"
"Yea," said Ralph, "and there are perils yet a few on the way, is it not so?"
"So it is," said the minstrel; "but to-morrow shall try all." Said Ralph:
"And is there some special peril ahead to-morrow? And if it be so,
what is it?" Said his fellow: "It would avail thee naught to know it.
What then, doth that daunt thee?" "No," said Ralph, "by then it is nigh
enough to hurt us, we shall be nigh enough to see it." "Well said!"
quoth the minstrel; "but now we must mend our pace, or dark night shall
overtake us amid these rough ways."
Wild as the land was, they came at even to a place where were
a few houses of woodmen or hunters; and they got off their horses
and knocked at the door of one of these, and a great black-haired
carle opened to them, who, when he saw the knight's armour,
would have clapped the door to again, had not Ralph by the minstrel's
rede held out the parchment to him, who when he saw it became
humble indeed, and gave them such guesting as he might, which was
scant indeed of victual or drink, save wild-fowl from the heath.
But they had wine with them from the last guest-house, whereof
they bade the carle to drink; but he would not, and in all wise
seemed to be in dread of them.
When it was morning early they rode their ways, and the carle
seemed glad to be rid of them. After they had ridden a few
miles the land bettered somewhat; there were islands of deep
green pasture amidst the blackness of the heath, with cattle
grazing on them, and here and there was a little tillage:
the land was little better than level, only it swelled a little this
way and that.
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