young man's foolish heart。 But the King's Son did but laugh； and
answered nought but to Walter's last words； and said： 〃Yea； yea！
this word of thine showeth how little thou wottest of that which
lieth betwixt my darling and thine。 Doth the lamb appeal from the
shepherd to the wolf？ Even so shall the Maid appeal from me to thy
Lady。 What！ ask thy Lady at thy leisure what her wont hath been
with her thrall； she shall think it a fair tale to tell thee
thereof。 But thereof is my Maid all whole now by reason of her
wisdom in leechcraft； or somewhat more。 And now I tell thee again；
that the beforesaid Maid must needs do my will； for if I be the deep
sea； and I deem not so ill of myself； that other one is the devil；
as belike thou shalt find out for thyself later on。 Yea； all is
well with me； and more than well。〃
And therewith he swung merrily into the litten hall。 But Walter
went out into the moonlit night； and wandered about for an hour or
more； and stole warily into the hall and thence into his own
chamber。 There he did off that royal array； and did his own raiment
upon him； he girt him with sword and knife； took his bow and quiver；
and stole down and out again； even as he had come in。 Then he
fetched a compass； and came down into the hazel…coppice from the
north； and lay hidden there while the night wore； till he deemed it
would lack but little of midnight。
CHAPTER XXI： WALTER AND THE MAID FLEE FROM THE GOLDEN HOUSE
There he abode amidst the hazels； hearkening every littlest sound；
and the sounds were nought but the night voices of the wood； till
suddenly there burst forth from the house a great wailing cry。
Walter's heart came up into his mouth； but he had no time to do
aught； for following hard on the cry came the sound of light feet
close to him； the boughs were thrust aside； and there was come the
Maid； and she but in her white coat； and barefoot。 And then first
he felt the sweetness of her flesh on his； for she caught him by the
hand and said breathlessly： 〃Now； now！ there may yet be time； or
even too much； it may be。 For the saving of breath ask me no
questions； but come！〃
He dallied not； but went as she led； and they were lightfoot； both
of them。
They went the same way； due south to wit； whereby he had gone a…
hunting with the Lady； and whiles they ran and whiles they walked；
but so fast they went； that by grey of the dawn they were come as
far as that coppice or thicket of the Lion； and still they hastened
onward； and but little had the Maid spoken； save here and there a
word to hearten up Walter； and here and there a shy word of
endearment。 At last the dawn grew into early day； and as they came
over the brow of a bent； they looked down over a plain land whereas
the trees grew scatter…meal； and beyond the plain rose up the land
into long green hills； and over those again were blue mountains
great and far away。
Then spake the Maid： 〃Over yonder lie the outlying mountains of the
Bears； and through them we needs must pass； to our great peril。
Nay； friend；〃 she said； as he handled his sword…hilt； 〃it must be
patience and wisdom to bring us through； and not the fallow blade of
one man； though he be a good one。 But look！ below there runs a
stream through the first of the plain； and I see nought for it but
we must now rest our bodies。 Moreover I have a tale to tell thee
which is burning my heart； for maybe there will be a pardon to ask
of thee moreover； wherefore I fear thee。〃
Quoth Walter： 〃How may that be？〃
She answered him not； but took his hand and led him down the bent。
But he said： 〃Thou sayest； rest； but are we now out of all peril of
the chase？〃
She said： 〃I cannot tell till I know what hath befallen her。 If
she be not to hand to set on her trackers； they will scarce happen
on us now； if it be not for that one。〃
And she shuddered； and he felt her hand change as he held it。
Then she said： 〃But peril or no peril； needs must we rest； for I
tell thee again； what I have to say to thee burneth my bosom for
fear of thee； so that I can go no further until I have told thee。〃
Then he said： 〃I wot not of this Queen and her mightiness and her
servants。 I will ask thereof later。 But besides the others； is
there not the King's Son； he who loves thee so unworthily？〃
She paled somewhat； and said： 〃As for him； there had been nought
for thee to fear in him； save his treason： but now shall he neither
love nor hate any more； he died last midnight。〃
〃Yea； and how？〃 said Walter。
〃Nay；〃 she said； 〃let me tell my tale all together once for all；
lest thou blame me overmuch。 But first we will wash us and comfort
us as best we may； and then amidst our resting shall the word be
said。〃
By then were they come down to the stream…side； which ran fair in
pools and stickles amidst rocks and sandy banks。 She said： 〃There
behind the great grey rock is my bath； friend； and here is thine；
and lo！ the uprising of the sun！〃
So she went her ways to the said rock； and he bathed him； and washed
the night off him； and by then he was clad again she came back fresh
