Verily I deem that if thou wert to meet a company of foemen,
thou wouldest compel them to do thy bidding."
"Farewell to thee maiden," said Ralph, "and mayst thou find thy
beloved whole and well, and that speedily. Fare-well!"
She said no more; so he shook his rein and rode his ways; but looked
over his shoulder presently and saw her standing yet barefoot on the dusty
highway shading her eyes from the afternoon sun and looking after him,
and he waved his hand to her and so went his ways between the houses
of the Thorp.
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 other fashion from that which lay behind him.
For the road went straight through a rough waste, no pasture,
save for mountain sheep or goats, with a few bushes scattered
about it; and beyond this the land rose into a long ridge;
and on the ridge was a wood thick with trees, and no break in them.
So on he rode, and soon passed that waste, which was dry and parched,
and the afternoon sun was hot on it; so he deemed it good to come
under the shadow of the thick trees (which at the first were
wholly beech trees), for it was now the hottest of the day.
There was still a beaten way between the tree-boles, though
not overwide, albeit, a highway, since it pierced the wood.
So thereby he went at a soft pace for the saving of his horse,
and thought but little of all he had been told of the perils
of the way, and not a little of the fair maid whom he had left
behind at the Thorp.
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