Rogerlookedhardathimandsaid：“Notso，younglord；ifthougoestIwillgowiththee，forthouhastwonmyheart，Iknownothow：
　　andIwouldverilybethyservant，tofollowtheewhithersoeverthougoest；
　　forIthinkthatgreatdeedswillcomeofthee。”
　　ThiswordpleasedRalph，forhewasyoungandlightlyputfaithinmen’swords，andlovedtobewellthoughtof，andwasfainofgoodfellowshipwithal。Sohesaid：
　　“Thisisagoodwordofthine，andIthanktheeforit；
　　andlooktoitthatinmyadventures，andtherewardofthemthoushalthavethydueshare。Loheremyhandonit！”
　　Rogertookhishand，yettherewithhisfaceseemedalittletroubled，buthesaidnought。ThenspokeRalph：
　　“TrueitisthatIamnotfaintotakethewagesoftheBurg；
　　foritseemstomethattheybehardmen，andcruelandjoyless，andthattheirserviceshallberatherchurlishthanknightly。
　　Howbeit，letnightbringcounsel，andwewillseetothisto-morrow；
　　fornowIambothsleepyandweary。”Therewithhecalledthechamberlain，whoboreawaxlightbeforehimtohischamber，andhedidoffhisraimentandcasthimselfonhisbed，andfellasleepstraightway，beforeheknewwhereRogerwassleeping，whetheritwereinthehallorsomeplaceelse。
　　HowRalphDepartedFromtheBurgoftheFourFrithsHimseemedhehadscarcebeenasleepaminuteereawokewithasoundofsomeonesayingsoftly，“Master，master，awake！”Sohesatupandansweredsoftlyinhisturn：“Whoisit？whatisamiss，sincethenightisyetyoung？”
　　“Iamthyfellow-farer，Roger。”saidthespeaker，“andthisthouhasttodo，getonthyraimentspeedily，andtakethyweaponswithoutnoise，ifthouwouldstnotbeintheprisonoftheBurgbeforesunrise。”
　　Ralphdidashewasbiddenwithoutmorewords；foralreadywhenhelaydownhisheartmisgavehimthathewasinnosafeplace；
　　helookedtohisweaponsandarmourthattheyshouldnotclash，anddowntheycameintothehallandfoundthedooronthelatch；
　　soouttheywentandRalphsawthatitwassomewhatcloudy；
　　themoonwassetanditwasdark，butRalphknewbythescentthatcameinonthelightwind，andalittlestirofblendedsounds，thatitwashardondawning；andeventherewithheheardthechallengeofthewardersonthewallsandtheircryingofthehour；andthechimesofthebelfryrangclearandloud，andseemingcloseabovehim，twohoursandahalfaftermidnight。
　　Rogerspakenot，andRalphwasman-at-armsenoughtoknowthathemustholdhispeace；andthoughhelongedsoretohavehishorseFalconwithhim，yethewottedthatitavailednottoaskofhishorse，sincehedurstnotaskofhislife。
　　SotheywentonsilentlytilltheywereoutoftheGreatPlaceandcameintoanarrowstreet，andsointoanotherwhichledthemstraightintothehouselessspaceunderthewall。
　　Rogerledrightonasifheknewthewaywell，andinatwinklingweretheycometoaposterninthewallbetwixttheEastGateandtheSouth。BythesaidposternRalphsawcertainmenstanding；
　　andontheearthnearby，whereashewaskeen-eyed，hesawmorethanonemanlyingmoveless。
　　SpakeRogersoftlytothemenwhostoodontheirfeet：
　　“Istheropetwined？”“Nay，rope-twiner。”saidoneofthem。
　　ThenRogerturnedandwhisperedtoRalph：“Friends。Getoutthysword！”
　　Wherewithalthegatewasopened，andtheyallpassedoutthroughthewall，andstoodabovetheditchintheangle-nookofasquaretower。
　　ThenRalphsawsomeofthemenstoopandshootoutabroadplankovertheditch，whichwasdeepbutnotwidethereabout，andstraightwayhefollowedtheothersoverit，goinglastsaveRoger。
　　Bythentheywereontheothersidehesawaglimmerofthedawnintheeasternheaven，butitwasstillmorethandusk，andnomanspokeagain。
　　Theywentonsoftlyacrosstheplainfieldsoutsidethewall，creepingfrombushtobush，andfromtreetotree，forhere，ifnowhereaboutthecircuitoftheBurg，wereafewtreesgrowing。
