" So therewith
he kissed her, and embraced her, and was glad.
The Utterbol Riders had slain sixteen of their foemen;
for they took none to mercy, and four of their band
were slain outright, and six hurt, but not grievously.
So they tarried awhile on the field of deed to rest them
and tend their wounded men, and so rode on again heedfully.
But Redhead spake: "It is good to see thee tilting, King's Son.
I doubt me I shall never learn thy downright thrust.
Dost thou remember how sorry a job I made of it, when we met
in the lists at Vale Turris that other day?"
"Yea, yea," said Ralph. "Thou were best let that flea stick on the wall.
For to-day, at least, I have seen thee play at sharps deftly enough."
Quoth Redhead: "Lord, it is naught, a five minutes' scramble.
That which trieth a man, is to fight and overcome, and straight
have to fight with fresh foemen, and yet again, till ye long
for dark night to cover you--yea, or even death."
"Warrior-like and wisely thou speakest," said Ralph;
"and whoever thou servest thou shalt serve well.
And now once more I would it were me."
Redhead shook his head at that word, and said: "I would it might be so;
but it will not be so as now."
Forth on they rode, and slept in a wood that night, keeping good watch;
but saw no more of the Black Riders for that time.
On a day thereafter when it was nigh evening, Ralph looked about, and saw
a certain wood on the edge of a plain, and he stayed Ursula, and said:
"Look round about, beloved; for this is the very field whereas I was betrayed
into the hands of the men of Utterbol.
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