenRalphheardthoselastwords，suchstrongandsweethopeanddesirestirredinhimtoseethatwomanoftheWant-waysoftheWoodPerilousthatheforgatallelse，exceptthathemustnowisefalltostrifewithRoger，lesttheyshouldsunder，andheshouldlosethehelpofhim，whichhenowdeemedwouldbringhimtosightofherwhomhehadunwittinglycometolongformorethanaughtelse；sohespaketoRogerquietlyandhumbly：

“Well，faring-fellow，thouseesthowIamlittlemorethanalad，andhavefallenintomattersmightyandperilous，whichImaynotdealwithofmyownstrength，atleastuntilIgetnighertothemsothatImaylookthemintheeyes，andstrikeastrokeortwoonthemiftheybeatenmitywithme。

SoIbidtheeleadmewhitherthouwilt，andifthoubeatraitortome，onthineownheadbeit；ingoodsooth，sinceIknownoughtofthiswoodandsinceImightgoastrayandsocomebacktotheBurgwherebethosewhomthouhastnowmademyfoemen，Iamcontenttotaketheeonthyword，andtohopethebestofthee，andasknoquestionofthee，savewhitherward。”

“Fairsir。”saidRoger，“awayfromthisplaceatleast；

forweareasyetovernightotheBurgtobesafe：

butastoelsewhitherwemaywend，thereofwemayspeakontheroadaswehaveleisure。”

Therewithhesmotehishorsewithhisheelandtheywentforwardatasmarttrot，forthehorseswereunwearied，andthewoodthereaboutsofbeechandclearofunderwood；andRogerseemedtoknowhiswaywell，andmadenofumblingoverit。

Fourhoursormoregone，thewoodthinnedandthebeechesfailed，andtheycametoacountry，stillwaste，oflittlelowhills，stonyforthemorepart，besetwithscraggythorn-bushes，andhereandtheresomeotherberry-treesownbythebirds。ThensaidRoger：

“NowIdeemuswelloutoftheperilofthemoftheBurg，whoiftheyfollowthechaseasfarasthesunderingofusandtheothers，willheedourslotnothing，butwillfollowonthatofthecompany：

sowemaybreatheourhorsesalittle，thoughtheirbaitwillbebutsmallinthisroughwaste：thereinwearebetteroffthanthey，forloyou，saddlebagsonmynagandmeatanddrinktherein。”

Sotheylighteddownandlettheirhorsesgrazewhattheycould，whiletheyateanddrank；amidstwhichRalphagainaskedRogerofwhithertheyweregoing。SaidRoger：“Ishallleadtheetoagoodharbour，andanoblehouseofamasterofmine，whereinthoumaystdwellcertaindays，ifthouhastamindthereto，notwithoutsolacemaybe。”

“Andthismaster。”saidRalph，“isheoftheDryTree？”

SaidRoger：“Iscarceknowhowtoanswertheewithoutlying：

butthisIsay，thatwhetherhebeornot，thisistrue；

amongstthosemenIhavefriendsandamongstthemfoes；

butfatebindethmetothemforawhile。”SaidRalphreddening：

“Bethereanywomenamongstthem？”“Yea，yea。”quothRoger，smilingalittle，“doubtnotthereof。”

“AndthatLadyoftheDryTree。”quothRalph，reddeningyetmore，butholdinguphishead，“thatwomanwhereoftheBurgherspokesobitterly，threateningherwithtormentsanddeathiftheymightbutlayholdofher；whatwiltthoutellmeconcerningher？”

“Butlittle。”saidRoger，“savethis，thatthoudesiresttoseeher，andthatthoumayesthavethywillthereonifthouwiltbeguidedbyme。”

RalphhearkenedasifheheededlittlewhatRogersaid；

butpresentlyheroseupandwalkedtoandfroinshortturnswithknitbrowsasoneponderingahardmatter。

Hespakenought，andRogerseemedtoheedhimnothing，thoughinsoothhelookedathimaskancefromtimetotime，tillatlasthecameandlaydownagainbyRoger，andinawhilehespake：

“IwotnotwhyyeoftheDryTreewantme，orwhatyewilldowithme；andbutforonethingIwouldevennowrideawayfromtheeatalladventure。”

Rogersaid：“Allthisyeshalllearnlateron，andshaltfinditbutasimplematter；andmeanwhileItelltheeagainthatallisforthygainandthypleasure。Sonowrideawayifthouwilt；

whohindereththee？certesnotI。”

