登陆注册
5253600000195

第195章

And amongst the foemen, who were indeed very many, was huge dismay, so that they made but a sorry defence before the band of the wayfarers, who knew not what to make of it, till they noted that arrows and casting-spears were coming out of the wood on either side, which smote none of them, but many of the foemen.

Short was the tale, for in a few minutes there were no men of the foe together save those that were fleeing down the road to Cheaping Knowe.

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.

"Belike," quoth the said chieftain, "thou wouldst wish to show me some token, whereby we may wot that thou art that Friend of the Well and of our kinsman concerning whom he sent us a message."

Then Ralph bethought him of the pouch with the knot of grass therein which Bull Shockhead had given him at Goldburg; so he drew it out, and gave it into the hand of the chieftain, who no sooner caught a glimpse thereof than he said:

"Verily our brother's hand hath met thine when he gave thee this.

Yet forsooth, now that I look on thee, I may say that scarce did I need token to tell me that thou wert the very man.

For I can see thee, that thou art of great honour and worship, and thou didst ride boldly against the foemen when thou knewest not that we had waylaid thy waylayers.

Now I wot that there is no need to ask thee whether thou wouldst get thee out of our mountains by the shortest road, yet wilt thou make it little longer, and somewhat safer, if ye will suffer us to lead thee by way of our dwelling."

So Ralph yeasaid his bidding without more words.

As they spake thus together the road both above and below was become black with weaponed men, and some of Ralph's band looked on one another, as though they doubted their new friends somewhat.

But the Sage of Swevenham spoke to them and bade them fear nought.

"For," said he, "so far as we go, who are now their friends, there is no guile in these men." The Bull captain heard him and said:

"Thou sayest sooth, old man; and I shall tell thee that scarce had a band like thine come safe through the mountains, save by great good luck, without the leave of us; for the fool with the crown that lieth there dead had of late days so stirred up the Folks of the Fells through his grimness and cruelty that we have been minded to stop everything bigger than a cur-dog that might seek to pass by us, for at least so long as yonder rascal should live.

But ye be welcome; so now let us to the road, for the day weareth."

So the tribesmen gat them into order, and their Duke went on the left side of Ralph, while Ursula rode on his right hand. The Duke and all his men were afoot, but they went easily and swiftly, as wolves trot.

As for the slain of the waylayers, of whom there were some threescore, the Bull captain would do nought but let them lie on the road.

"For," said he, "there be wolves and lynxes enough in the wood, and the ravens of the uplands, and the kites shall soon scent the carrion.

They shall have burial soon enough. Neither will we meddle with it; nay, not so much as to hang the felon King's head at thy saddle-bow, lord."

By sunset they were out of the wood and on the side of a rough fell, so they went no further, but lighted fires at the edge of the thicket, and made merry round about them, singing their songs concerning the deeds of their folk, and jesting withal, but not foully; and they roasted venison of hart and hind at the fires, and they had with them wine, the more part whereof they had found in the slain King's carriages, and they made great feast to the wayfarers, and were exceeding fain of them; after their fashion, whereas if a man were their friend he could scarce be enough their friend, and if he were their foe, they could never be fierce enough with him.

同类推荐
  • 八识规矩略说

    八识规矩略说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上说牛癀妙经

    太上说牛癀妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清洞真解过诀

    上清洞真解过诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 曲海总目提要

    曲海总目提要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 医经读

    医经读

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 时间潜行者

    时间潜行者

    这一生只有爱你的时间里是活着的。一部关于时间、救赎、拷问人性的小说,一段在时间里走散又邂逅的爱情故事。一项违背人文道德的科研成果,牵扯出一场“君生我未生我生君未老”梦幻到幻灭的情缘;一个在东方战场参加抗日的妻子,一个被困西方战场的丈夫;一位惧怕衰老的女孩,一个救赎的父亲;一个驻颜在二十几岁见证了中国发展却在苦苦寻找自己身份的“年轻老人”;一个长达七十余年的谎言;一段在时间里走散又邂逅的爱情故事。
  • 特种魔法师

