"
Then she put forth her hand and said: "Swear by this!"
So he took it and swore the oath; but the Sage of Swevenham said:
"This oath thou shalt keep to the gain and not the loss both
of thee and of thy friends of Upmeads."
Thus were they fain of each other, and Ralph saw how Bull's heart
was grown big, and he rejoiced thereat. But anon he arose and said:
"Now, Lord, we ask leave to depart for the way is long, and mayhappen
my kindred now lack a man's helping." Then Bull stood up and called
for his horse, and Otter also, and they all went forth and gat
a-horseback and rode away from Vale Turris, and Redhead rode
behind them humbly, till it was noon and they made stay for meat.
Then after they had broken bread together and drunk a cup Bull
and Otter kissed the wayfarers, and bade them farewell and so rode
back to Vale Turris, and Ralph and Ursula and the Sage tarried
not but rode on their ways.
But anon Ralph called to Redhead, and bade him ride beside
them that they might talk together, and he came up with them,
and Ursula greeted him kindly, and they were merry one with another.
And Ralph said to Redhead: "Friend captain, thou art exceeding
in humility not to ride with the Lord or Captain Otter;
save for chance-hap, I see not that thou art worser than they."
Redhead grinned, and said: "Well, as to Otter, that is all true;
but as for Lord Bull it is another matter; I wot not but his
kindred may be as good or better than any in these east parts.
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