He said nothing, and I did not think that he was armed, so far as the dim evening light would let me see.
"Why are you dogging me thus ?" I cried; "come out, and no harm will befall you." I rode round, and he shifted as I did, so that he was between me and the shepherd, and then I called to the latter that this was but a man, and bade him come and help me to catch him.

Whereon the man looked swiftly over his shoulder and saw that he was fairly trapped.
"Keep him back, Master," he said in a strange growling voice, which was not that of a Dartmoor savage either in tone or speech.

"Keep him back, and we will talk together; I mean no harm." But I had no need to tell the shepherd not to come, for he bided where he was, being afraid; but I held up my hand to him as if to bid him be still, lest the man should know that he would not help me.
"Come out like a man," I said.

"One would think that you were some evildoer." "Master, I will swear that I am not.

Let that be, for I have somewhat to tell you that you will be glad to hear." "If that is true, why did you not come openly, instead of waiting till I had you in a corner?
Every one knows that there is reward for news from any honest man." "There are those who would take my life if they caught me, Master.
I have been seeking for speech with you alone all this day; I hoped the shepherd would leave you hereabout for his home, and then I would have come to you." "Well," I said, "if you could tell me what I need to hear I will hold you safe from any." "Master, will you swear that ?" said the man eagerly.
Then it came across me that maybe this was one of those who fell on Owen, for one might well look for a traitor among so many.
So I answered cautiously: "Save and except you are one of those who have wrought harm to the prince you shall be safe.