So at even Ralph slept in his tent,
and none meddled with him, save that David came to talk with him or he slept,
and was merry and blithe with him, and he brought with him Otter,
the captain of the guard, who was good company.
Thus wore three days that were hazy and cloudy, and the Lord sent
no more for Ralph, who on the road spake for the more part with Otter,
and liked him not ill; howbeit it seemed of him that he would make
no more of a man's life than of a rabbit's according as his lord
might bid slay or let live.
The three hazy days past, it fell to rain for four days,
so that Ralph could see little of the face of the land;
but he noted that they went up at whiles, and never so much
down as up, so that they were wending up hill on the whole.
On the ninth day of his captivity the rain ceased and it
was sunny and warm but somewhat hazy, so that naught could be
seen afar, but the land near-hand rose in long, low downs now,
and was quite treeless, save where was a hollow here and there
and a stream running through it, where grew a few willows,
but alders more abundantly.
This day he rode by Otter, who said presently:
"Well, youngling of the North, to-morrow we shall see
a new game, thou and I, if the weather be fair."
"Yea," said Ralph, "and what like shall it be?" Said Otter,
"At mid-morn we shall come into a fair dale amidst the downs,
where be some houses and a tower of the Lord's, so that that
place is called the Dale of the Tower: there shall we abide
a while to gather victual, a day or two, or three maybe:
so my Lord will hold a tourney there: that is to say that I
myself and some few others shall try thy manhood somewhat.
Pages:
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399