“Nay，Imaybetterthat。”saidRalph，“forIhavewherewithal。”
　　“Nevertheless。”saidthecarle，“wewillgothither，forhereisittooopenforsosmallacompanyasours，sincethiswant-wayhathanillname，andIshallleadtheewhereasweshallbesomewhatoutofthewayofmurder-carles。Socomeon，ifthoutrustethinme。”
　　Ralphyeasaidhim，andtheywenttogetherafurlongfromthewant-wayintoalittlehollowplacewherethroughranaclearstreambetwixtthick-leavedalders。ThecarleledRalphtotheverylipofthewatersothatthebushescoveredthem；
　　theretheysatdownanddrewwhattheyhadfromtheirwallets，andsofelltomeat；andamidstofthemeatthecarlesaid：
　　“FairKnight，asIsupposethouartone，IwillasktheeifanyneeddraweththeetoHampton？”
　　SaidRalph：“Theneedofgivingthego-bytotheBurgoftheFourFriths，sinceIheartellthatthefolkthereofberobbersandmurderers。”
　　“Thoushaltfindthatoutbetter，lord，bygoingthither；butIshalltellthee，thatthoughmenmayslayandstealtheretimeandtimeabout，yetinregardtoHamptonunderScaur，itisHeaven，whereinmensinnot。
　　AndIamonewhoshouldknow，forIhavebeenlongdwellinginHell，thatisHampton；andnowamIescapedthence，andammindedfortheBurg，ifperchanceImaybedeemedthereamangoodenoughtorideintheirhost，wherebyImightavengemesomewhatonthemthathaveundoneme：
　　someofwhommeseemethmusthaveputinthymouththatwordagainsttheBurg。
　　Isitnotso？”
　　“Maybe。”saidRalph，“forthouseemesttobeatrueman。”
　　Nomorehespakethoughhehadhalfamindtotellthecarleallthetaleofthatadventure；butsomethingheldhimbackwhenhethoughtofthatladyandherfairness。YetagainhisheartmisgavehimofwhatmightbetidethatothermaidenatHampton，andhewasunquiet，deemingthathemustneedsfollowherthither。
　　Thecarlelookedonhimcuriouslyandsomewhatanxiously，butRalph’seyesweresetonsomethingthatwasnotthere；
　　orelsemaybehadhelookedcloselyonthecarlehemighthavedeemedthatlongingtoavengehimwhereofhespokedidnotchangehisfacemuch；forintruththerewaslittlewrathinit。
　　Nowthecarlesaid：“Thouhastatalewhichthoudeemestunmeetformyears，asitwellmaybe。Well，thoumustspeak，orrefrainfromspeaking，whatthouwilt；butthouartsofairayoungknight，andsoblithewithapoorman，andwithalIdeemthatthoumayesthelpmetosomegainandgood，thatIwilltelltheeatruetale：
　　andfirstthattheBurgisagoodtownunderagoodlord，whoisnotyrantnoroppressorofpeacefulmen；andthatthoumayestdwellthereinpeaceastothefolkthereof，whobegoodfolk，albeittheybenodastardstoletthemselvesbecowedbymurder-carles。
　　AndnextIwilltelltheethatthefolkofthetownofHamptonbeverilyasharmlessandinnocentassheep；butthattheybeunderevillordswhoarenottheirtruelords，wholayheavyburdensonthemandtormentthemeventothedestroyingoftheirlives：
　　andlastlyIwilltelltheethatIwasoneofthosepoorpeople，thoughnotsomuchasheepasthemorepartofthem，thereforehavethesetyrantsrobbedmeofmycroft，andsetanothermaninmyhouse；
　　andmetheywouldhaveslainhadInotfledtothewoodthatitmightcoverme。AndhappyitwasformethatIhadneitherwife，norchick，norchild，elsehadtheydoneastheydidwithmybrother，whosewifewastoofairforhim，sincehedweltatHampton；sothattheytookherawayfromhimtomakesportforthemoftheDryTree，whodwellintheCastleoftheScaur，whoshallbethymastersifthougoestthither。
