Ralph would not suffer his men to follow the chase, for he wotted
not with whom he might have to deal besides the King's men.
He drew his men together and looked round for Ursula,
and saw that the Sage had brought her up anigh him, and there
she sat a-horseback, pale and panting with the fear of death
and joy of deliverance.
Now Ralph cried out from his saddle in a loud voice, and said:
"Ho ye of the arrows of the wood! ye have saved me from my foemen;
where be ye, and what be ye?" Came a loud voice from out of the wood
on the right hand: "Children, tell the warrior whose sons ye be!"
Straightway brake out a huge bellowing on either side of the road,
as though the wood were all full of great neat.
Then cried out Ralph: "If ye be of the kindred of the Bull, ye will belike be
my friends rather than my foes. Or have ye heard tell of Ralph of Upmeads?
Now let your captain come forth and speak with me."
Scarce were the words out of his mouth ere a man came leaping forth
from out the wood, and stood before Ralph in the twilight of the boughs,
and Ralph noted of him that he was clad pretty much like to Bull
Shockhead of past time, save that he had a great bull's head for a helm
(which afterwards Ralph found out was of iron and leather)
and a great gold ring on his arm.
Then Ralph thrust his sword back into the sheath, and his folk
handled their weapons peaceably, while Ralph hailed the new-comer
as Lord or Duke of the Bulls.
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