“Nay。”saidRalph，“Iwillridewiththeefirsttothatfairhouse；

andafterwardsweshallseewhatistohap。”“Yea。”quothRoger，“thenletustohorsestraightway，sothatwemaybethereifnotbeforedarknightyetatleastbeforebrightmorn；

foritisyetfaraway。”

RalphComethtotheHouseofAbundanceTherewithaltheygattohorseandrodeawaythroughthatstonyland，whereinwasnoriver，butforwatermanypoolsinthebottoms，withlittlebrooksrunningfromthem。

Butafterawhiletheycameuponaridgesomewhathigh，onthefurthersidewhereofwasawidevalleywell-grassedandwithfewtrees，andnohabitationofmanthattheymightsee。

Butawideriverrandownthemidstofit；anditwasnowfourhoursafternoon。QuothRoger：“Thedaywearsandweshallbynomeansreachharbourbeforedarknight，evenifwedoourbest：

artthouwellusedtothewater，lord？”“Muchasamallardis。”

saidRalph。SaidRoger：“Thatiswell，forthoughthereisafordsomemileandahalfdownstream，forthatsamereasonitisthewaywherebymenmostlycrossthewaterintothewildwood；

andhereagainwearemoreliketomeetfoesthanwell-wishers；

orattheleasttherewillbequestionofwhoweare，andwhenceandwhither；andwemaystumbleinouranswers。”SaidRalph：

“Thereisnoneedtotarry，ridewedowntothewater。”

Sodidthey，andtookthewater，whichwasdeep，butnotswift。

Onthefurthersidetheyclombupahillsomewhatsteep；

atthecrowntheydrewreintogivetheirhorsesbreath，andRalphturnedinhissaddleandlookeddownontothevalley，andasaforesaidhewasclear-sightedandfar-sighted；nowhesaid：

“Fellow-farer，Iseetheridingoffolkdownbelowthere，andmeseemstheybespurringtowardthewater；andtheyhaveweapons：

there！dostthounotseethegleam？”

“Iwilltakethywordforit，fairsir。”saidRoger，“andwillevenspur，sincetheybethefirstmenwhomwehaveseensinceweleftthethickets。”

Andtherewithhewentoffatahandgallop，andRalphfollowedhimwithoutmoreado。

Theyrodeuphillanddowndaleofagrassydownland，tillatlasttheysawawoodbeforethemagain，andsoondrewreinundertheboughs；fornowweretheirhorsessomewhatwearied。

ThensaidRalph：“Herehaveweriddenafairland，andseenneitherhousenorherd，neithersheep-cotenorshepherd。

Iwonderthereat。”

SaidRoger：“Thouwouldstwonderthelessdidstthouknowthestoryofit。”

“Whatstory？”saidRalph。QuothRoger：“Astoryofwarandwasting。”

“Yea？”saidRalph，“yetsurelysomeboldknightorbaronhathrightsintheland，andmightbefreetobuildhimastronghouseandgathermentohimtoguardtheshepherdsandhusbandmenfromburnersandlifters。”

“Soothisthat。”saidRoger；“butthereareotherthingsinthetale。”

“Whatthings？”saidRalph。QuothRoger：“IllhapandsorrowandtheHandofFateandgreatSorcery。”“Anddastardswithal？”

saidRalph。“Evenso。”saidRoger，“yetmingledwithvaliantmen。

Overlongisthetaletotellasnow，solowasthesunis；

sonowrideweonwithlittlefearoffoemen。Forlookyou，thiswood，likethethicketsabouttheBurgoftheFourFriths，hathanevilname，andfewfolkrideituncompelled；thereforeitisthesaferforus。

AndyetIwillsaythistothee，thatwhereasawhileagonethoumightesthavedepartedfrommewithlittleperilofaughtsavethestumblingonsomeoftheridersoftheBurgoftheFourFriths，departingfrommenowwillbeahardmattertothee；forthesaintsinHeavenonlyknowwhitherwardthoushouldestcome，ifthouwerttoguidethyselfnow。

Thisaroughword，butatrueone，sohelpmeGodandSaintMichael！

Whatsayestthou；artthoucontent，orwiltthoucasthardwordsatmeagain？”

SoitwasthatforallthathadcomeandgoneRalphwaslight-heartedandhappy；sohelaughedandsaid：

“ContentwereI，evenifIwerenotcompelledthereto。

Formyhearttellsmeofnewthings，andmarvellousandjoyousthatIshallseeerelong。”

“Andthineheartliethnot。”saidRoger，“foramidstofthiswoodisthehousewhereweshallhaveguestingto-night，whichwillbetothee，belike，thedooroflifeandmanymarvels。