Moreover, this crooked stick can drive a shaft through matters harder than a hind's side." Simon looked confused, and he reddened and stammered somewhat as he answered: "Ah, yea: so it was; I mind me; I will tell thee anon." Said Christopher: "Withal, squire, if we are wending into the wood, as needs we must, unless we ride round about this dale in a ring all day, dost thou deem we shall go at a gallop many a mile?
Nay, fair sir; the horses shall wend a foot's pace oftenest, and we shall go a-foot not unseldom through the thickets." Now was Simon come to himself again, and that self was surly, so he said: "Ay, ay, little King, thou deemest thee exceeding wise in these woods, dost thou not?
and forsooth, thou mayst be.

Yet have I tidings for thee." "Yea, and what be they ?" said Christopher.
Simon grinned: "Even these," said he, "that Dr.Knowall was no man's cousin while he lived, and that he died last week." Therewith he swung himself into his saddle, and Christopher laughed merrily at his poor gibe and mounted in like wise.
Wherewithal they rode their ways through the thorpe, and at the southern end thereof Simon drew rein, and looked on Christopher as if he would ask him something, but asked not.

Then said Christopher: "Whither go we now ?" Said Simon: "It is partly for thee to say: hearken, I am bidden first to ride the Redwater Wood with thee: knowest thou that ?" "Yea," said the lad, "full well: but which way shall we ride it?
Wilt thou come out of it at Redwater Head, or Herne Moss, or the Long Pools ?" Said Simon: "We shall make for the Long Pools, if thou canst bring me there." Christopher laughed: "Aha!" said he, "then am I some faraway cousin of Dr.Knowall when the whole tale is told: forsooth I can lead thee thither; but tell me, what shall I do of valiant deeds at the Long Pools?
for there is no fire-drake nor effit, nay, nor no giant, nor guileful dwarf, nought save mallard and coot, heron and bittern; yea, and ague-shivers to boot." Simon looked sourly on him and said: "Thou are bidden to go with me, young man, or gainsay the Marshal.

Art thou mighty enough thereto?
For the rest, fear not but that the deed shall come to thee one day." "Nay," said Christopher, "it is all one to me, for I am at home in these woods and wastes, I and my shafts.

Tell me of the deeds when thou wilt." But indeed he longed to know the deed, and fretted him because of Simon's surliness and closeness.