CHAPTER XLIII. THEY COME TO THE EDGE OF THE WOOD MASTERLESS.
NOW when they went on thence, they came within two days into a country all broken up into little hills and ridges, and beset with scraggy shaws, wherein were but few men and fewer dwellings, and the men either hunters or herders of neat, well-nigh wild, and this lasted them for three days more; but they knew hereof beforehand, and had made provision therefor at that last cheaping.
But at the end of the three days they came to a place where was a narrow stretch of green mead and a few acres in the wilderness, and a little river ran through all that, and above it on a height, steep and well-nigh sheer on all sides save one, was a castle high and strong, and as they drew nigh thereto Osberne saw a banner thrust out from the highest tower, and the Knight said to him: Red Lad, whose banner is that? I wot not, said Osberne. Canst thou see the blazon of it? said Sir Godrick. Yea, said the other; it hath a White Hart collared and chained with gold, and emparked on a green ground. Sooth is that, said Sir Godrick. Now look behind thee over thy shoulder. Even so did Osberne, and saw a banner borne by one of theirs, and the selfsame blazon on it; and now he called to mind that never erst had he seen Sir Godrick's banner dis-
