Then overhead I heard a bird rustle, and I looked up, and at once a thought came to me.

The tree was an old, gnarled ash, and the leaves on it were thick for the time of year.
Moreover, the branches were so large that surely in the fork I could find a hiding place.

And being so close to the hall, search would be with little, if any, care.
So with a little difficulty I climbed up, and there, sure enough, found the tree hollow in the fork, so that if I crouched down none could see me from below, while, lying flat against a great branch, I could safely see something of what might be on hand.
I was hardly sure of this when men began to spread here and there about the place, but mostly going in the direction of the woods.

I heard Matelgar's voice, harsh and loud, promising reward to him who should bring in the outlaw, dead or alive, and presently saw him stand clear of the palisading, about a bowshot from me.
He was red enough now, but his hand played nervously with his sword hilt, and once when men shouted in the wood, he clutched it.

Clearly I had terrified him, and if he deemed me, as it seemed, a ghost at first sight, the token of the arrow had undeceived him, and little rest would he have now, night or day, while I was yet at large.
So I laughed to myself, and watched him till he went back.
Presently the men straggled in, too.