Giles had a horse given him and rode the way by Ralph.
They rode up and down the hills and dales, but went across country
and not by the Greenway, for thuswise the road was shorter.
But when they had gone some two leagues, and were nigh on top
of a certain low green ridge, they deemed that they heard
men's voices anigh and the clash of arms; and it must be said
that by Ralph's rede they journeyed somewhat silently.
So Ralph, who was riding first with Giles, bid all stay and let
the crown of the ridge cover them. So did they, and Giles gat
off his horse and crept on to the top of the ridge till he could
see down to the dale below. Presently he came down again the old
face of him puckered with mirth, and said softly to Ralph:
"Did I not say thou wert lucky? here is the first fruits thereof.
Ride over the ridge, lord, at once, and ye shall have what there
is of them as safe as a sheep in a penfold."
So Ralph drew sword and beckoned his men up, and they all handled
their weapons and rode over the brow, and tarried not one moment there,
not even to cry their cries; for down in the bottom were a sort
of men, two score and six (as they counted them afterward)
sitting or lying about a cooking fire, or loitering here and there,
with their horses standing behind them, and they mostly unhelmed.
The Champions knew them at once for men of their old foes, and there
was scarce time for a word ere the full half of them had passed
by the sword of the Dry Tree; then Ralph cried out to spare the rest,
unless they offered to run; so the foemen cast down their weapons
and stood still, and were presently brought before Ralph, who sat
on the grass amidst of the ring of the Champions.
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