At this sight the minstrel drew rein and stared about him wildly;
but Ralph said: "What is this, is it the peril aforesaid?"
"Yea," quoth the minstrel, shivering with fear. "What aileth thee?"
said Ralph; "have we not the let-pass, what then can befall us?
If this be other than the Lord of Utterbol, he will see
our let-pass and let us alone; or if it be he indeed,
what harm shall he do to the bearers of his own pass?
Come on then, or else (and therewith he half drew his sword)
is this Lord of Utterbol but another name for the Devil in Hell?"
But the minstrel still stared wild and trembled; then he stammered out:
"I thought I should bring thee to Utterness first, and that some other should
lead thee thence, I did not look to see him. I dare not, I dare not!
O look, look!"
As he spake the wind arose and ran along the wood-side, and beat back
from it and stirred the canvas of the tents and raised the folds
of the banner, and blew it out, so that the bearing was clear to see;
yet Ralph deemed it naught dreadful, but an armoury fit for a baron,
to wit, a black bear on a castle-wall on a field of gold.
But as Ralph sat on his horse gazing, himseemed that men
were looking towards him, and a great horn was sounded hard
by the pavilion; then Ralph looked toward the minstrel fiercely,
and laughed and said: "I see now that thou art another traitor:
so get thee gone; I have more to do than the slaying of thee.
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