Littleistobetoldofhisjourneythroughthedowns：
ashetoppedalowhillwhereonweresevengrave-moundsoftheancientfolkinarow，hecameonashepherdlyingamidstofhissheep：
themansprangtohisfeetwhenheheardhorse-hoofsanighhimandsawtheglintofsteel，andhesethishandtoashortspearwhichlaybyhim；butwhenhesawnoughtbutRalph，andheardhowhegavehimtheseleoftheday，henoddedhisheadinafriendlyway，thoughhesaidnoughtinsalutation；
forthelonelinessofthedownsmadethespeechslowwithinhim。
AgainsometwomilesfurtheronRalphmetaflockofsheepcomingdownabentwhichtheroadclimbed，andwiththemwerethreemen，theirdrovers，andtheydrewnighhimashewasamidstofthesheep，sothathecouldscarceseetheway。Eachofthesethreehadaweapon；