"
The old man's voice quavered a little as he looked on the stark
shapes of the Dry Tree; but Ralph looked kindly on him, and said:
"Yea, my master, we will but ask for a covering for our heads,
and what victual thou mayst easily spare us in return
for good silver, and thou shalt have our thanks withal.
But who be these stout lads with staves and bucklers,
or whither will they to-night?"
Thereat a tall young man with a spear in his hand and girt with
a short sword came forth and said boldly: "Lord, we be a few
who thought when we heard that the Burg-devils were at hand that we
might as well die in the field giving stroke for stroke, as be
hauled off and drop to pieces under the hands of their tormentors;
and now thou hast come, we have little will to abide behind,
but were fain to follow thee, and do thee what good we can:
and after thou hast come to thine above, when we go back
to our kin thou mayst give us a gift if it please thee:
but we deem that no great matter if thou but give us leave
to have the comfort of thee and thy Champions for a while in
these hard days."
When he had done speaking there rose up from the Champions a hum as
of praise, and Ralph was well-pleased withal, deeming it a good omen;
so he said: "Fear not, good fellows, that I shall forget you when we
have overcome the foemen, and meanwhile we will live and die together.
But thou, ancient man, show our sergeants where our riders shall lie
to-night, and what they shall do with their horses.
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