"But I have," said the voice, "and I am
fain to see thee, for thy voice soundeth pleasant to me.
Abide till I grope about for a stick or two."
Ralph laughed in turn, as he heard the new-comer moving about;
then he heard the click of the steel on the flint, and saw
the sparks showering down, so that a little piece of the wood
grew green again to his eyes. Then a little clear flame
sprang up, and therewith he saw the tree-stems clearly,
and some twenty yards from him a horse, and a man stooping
down over the fire, who sprang up now and cried out:
"It is a knight-at-arms! Come hither, fellow of the waste;
it is five days since I have spoken to a child of Adam;
so come nigh and speak to me, and as a reward of thy speech
thou shalt have both meat and firelight."
"That will be well paid," said Ralph laughing, and he stepped
forward leading his horse, for now the wood was light all about,
as the fire waxed and burned clear; so that Ralph could see
that the new-comer was clad in quaintly-fashioned armour
after the fashion of that land, with a bright steel sallet
on the head, and a long green surcoat over the body armour.
Slender of make was the new-comer, not big nor tall of stature.
Ralph went up to him hastily, and merrily put his hand on his shoulder,
and kissed him, saying: "The kiss of peace in the wilderness to thee!"
And he found him smooth-faced and sweet-breathed.
But the new comer took his hand and led him to where the firelight was
brightest and looked on him silently a while; and Ralph gave back the look.
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