So the elders marshalled the little host to their abodes for that night, lodging the more part of them in a big barn on the western outskirt of the thorp. The elder who led them thither, brought them victual and good drink, and said to them: “Lords, ye were best to keep a good watch tonight because it is on this side that we may look for an onfall from the foemen if they be abroad tonight; and sooth to say that is one cause we have bestowed you here, deeming that ye would not grudge us the solace of knowing that your valiant bodies were betwixt us and them, for we be a poor unwalled people.”
Stephen to whom he spake laughed at his word, and said: “Heart-up, carle! within these few days we shall build up a better wall than ye may have of stone and lime; and that is the overthrow of our foemen in the open field.”
So there was kindness and good fellowship betwixt the thorp-dwellers and the riders, and the country folk told those others many tales of the evil deeds of the Burg-devils, as they called them; but they could not tell them for certain whether they had gone down into Upmeads.
As to Ralph and Ursula they, with Richard and Roger, were lodged in the headman’s house, and had good feast there, and he also talked over the whereabouts of the Burgers with the thorp-dwellers, but might have no certain tidings. So he and Ursula and his fellows went to bed and slept peacefully for the first hours of the night.
XXII
An Old Acquaintance Comes from the Down Country to See Ralph
But an hour after midnight Ralph arose, as his purpose was, and called Richard, and they took their swords and went forth and about the thorp and around its outskirts, and found naught worse than their own watch anywhere; so they came back again to their quarters and found Roger standing at the door, who said to Ralph: “Lord, here is a man who would see thee.” “What like is he?” said Ralph. Said Roger “He is an old man, but a tough one; however, I have got his weapons from him.” “Bring him in,” said Ralph, “and he shall have his say.”
So they all went into the chamber together and there was light therein; but the man said to Ralph: “Art thou the Captain of the men-at-arms, lord?” “Yea,” said Ralph. Said the man, “I were as lief have these others away.” “So be it,” said Ralph; “depart for a little while, friends.” So they went but Ursula lay in the bed, which was in a nook in the wall; the man looked about the chamber and said: “Is there anyone in the bed?” “Yea,” said Ralph, “my wife, good fellow; shall she go also?” “Nay,” said the carle, “we shall do as we are now. So I will begin my tale.”
Ralph looked on him and deemed he had seen him before, but could not altogether call his visage to mind; so he held his peace and the man went on.
“I am of the folk of the shepherds of the Downs: we be not a many by count of noses, but each one of us who is come to man’s years, and many who be past them, as I myself, can handle weapons at a pinch. Now some deal we have been harried and have suffered by these wretches who have eaten into the bowels of this land; that is to say, they have lifted our sheep, and slain some of us who withstood them: but whereas our houses be uncostly and that we move about easily from one hillside to another, it is like that we should have deemed it wisest to have borne this trouble, like others of wind and weather, without seeking new remedy, but that there have been tokens on earth and in the heavens, whereof it is too long to tell thee, lord, at present, which have stirred up our scattered folk to meet together in arms. Moreover, the blood of our young men is up, because the Burg-devils have taken some of our women, and have mishandled them grievously and shamefully, so that naught will keep point and edge from seeking the war-clash. Furthermore, there is an old tale which hath now come up again, That some time when our folk shall be in great need, there shall come to our helping one from afar, whose home is anigh; a stripling and a great man; a runaway, and the conqueror of many: then, say they, shall the point and the edge bring the red water down on the dear dales; whereby we understand that the blood of men shall be shed there, and naught to our shame or dishonour. Again I mind me of a rhyme concerning this which sayeth:
The Dry Tree shall be seen
On the green earth, and green
The Wellspring shall arise
For the hope of the wise.
They are one which were twain,
The Tree bloometh again,
And the Wellspring hath come
From the waste to the home.
Well, lord, thou shalt tell me presently if this hath aught to do with thee: for indeed I saw the Dry Tree, which hath scared us so many a time, beaten on thy sergeants’ coats; but now I will go on and make an end of my story.”
Ralph nodded to him kindly, for now he remembered the carle, though he had seen him but that once when he rode the Greenway across the downs to Higham. The old man looked up at him as if he too had an inkling of old acquaintance with Ralph, but went on presently:
“There is a woman who dwells alone with none to help her, anigh to Saint Ann’s Chapel; a woman not very old; for she is of mine
