And they dight them
to go, they three together, with but one squire and a sergeant, who
were both of them keen trackers and fell woodsmen. But ere they
went, by the rede of Arthur they bade Sir Aymeris to arm a two score
of men and ride toward the Red Hold, and beset the ways 'twixt that
and the Castle of the Quest; for one and all they deemed that if any
harm befell Birdalone, the Red Knight would be at the bottom of it.
So rode those fellows, and came unto the dale but some four hours
after Birdalone had happened on the stranger knight; and they took up
the slot of her, but not easily, whereas the ground was hard and
stony; howbeit, they found tokens of the knight also, finding here
and there what they deemed the footprints of a tall man. And this
was grievous to those fellows, since now they could not but deem that
somewhat untoward had befallen Birdalone. But they went on making
out the slot, and they followed it with much toil until they came to
the doom-ring in the head of the dale, whereas Birdalone and the
stranger had sat down to meat; but by that time, so toilsome had been
their going, it was somewhat more than dusk, and there was nought for
it but to abide there night-long.
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