　　Thustheycameintoalittlewoodandpassedthroughit，andthenRalphcouldseethatthemenweresixbesidesRoger；bytheglimmerofthegrowingdawnhesawbeforethemaspaceofmeadowswithhighhedgesaboutthem，andadimlinethathetookfortheroofofabarnorgrange，andbeyondthatadarkmassoftrees。
　　Stilltheypressedonwithoutspeaking；adogbarkednotfaroffandthecockswerecrowing，andclosebytheminthemeadowacowlowedandwenthustlingoverthebentsandthelong，unbittenbuttercups。
　　Daygrewapace，andbythentheywereunderthebarn-gablewhichhehadseenaloofhesawtheotherroofsofthegrangeandheardthebleatingofsheep。
　　Andnowhesawthosesixmenclearly，andnotedthatoneofthemwasverybigandtall，andonesmallandslender，anditcameintohismindthatthesetwowerenoneotherthanthetwainwhomhehadcomeuponthelastnightsittinginthehalloftheFlowerdeLuce。
　　Eventherewithcameamantothegateofthesheep-cotebythegrange，andcaughtsightofthem，andhadthewitstorunbackatonceshoutingout：
　　“Hugh，Wat，Richard，andallye，outwithyou，outadoors！Herebemen！
　　WaretheDryTree！Bowsandbills！Bowsandbills！”
　　WiththatthosefellowsofRalphmadenomoreado，butsetoffrunningattheirbesttowardthewoodaforesaid，whichcrownedtheslopeleadingupfromthegrange，andnowtooknocaretogosoftly，norheededtheclashingoftheirarmour。Ralphranwiththebestandenteredthewoodalongsidetheslimyouthaforesaid，whostayednotatthewood’sedgebutwentonrunningstill：
　　butRalphstayedandturnedtoseewhatwastoward，andbeheldhowthattallmanwasthelastoftheircompany，andereheenteredthewoodturnedaboutwithabentbowinhishand，andevenashenockedtheshaft，themenfromtheGrange，whowereseveninall，camerunningoutfrombehindthebarn-gable，cryingout：
　　“Hothieves！hoyeoftheDryTree，abidetillwecome！fleenotfromhandystrokes。”Thetallmanhadtheshafttohisearinatwinkling，andloosedstraightway，andnockedandloosedanothershaftwithoutstayingtonotehowthefirsthadsped。
　　ButRalphsawthatamanwasbeforeeachoftheshafts，andhadfallentoearth，thoughhehadnotimetoseeaughtelse，foreventherewiththetallmancaughthimbythehand，andcryingout，“Thethirdtime！”ranonwithhimaftertherestoftheircompany；
　　andwhereashewaslong-leggedandRalphlightfooted，theyspeedilycameupwiththem，whowererunningstill，butlaughingastheyran，andjeeringatthemenoftheBurgh；andthetallmanshoutedouttothem：“Yea，lads，thecounterfeitDryTreethattheyhaveraisedintheBurgshallbedryenoughthistime。”
　　“Truly。”saidanother，“tillwecometowateritwiththebloodofthesewretches。”
　　“Well，well，geton。”saidathird，“wastenotyourwindintalk；
　　thosecarleswillmakebutashortrunofittothewallslongasitwasforus，creepingandcreepingaswebehovedto。”
　　Thelongmanlaughed；“Thousayestsooth。”saidhe，“butthouartthelongestwindedofallintalking：
　　geton，lads。”
　　Theylaughedagainathiswordandspedonwithlessnoise；
　　whileRalphthoughtwithinhimselfthathewascomeintostrangecompany，fornowheknewwellthatthebigmanwasevenhewhomhehadfirstmetatthechurchyardgateofthethorpunderBearHill。
　　Yethedeemedthattherewasnoughtforitnowbuttogoon。
　　Withinawhiletheyallslackedsomewhat，andpresentlydidbutwalk，thoughswiftly，throughthepathsofthethicket，whichRalphdeemedfullsurelywaspartofthatsideoftheWoodPerilousthatlaysouthoftheBurgoftheFourFriths。
　　AndnowRogerjoinedhimselftohim，andspaketohimaloudandsaid：
　　“So，fairmaster，thouartoutoftheperilofdeathforthisbout。”
　　“Artthouallsosureofthat？”quothRalph，“orwhoarethesethatbewithus？meseemstheysmelloftheDryTree。”
