"
"Or disableth thee with an arrow or a sword thrust," said Hugo.
"Ay," answered Humphrey, gravely. "I had not spoken of arrows and sword
thrusts. I have the hope that we may meet with neither. And though the
way is long when one must creep and hide and crawl, and go to the south
one day, to the southwest another, and the southeast another, yet the
end cometh at last, and I have hope it be a good end. And now I ask
thee how long we bide and whence go we from here? Doth the ring
decide?"
"Nay," replied Hugo. "Thou shalt have thy share of the making of plans.
But I would fain learn what we may of the region round about, and of
the safety or danger it holdeth for us ere we sally forth."
"Why, now," said Humphrey, approvingly, "thou art learning craft. For
who but a fool would be careless of danger? Thou art like my lord, who
knoweth when to strike and when to flee. And for that it is that his
men follow him madly in battle. For, if there be risk, they do know it
to be necessary risk, with a certain gain to be obtained at the end of
it, if all go well. But if there be no gain in view, my lord leadeth
them not into unnecessary danger, and so it is that he is a power and
the king hateth him.
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