A while he sat musing but awake, though the faint sound of a little stream
in the dale below mingled with all the lesser noises of the forest did
its best to soothe him to sleep again: and presently had its way with him;
for he leaned his head back on the bracken, and in a minute or two was
sleeping once more and dreaming some dream made up of masterless memories
of past days.
When he awoke again he lay still a little while, wondering where in the world
he was, but as the drowsiness left him, he arose and looked about,
and saw that the sun was sinking low and gilding the oakboles red.
He stood awhile and watched the gambols of three hares, who had drawn
nigh him while he slept, and now noted him not; and a little way he saw
through the trees a hart and two hinds going slowly from grass to grass,
feeding in the cool eventide; but presently he saw them raise their heads
and amble off down the slope of the little dale, and therewith he himself
turned his face sharply toward the north-west, for he was fine-eared
as well as sharp-eyed, and on a little wind which had just arisen came
down to him the sound of horse-hoofs once more.
So he went up to Falcon and loosed him, and stood by him bridle
in hand, and looked to it that his sword was handy to him:
and he hearkened, and the sound drew nigher and nigher to him.
Then lightly he got into the saddle and gathered the reins into
his left hand, and sat peering up the trodden wood-glades, lest
he should have to ride for his life suddenly.
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