Now as the others drew away from him to right and left, the Lord sat before Ralph with naught to hide him, and when their eyes met Ralph gave a cry as one astonished; and the Lord of Utterbol rose up to his feet and shouted, and then fell a laughing joyously, and then cried out: “Welcome, King’s Son, and look on me! for though the feathers be fine ‘tis the same bird. I am Lord of Utterbol and therewithal Bull Shockhead, whose might was less than thine on the bent of the mountain valley.”
Therewith he caught hold of Ralph’s hand, and sat himself down and drew Ralph down, and made him sit beside him.
“Thou seest I am become great?” said he. “Yea,” said Ralph, “I give thee joy thereof!” Said the new Lord: “Perchance thou wilt be deeming that since I was once thy war-taken thrall I should gi
