Could Bill Ferny take on Aragorn?

[Eyalan]

When Aragorn, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin are leaving Bree in the FotR, Aragorn says

...but he knows he is not a match for me in a wood.

Does this meen that Bill is a match for Aragorn in an open space? or maybe that Bill did not realise he was no match for Strider? or, could it just be that Aragorn was being modest?

Judging by what he does in the following year, I would say that Aragorn would have KICKED THAT SLIME-BALL'S ASS! I just can't imagine that any mortal man would be a match for him, or at least not some comoner from Bree.

[alexei]

If you give a larger quote it would be easier to figure out it's meaning. The only thing I'm getting from it is that is Aragorn can kick him in a wood. The first part seems like it would have the rest of the meaning.

But I definately agree. Aragorn getting beat by Bill Ferny? I just can't picture it!

[Eyalan]

*hurries back into the book*

Found it again!

He knows the land round here well enough... is what comes before that.

It is what he may tell others that I am afraid of. I don't suppose they are far away. Is what comes after.

Perhaps it's about speed.

[alexei]

Yes, that's a very good possibility. Of course now to find out we would need to see the larger context. I don't have my books on hand at the moment, unfortunately (my room is being redone; all my stuff is somewhere in the basement). But really, I'm with you and saying it's speed, rather than who's better at bashing the other over the head.

[Eyalan]

Lol! I suppose so. It's too hard to imagine it is something like that.
The quote doesn't go any further I'm afraid. So I guess it's speed in the woods or overall speed. Or perhaps just speed in the dark... Or was in during day-light?
Hmm oh well, it would have been great if Strider got himself in a barfight that evening in the Prancing Pony. ;D