　　“Thisismytale，andthine，Isay，Iasknot；butIdeemthatthoushaltdoillifthougonottotheBurgeitherwithmeorbythyselfalone；
　　eitherasaguest，orasagoodknighttotakeserviceintheirhost。”
　　NowsoitwasthatRalphwaswary；andthistimehelookedcloselyatthecarle，andfoundthathespakecoldlyforamanwithsomuchwrathinhisheart；thereforehewasindoubtaboutthething；
　　moreoverhecalledtomindthewordsoftheladywhomhehaddelivered，andherloveliness，andthekissesshehadgivenhim，andhewaslothtofindheraliar；andhewaslothalsotothinkthatthemaidenofBourtonhadbetakenhertosoeviladwelling。
　　Sohesaid：
　　“Friend，IknownotthatImustneedsbeapartakerinthestrifebetwixtHamptonandtheBurg，orgoeithertooneortheotherofthesestrongholds。
　　IstherenootherwayoutofthiswoodsavebyHamptonortheBurg？
　　ornootherplaceanigh，whereImayrestinpeaceawhile，andthengoonmineownerrands？”
　　SaidtheCarle：“ThereisathorpthatliethsomewhatwestoftheBurg，whichiscalledApthorp；butitisanopenplace，notfenced，andisdebateableground，whilesheldbythemoftheBurg，whilesbytheDryTree；andifthoutarrythere，andtheyoftheDryTreetakethee，soonisthineerrandsped；
　　andiftheyoftheBurgtakethee，thenshaltthoubeledintotheBurginworsecasethanthouwouldestbeifthougotheretouncompelled。
　　Whatsayestthou，therefore？WhoshallhurttheeintheBurg，atownwhichisundergoodandstronglaw，ifthoubeatrueman，asthouseemesttobe？Andifthouartseekingadventures，asmaywellbe，thoushaltsoonfindthemtherereadytohand。
　　IredetheecomewithmetotheBurg；for，tosaysooth，IshallfinditsomewhateasiertoenterthereinifIbeinthecompanyofthee，aknightandalord。”
　　SoRalphconsideredandthoughtthattherelayindeedbutlittleperiltohimintheBurg，whereasboththosemenwithwhomhehadstrivenwerehushedforever，andtherewasnoneelsetotellthetaleofthebattle，savethelady，whoseperilfromthemoftheBurgwasmuchgreaterthanhis；
　　andalsohethoughtthatifanythinguntowardbefel，hehadsomeonetofallbackoninoldOliver：yetontheotherhandhehadahankeringafterHamptonunderScaur，where，tosaysooth，hedoubtednottoseetheladyagain。
　　Sobetwixtonethingandtheother，speechhungonhislipsawhile，whensuddenlythecarlesaid：“Hist！thouhastleftthyhorsewithoutthebushes，andheiswhinnying“
　　whichindeedhewas，“thereisnownotimetolose。
　　Tohorsestraightway，forcertainlytherearefolkathand，andtheymaybefoemen，andaremostliketobe。”
　　TherewiththeybotharoseandhastenedtowhereFalconstoodjustoutsidethealderbushes，andRalphleapta-horsebackwithoutmoreado，andthecarlewaitednobiddingtoleapupbehindhim，andpointingtoagladeofthewoodwhichledtowardthehighway，criedout，“Spurthatway，thither！theyoftheDryTreeareabroadthismorning。
　　Spur！’tisforlifeordeath！”
　　RalphshookthereinandFalconleaptawaywithoutwaitingforthespur，whilethecarlelookedoverhisshoulderandsaid，“Yondertheycome！theyarethree；andevertheyridewellhorsed。Nay，nay！Theyarefour。”
　　quothhe，asashoutsoundedbehindthem。“Spur，younglord！spur！
　　Andthinehorseisamettlesomebeast。Yea，itwilldo，itwilldo。”
　　TherewithcametoRalph’searsthesoundoftheirhorse-hoofsbeatingtheturf，andhespurredindeed，andFalconflewforth。
　　“Ah。”criedthecarle！“buttakeheed，fortheyseethatthyhorseisgood，andoneofthem，thelast，hathabentTurkbowinhishand，andislayinganarrowonit；asevertheirwontistoshoota-horseback：aturnofthyrein，asifthinehorsewereshyingataweaselontheroad！”