and sweet from the water； and with her lap full of cherries from a
wilding which overhung her bath。 So they sat down together on the
green grass above the sand； and ate the breakfast of the wilderness：
and Walter was full of content as he watched her； and beheld her
sweetness and her loveliness； yet were they； either of them；
somewhat shy and shamefaced each with the other； so that he did but
kiss her hands once and again； and though she shrank not from him；
yet had she no boldness to cast herself into his arms。
CHAPTER XXII： OF THE DWARF AND THE PARDON
Now she began to say： 〃My friend； now shall I tell thee what I have
done for thee and me； and if thou have a mind to blame me； and
punish me； yet remember first； that what I have done has been for
thee and our hope of happy life。 Well； I shall tell thee〃
But therewithal her speech failed her； and； springing up； she faced
the bent and pointed with her finger； and she all deadly pale； and
shaking so that she might scarce stand； and might speak no word；
though a feeble gibbering came from her mouth。
Walter leapt up and put his arm about her； and looked whitherward
she pointed； and at first saw nought； and then nought but a brown
and yellow rock rolling down the bent： and then at last he saw that
it was the Evil Thing which had met him when first he came into that
land； and now it stood upright； and he could see that it was clad in
a coat of yellow samite。
Then Walter stooped down and gat his bow into his hand； and stood
before the Maid； while he nocked an arrow。 But the monster made
ready his tackle while Walter was stooping down； and or ever he
could loose； his bow…string twanged； and an arrow flew forth and
grazed the Maid's arm above the elbow； so that the blood ran； and
the Dwarf gave forth a harsh and horrible cry。 Then flew Walter's
shaft； and true was it aimed； so that it smote the monster full on
the breast； but fell down from him as if he were made of stone。
Then the creature set up his horrible cry again； and loosed withal；
and Walter deemed that he had smitten the Maid； for she fell down in
a heap behind him。 Then waxed Walter wood…wroth； and cast down his
bow and drew his sword； and strode forward towards the bent against
the Dwarf。 But he roared out again； and there were words in his
roar； and he said 〃Fool！ thou shalt go free if thou wilt give up the
Enemy。〃
〃And who；〃 said Walter； 〃is the Enemy？〃
Yelled the Dwarf： 〃She； the pink and white thing lying there； she
is not dead yet； she is but dying for fear of me。 Yea； she hath
reason！ I could have set the shaft in her heart as easily as
scratching her arm； but I need her body alive； that I may wreak me
on her。〃
〃What wilt thou do with her？〃 said Walter； for now he had heard that
the Maid was not slain he had waxed wary again； and stood watching
his chance。
The Dwarf yelled so at his last word； that no word came from the
noise a while； and then he said： 〃What will I with her？ Let me at
her； and stand by and look on； and then shalt thou have a strange
tale to carry off with thee。 For I will let thee go this while。〃
Said Walter： 〃But what need to wreak thee？ What hath she done to
thee？〃
〃What need！ what need！〃 roared the Dwarf； 〃have I not told thee that
she is the Enemy？ And thou askest of what she hath done！ of what！
Fool； she is the murderer！ she hath slain the Lady that was our
Lady； and that made us； she whom all we worshipped and adored。 O
impudent fool！〃
Therewith he nocked and loosed another arrow； which would have
smitten Walter in the face； but that he lowered his head in the very
nick of time； then with a great shout he rushed up the bent； and was
on the Dwarf before he could get his sword out； and leaping aloft
dealt the creature a stroke amidmost of the crown； and so mightily
be smote； that he drave the heavy sword right through to the teeth；
so that he fell dead straightway。
Walter stood over him a minute； and when be saw that he moved not；
he went slowly down to the stream； whereby the Maid yet lay cowering
down and quivering all over； and covering her face with her hands。
Then he took her by the wrist and said： 〃Up； Maiden； up！ and tell
me this tale of the slaying。〃
But she shrunk away from him； and looked at him with wild eyes； and
said： 〃What hast thou done with him？ Is he gone？〃
〃He is dead；〃 said Walter； 〃I have slain him； there lies he with
cloven skull on the bent…side： unless； forsooth； he vanish away
like the lion I slew！ or else； perchance； he will come to life
again！ And art thou a lie like to the rest of them？ let me hear of
this slaying。〃
She rose up； and stood before him trembling； and said： 〃O； thou art
angry with me； and thine anger I cannot bear。 Ah； what have I done？
Thou hast slain one； and I； maybe； the other； and never had we
escaped till both these twain were dead。 Ah！ thou dost not know！
thou dost not know！ O me！ what shall I do to appease thy wrath！〃
He looked on her； and his heart rose to his mouth at the thought of
sundering from her。 Still he looked on her； and her pit