Then he said: "Well, Squire Simon, let us to the road; for thou shalt know that to-night we must needs house us under the naked heaven; in nowise can we come to the Long Pools before to-morrow morning." "Yea, and why not ?" said the squire; "I have lain in worse places." "Wilt thou tell me thereof ?" said Christopher.
"Mayhappen," said Simon, "if to-morrow comes and goes for both of us twain." So they rode their ways through the wood, and baited at midday with what Simon bare in his saddle-bags, and then went on till night fell on them; then asked Simon how long they were from the Long Pools, and Christopher told him that they were yet short of them some fifteen miles, and those long ones, because of the marish grounds.

So they tethered their horses there and ate their supper; and lay down to sleep in the house of the woods, by a fire-side which they lighted.
But in the midnight Christopher, who was exceeding fine-eared, had an inkling of someone moving afoot anigh him, and he awoke therewith, and sprang up, his drawn short-sword in his hand, and found himself face to face with Simon, and he also with his sword drawn.

Simon sprang aback, but held up his sword-point, and Christopher, not yet fully awake, cried out: "What wouldst thou?
What is it ?" Simon answered, stammering and all abashed: "Didst thou not hear then?
it wakened me." "I heard nought," said Christopher; "what was it ?" "Horses going in the wood," said Simon "Ah, yea," said Christopher, "it will have been the wild colts and the mares; they harbour about these marsh-land parts.

Go to sleep again, neighbour, the night is not yet half worn; but I will watch a while." Then Simon sheathed his sword, and turned about and stood uneasily a little while, and then cast him down as one who would sleep hastily; but slept not forsooth, though he presently made semblance of it: as for Christopher, he drew together the brands of the fire, and sat beside it with his blade over his knees, until the first beginning of the summer dawn was in the sky; then he began to nod, and presently lay aback and slept soundly.

Simon slept not, but durst not move.