　　RalphstoopedhisheadandmadeFalconswerve，andheardtherewiththetwangofthebowstringandstraightwaytheshaftflewpasthisears。Falcongallopedon，andthecarlecriedout：
　　“ThereisthehighwaytowardtheBurg！Dothybest，dothybest！
　　Loyouagain！”
　　ForthesecondshaftflewfromtheTurkishbow，andthenoiseofthechasewasloudbehindthem。Onceagaintwangedthebow-string，butthistimethearrowfellshort，andthewoodlandman，turninghimselfaboutaswellashemight，shookhisclenchedfistatthechase，cryingoutinavoicebrokenbythegallop：
　　“Ha，thieves！IamRogeroftheRope-walk，Igototwistaropeforthenecksofyou！”
　　ThenhespaketoRalph：“Theyareturningback：theyarebeaten，andwithaltheylovenottheopenroad：yetslackennotyet，youngknight，unlessthoulovestthinehorsemorethanthylife；
　　fortheywillfollowonthroughthethicketontheway-sidetoseewhetherthouwertbornafoolandhastlearnednothinglater。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andnowIdeemthouwilttellmethattotheBurgIneedsmust。”
　　“Yea，forsooth。”saidthecarle，“norshallwebelong，ridingthus，erewecometotheBurgGate。”
　　“Yea，orevenslower。”saidRalph，drawingreinsomewhat，“fornowIdeemthechasedone：andafterallissaid，IhavenowilltoslayFalcon，whoisoneofmyfriends，asthouperchancemayestcometobeanother。”
　　Thereafterhewentahand-galloptillthewoodbegantothin，andtherewerefieldsoftillageaboutthehighway；andpresentlyRogersaid：
　　“Thoumaystbreathethynagnow，andridesingle，forweareamidstfriends；
　　notevenascoreoftheDryTreedareridesonightheBurgsavebynightandcloud。”
　　SoRalphstayedhishorse，andheandRogerlighteddown，andRalphlookedabouthimandsawastonetowerbuildedonalittleknollamidstawheatfield，andbelowitsomesimplehousesthatchedwithstraw；therewerefolkmoreoverworking，orcomingandgoingaboutthefields，whotooklittleheedofthetwowhentheysawthemstandingquietbythehorse’shead；
　　buteachandallofthesefolk，sofarascouldbeseen，hadsomeweapon。
　　ThensaidRalph：“Goodfellow，isthistheBurgoftheFourFriths？”
　　Thecarlelaughed，andsaid：“Simpleisthequestion，SirKnight：
　　yonderisawatch-toweroftheBurg，whereunderhusbandmencanlive，becausetherebemen-at-armstherein。AndallroundtheoutskirtsoftheFrankoftheBurgaretheresuch-liketowerstothenumberoftwenty-seven。Forthat，sayfolk，wasthetaleofthewintersoftheFairLadywhoerewhilebeganthebuildingoftheBurg，whenshewasfirstweddedtotheForestLord，whobeforethatbuildinghaddwelt，heandhisfathers，inthatchedhallsoftimberhereandthereabouttheclearingsofthewild-wood。Butnow，knight，ifthouwilt，thoumayestgoonsoftlytowardtheGateoftheBurg，andifthouwiltIwillwalkbesidethyrein，whichfellowship，asaforesaid，shallbeagaintome。”
　　SaidRalph：“Ipraytheecomewithme，goodfellow，andshowmehoweasiesttoenterthisstronghold。”So，whenFalconwaswellbreathed，theywenton，passingthroughgoodlyacresandwidemeadows，withhereandthereahomesteadonthem，andhereandthereacarle’scot。
　　Thencametheytoathorpofthesmallestonarisingground，fromthefurtherendofwhichtheycouldseethewallsandtowersoftheBurg。
　　Thereafterrightuptothewallswerenomorehousesorcornfields，noughtbutreachesofgreenmeadowsplenteouslystoredwithsheepandkine，andwithalittlestreamwindingaboutthem。