“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。
