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Previous  Next     Now Come the Messengers of the Innocent Folk
But when he had come forth from the chestnut-grove, and could
see the face of their house-rock clearly, he beheld new tidings;
for there were folk before the door of the dwelling, and Ursula
was standing amidst of them, for he could see the gleam of her
armour; and with the men he could see also certain beasts of
burden, and anon that these were oxen.  So he hastened on to
find what this might mean, and drew his sword as he went. But
when he came up to the rock, he found there two young men and an
elder, and they had with them five oxen, three for riding, and
two sumpter beasts, laden:  and Ursula and these men were
talking together friendly; so that Ralph deemed that the new-
comers must be the messengers of the Innocent Folk. They were
goodly men all three, somewhat brown of skin, but well
fashioned, and of smiling cheerful countenance, well knit, and
tall.  The elder had a long white bear