    特种魔法师

    特种兵穿越异界,把特种兵与魔法师相结合,带领一支特种魔法师小队称霸异界的故事
  • 摘天

    摘天

    世界本为一花树,神魔皆是一花果,蒂落不成苍天树,道果便作护花泥。张宝儿说:“天,也是一果,我要摘了它。”
  • 空间穿梭熠熠生瑶

    空间穿梭熠熠生瑶

    京都步氏家族有女步醉瑶,妖媚入骨,邪魅倾城,一眨眼迷惑万千,再眨眼风云万变。可惜却是个痴情之人,爱错了负心男,只想为其的一笑,却导致家破人亡,牵连世代。……那日她含恨而死,意识涣散之际突现神秘人救活她,助她报仇雪恨。但从那之后她便无自由身,从此踏上穿越空间之路寻找复活的条件——苍穹玉碎片。……谁知途中遇上了他,并抢走她的碎片,最后一片真心交了出去,昔日相依为命,暧昧不清……到头来的真相竟是如此残忍,那男人所做的一切全是为了那个风华绝代的女人……或许现在狠心斩断情丝……还未晚。
  • 血型与星座A

    血型与星座A

    血型影响性格,性格决定命运。一本带有神秘科学色彩的《血型与星座A》,将引领你踏上认清自己、了解他人的探索之旅。在轻松的探索旅程中 你将意外发现A型人独特的性格解码、职场潜能的法则、婚姻爱情的视点攻略、健康的养生秘诀以及轻松理财的灵活小妙招。
  • 丫头抢红包

    丫头抢红包

    天天抢红包是什么样的感觉?爽到飞起!天天被帝少骚扰是什么样的感觉?精神倍足!不,电量充足。时清清穷得只剩下裤X的时候,天上掉下一个红包手机来!“滴,恭喜您抢到一千块钱!”“滴,恭喜您抢到国民帝少一枚!”时清清:什么?帝少!NO,我不要!谁要谁拿走~~某帝少:不要?吃了她还要不要……推荐辰辰完结文《腹黑帝尊,抱一抱》《恶女擒夫:邪帝请轻轻》
  • 总经理必读的209个经典管理故事

    总经理必读的209个经典管理故事

    管理很难,难就难在我们无法将理论对接到管理实践中;管理很简单,简单就简单在你只要给管理赋予生命,让故事引导你的行为,你就会体会到管理的乐趣。读故事,学管理,和大师对话,还你一个轻松的世界。本书为总经理精心挑选了209个经典管理故事,囊括了领导力、决策、目标、用人、激励、沟通、授权、执行力、营销、团队协作、创新以及危机管理等管理的方方面面,相信这些美妙的故事能照亮你管理的通道,让你的管理水平更上一层楼。
  • 背后是太阳

    背后是太阳

    一起凶案背后扯出的惊人秘密,随着一步步的深入,冯舒城发现,这秘密与自己似乎有着千丝万缕般的联系,阴谋、人性、事理,在一桩桩的谜案背后,真相似乎永远不会太简单。
  • 这个宫女有点拽

    这个宫女有点拽

    命运让她穿越到唐朝,无奈卷入帝位纷争。在尔虞我诈的皇宫中她爱上腹黑王爷,并轮为棋子。阴谋、利用后,她被他伤的遍体鳞伤,决心将他淡忘,他却不容置疑的告诉她“你此生只能爱本王一人,只许是本王的女人”她毅然决然说“爱情不是你想卖,想买就能卖”他含情脉脉说“本王只爱美人不要江山”只是她那破碎的心是否还能再接受他?
  • 钱多多备嫁记

    钱多多备嫁记

    钱多多答应了许飞的求婚之后,两人进入恋爱结束准备结婚的时期,钱多多在婚姻与事业之间矛盾,最后决定这一次由她来牺牲,辞职成全许飞的事业发展。不曾想这个想法真正付诸实施之后,随之而来的种种不如意却让钱多多后悔不迭。许飞却在工作的忙碌中无暇顾及备嫁新娘的情绪。正在这个时候,钱多多的前男友从新加坡来到上海,坦言要重新追求钱多多……