It was still so early in the summer morning, and he knew
so little what to do, that presently he turned and walked
back to his lair amongst the hazels, and there he lay down,
and his thoughts by then were all gone back again to the lovely
lady whom he had delivered, and he wondered if he should ever
see her again, and, sooth to say, he sorely desired to see her.
Amidst such thoughts he fell asleep again, for the night yet
owed him something of rest, so young as he was and so hard
as he had toiled, both body and mind, during the past day.
CHAPTER 11
Now Must Ralph Ride For It
When he awoke again the sun was shining through the hazel leaves, though it
was yet early; he arose and looked to his horse, and led him out of the hazel
copse and stood and looked about him; and lo! a man coming slowly through
the wood on Ralph's right hand, and making as it seemed for the want-way;
he saw Ralph presently, and stopped, and bent a bow which he held
in his hand, and then came towards him warily, with the arrow nocked.
But Ralph went to meet him with his sword in his sheath, and leading Falcon
by the rein, and the man stopped and took the shaft from the string:
he had no armour, but there was a little axe and a wood-knife in his girdle;
he was clad in homespun, and looked like a carle of the country-side.
Now he greeted Ralph, and Ralph gave him the sele of the day, and saw
that the new-comer was both tall and strong, dark of skin and black-haired,
but of a cheerful countenance.
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