But on the third
day came to Sir Hugh two stout carles well weaponed, who said that
they knew well all the ways that led to Evilshaw, and the ways that
went therethrough, and they offered themselves for a wage to Sir
Hugh. Now these said carles were not over fair of favour, but seemed
somewhat of ribalds, nor would Sir Hugh have taken them to service in
his house at home; but he called to mind that it were more prudence
than wisdom to spoil his journey and lose the occasion of finding his
dear friends for the hasty judgment of a man's face and demeanour,
wherefore he waged these two men, and they set out for the western
edges of Evilshaw.
Many towns and thorps they passed through, and everywhere, when men
knew whither they were bound, they letted them all they might in
words; but little heed they paid thereto, whereas they were all fixed
in their rede that nought was to be done save the finding of their
friends, and that their life-days were spoiled if they found them
not. And moreover, each one of them, but especially Atra and
Viridis, had dreams of the night from time to time, wherein they
seemed to see the green-clad woman, were she Birdalone or another,
beckoning and bidding them to enter the Wood of Evilshaw.
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