noon
Then Roger drew from his pouch a parchment , and read the roll of names , and there was no man lacking , and they were threescore save five , besides Roger and the way-farers , and never was a band of like number seen better ; and Richard said softly unto Ralph : `` If we had a few more of these , I should care little what foemen we should meet in Upmeads : soothly , my lord , they had as well have ridden into red Hell as into our green fields . '' `` Fear not , Richard , '' said Ralph , `` we shall have enough . '' So then they rode out of the Square and through the streets to the North Gate , and much folk was abroad to look on them , and they blessed them as they went , both carles and queans ; for the rumour was toward that there was riding a good and dear Lord and a Friend of the Well to get his own again from out of the hands of the aliens . Herewith they ride a little trot through the Freedom of the Burg , and when they were clear of it they turned aside from the woodland highway whereon Ralph had erst ridden with Roger and followed the rides a good way till it was past noon , when they came into a very close thicket where there was but a narrow and winding way whereon two men might not ride abreast , and Roger said : `` Now , if we were the old Burgers , and the Dry Tree still holding the Scaur , we should presently know what steel-point dinner meaneth ; if the dead could rise out of their graves to greet their foemen , we should anon be a merry company here . But at last they learned the trick , and were wont to fetch a compass round about Grey Goose Thicket as it hight amongst us . '' `` Well , '' said Ralph , `` but how if there by any waylaying us ; the Burgers may be wiser still than thou deemest , and ye may have learned them more than thou art minded to think . '' `` Nay , '' said Roger , `` I bade a half score turn aside by the thicket path on our left hands ; that shall make all sure ; but indeed I look for no lurkers as yet .