So as they rode, and it was about sunset, they saw something
lying by a big stone under a cliff; so they drew nigh,
and saw a man lying on his back, and they deemed he was dead.
So Bull went up to him, and leapt off his horse close by him
and bent over him, but straightway cast up his arms and set
up a long wailing whoop, and then another and another,
so that they that were behind heard it and came up upon the spur.
But Ralph leapt from his horse, and ran up to Bull and said:
"What aileth thee to whoop and wail? Who is it?" But Bull
turned about and shook his head at him, and said: "It is a man
of my kindred, even he that was leading away thy she-friend;
and belike she it was that slew him, or why is she not here:
Ochone! ahoo! ahoo!" Therewith fire ran through Ralph's heart,
and he bethought him of that other murder in the wilderness,
and he fell to wringing his hands, and cried out: "Ah, and where
is she, where is she? Is she also taken away from me for ever?
O me unhappy!"
And he drew his sword therewith, and ran about amongst the rocks
and the bushes seeking her body.
And therewith came up Clement, and others of the company, and wondered
to see Bull kneeling down by the corpse, and to hear him crying out
and wailing, and Ralph running about like one mad, and crying out now:
"Oh! that I might find her! Mayhappen she is alive yet, and anigh
here in some cleft of the rocks in this miserable wilderness.
Pages:
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343