And yet if thou think better of it, thou mayst come with us straightway;
for we have nought to do to tarry here any longer. And in any case,
here is a good horse that we will give thee, since thou hast lost thy steed;
and Roger who rideth with thee, he also is well horsed."
Ralph looked hard at the big man, who now had his salade thrown back
from his face, to see if he gave any token of jeering or malice,
but could see nought such: nay, his face was grave and serious,
not ill-fashioned, though it were both long and broad like his body:
his cheek-bones somewhat high, his eyes grey and middling great,
and looking, as it were, far away.
Now deems Ralph that as for a trap of the Wood Perilous,
he had already fallen into the trap; for he scarce needed to be
told that these were men of the Dry Tree. He knew also that it
was Roger who had led him into this trap, although he deemed it
done with no malice against him. So he said to himself that if
he went with Roger he but went a roundabout road to the Dry Tree;
so that he was well nigh choosing to go on with their company.
Yet again he thought that something might well befall which would
free him from that fellowship if he went with Roger alone;
whereas if he went with the others it was not that he might be,
but that he was already of the fellowship of the Dry Tree,
and most like would go straight thence to their stronghold.
So he spake as soberly as the tall man had done.
Pages:
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127