　　“Yea，orrebelsandrunawaystherefrom。”saidRoger，withadrygrin。
　　“Butwhosoevertheymaybe，thoushaltseethattheywillsufferustodepartwhitherwewill，ifwelikenottheircompany。
　　Iwillbethywarrantthereof。”
　　“Moreover。”saidRalph，“IhavelostFalconmyhorse；
　　itisasoremissofhim。”
　　“Maybe。”quothRoger，“butatleastthouhastsavedthyskin；andwhereastherearemanyhorsesontheearth，thereisbutoneskinofthine：
　　becontent；ifthouwilt，thoushallwinsomewhatinexchangeforthinehorse。”
　　Ralphsmiled，butsomewhatsourly，andeventherewithheheardashrillwhistlealittlealoof，andthemenstayedandheldtheirpeace，fortheyweretalkingtogetherfreelyagainnow。
　　Thenthebigmanputhisfingerstohismouthandwhistledagaininanswer，athirdwhistleansweredhim；andlo，presently，astheircompanyhastenedon，thevoicesofmen，andanontheycameintoalittlewood-lawnwhereinstandingaboutorlyingonthegrassbesidetheirhorsesweremorethanascoreofmenwellarmed，butwithoutanybannerortoken，andallinwhitearmourwithwhiteGaberdinesthereover；
　　andtheyhadwiththem，asRalphjudged，somedozenofhorsesmorethantheyneededfortheirownriding。
　　Greatwasthejoyatthismeeting，andtherewasembracingandkissingoffriends：butRalphnotedthatnomanembracedthatslenderyouth，andthatheheldhimsomewhatalooffromtheothers，andallseemedtodohimreverence。
　　Nowspakeoneoftherunaways：“Well，lads，herebeallwefourwellmetagainalongwiththosetwainwhocametohelpusatourpinch，astheirwontis，andRogerwithal，goodatneedagain，andafriendofhis，asitseemeth，andwhomweknownot。
　　Seeyetothat。”
　　Thenstoodforththebigmanandsaid：“Heisafairyoungknight，asyemaysee；andheridethseekingadventures，andRogerdidustowitthathewasabidingintheBurgathisperil，andwouldhavehimaway，evenifitweresomewhatagainsthiswill：andwewerewillingthatitshouldbeso，allthemoreasIhaveaguessconcerningwhatheis；
　　andaforeseeingmanmightthinkthatluckshouldgowithhim。”
　　TherewithheturnedtoRalphandsaid：“Howsayye，fairsir，willyetakeguestingwithusawhileandlearnourways？”
　　SaidRalph：“CertainIamthatwhitheryewillhavemego，thithermustI；yetIdeemthatIhaveanerrandthatliesnotyourway。
　　ThereforeifIgowithyou，yemustsolookuponitthatIaminyourfellowshipasonecompelled。Tobeshortwithyou，Icraveleavetodepartandgomineownroad。”
　　Ashespokehesawtheyouthwalkingupanddowninshortturns；buthisfacehecouldscarceseeatall，whatforhisslouchedhat，whatforhiscloak；
　　andatlasthesawhimgouptothetallmanandspeaksoftlytohimawhile。
　　Thetallmannoddedhishead，andastheyouthdrewrightbacknightothethicket，spaketoRalphagain。
　　“Fairsir，wegrantthineasking；andaddthistheretothatwegivetheethemanwhohasjoinedhimselftothee，RogeroftheRope-walktowit，tohelptheeontheroad，sothatthoumaystnotturnthyfacebacktotheBurgoftheFourFriths，wherethineerrand，andthylifewithal，weresoonspednow，orrunintoanyothertrapwhichtheWoodPerilousmayhaveforthee。
　　Andyetifthouthinkbetterofit，thoumaystcomewithusstraightway；
　　forwehavenoughttodototarryhereanylonger。Andinanycase，hereisagoodhorsethatwewillgivethee，sincethouhastlostthysteed；
　　andRogerwhoridethwiththee，healsoiswellhorsed。”
　　Ralphlookedhardatthebigman，whonowhadhissaladethrownbackfromhisface，toseeifhegaveanytokenofjeeringormalice，butcouldseenoughtsuch：nay，hisfacewasgraveandserious，notill-fashioned，thoughitwerebothlongandbroadlikehisbody：
　　hischeek-bonessomewhathigh，hiseyesgreyandmiddlinggreat，andlooking，asitwere，faraway。