butheturnedamerryfacetoher，andcaughtherroundthemiddleandstrainedhertohisbosom，andthentookthebowandarrowsandrandowntheslopeandoverthestream，intothethicketofthevalley。
　　Hewentfurtherthanhehadlookedfor，erehefoundapreytohismind，andthenhesmotearoewithashaftandslewher，andbrokeupthecarcaseanddightitduly，andsowenthiswaysback。
　　Whenhecametothestreamhelookedupandsawalittlefireglitteringnotfarfromthecave，buthadnoclearsightoftheLady，thoughhethoughthesawhergownflutteringnighoneofthethorn-bushes。
　　Thenhedidoffhisraimentandenteredthatpoolofthestream，andwasgladtobathehiminthesameplacewhereherbodyhadbeenbutoflate；forhehadnotedthatthestonesofthelittleshorewerestillwetwithherfeetwhereshehadgoneupfromthewater。
　　Butnow，asheswamandsportedinthesun-warmedpoolhedeemedheheardthewhinnyingofahorse，butwasnotsure，soheheldhimselfstilltolisten，andheardnomore。
　　ThenhelaughedandbethoughthimofFalconhisownsteed，anddiveddownunderthewater；butashecameup，laughingstillandgasping，heheardanoiseoftheclatterofhorsehoofs，asifsomeonewereridingswiftlyupthefurthersideofthegrassytable，whereitwasstony，ashehadnotedwhentheypassedby。
　　Adeadlyfearfelluponhisheartashethoughtofhisloveleftallalone；
　　sohegathimatonceoutofthewaterandcasthisshirtoverhishead；
　　butwhilehisarmswereyetentangledinthesleevesthereof，cametohisearsagreatandawfulsoundofaman’svoiceroaringout，thoughtherewerenoshapenwordsintheroar。Thenwerehisarmsfreethroughthesleeves，andhetookupthebowandfelltobendingit，andeventherewithheheardagreatwailingofawoman’svoice，andshecriedout，piteously：“Helpme，Ohelp，lovelycreatureofGod！”
　　Yetmustheneedsfinishbendingthebowhowsoeverhisheartdiedwithinhim；orwhathelpwouldtherebeofanakedandunarmedman？
　　Atlastitwasbentandanarrownockedonthestring，asheleaptovertheriveranduptheslope。
　　Butevenashecameuptothatpleasantplacehesawallinamomentoftime；
　　thattherestoodSilverfaxanightheCave’smouth，andtheLadylyingontheearthanighthehorse；andbetwixtherandhimtheKnightoftheSunstoodupstark，hisshininghelmonhishead，thelastraysofthesettingsunflashinginthebroideredimageofhisarmouries。
　　HeturnedatonceuponRalph，shakinghisswordintheairandtherewasblooduponthebladeandhecriedoutinterriblevoice：“Thewitchisdead，thewhoreisdead！
　　Andthou，thief，whohaststolenherfromme，andlainbyherinthewilderness，nowshaltthoudie，thou！”
　　ScarcehadhespokenthanRalphdrewhisbowtothearrow-headandloosed；
　　therewasbutsometwentypacesbetwixtthem，andtheshaft，spedbythatfellarcher，smotethehugemanthroughtheeyeintothebrain，andhefelldownalongclattering，deadwithoutawordmore。
　　ButRalphgaveforthagreatwailofwoe，andranforwardandkneltbytheLady，wholayallhuddledupfacedownuponthegrass，andheliftedherupandlaidhergentlyonherback。
　　Thebloodwasflowingfastfromagreatwoundinherbreast，andhetoreoffapieceofhisshirttostaunchit，butshewithoutknowledgeofhimbreathedforthherlastbreatherehecouldtouchthehurt，andhestillkneltbyher，staringonherasifheknewnotwhatwastoward。
　　Shehaddightherwhatshecouldtowelcomehisreturnfromthehunting，andhadsetawreathofmeadow-sweetonherredhair，andagarlandofeglantineabouthergirdlestead，andleftherfeetnakedafterthepoolofthestream，andhadturnedthebezelsofherfinger-ringsoutward，forjoyofthatmeeting。
　　Afterawhileheroseupwithamostbittercry，andrandownthegreenslopeandoverthewater，andhitherandthitheramongstthebusheslikeonemad，tillhebecamesowearythathemightscarcegoorstandforweariness。ThenhecreptbackagaintothatChamberofLove，andsatdownbesidehisnew-wonmate，callingtomindallthewastedwordsofthedaygoneby；
　　forthesummernightwascomenow，mostfairandfragrant。
　　Buthewithheldthesobbingpassionofhisheartandputforthhishand，andtouchedher，andshewasstill，andhishandfeltherfleshthatitwascoldasmarble。
　　Andhecriedoutaloudinthenightandthewilderness，wheretherewasnonetohearhim，andaroseandwentawayfromher，passingbySilverfaxwhowasstandingnearby，stretchingouthishead，andwhinnyingatwhiles。
　　Andhesatontheedgeofthegreentable，andtherecameintohisminddespitehimselfthoughtsofthepleasantfieldsofUpmeads，andhissportsandpleasuresthere，andtheeven-songoftheHighHouse，andthefolkofhisfellowshipandhislove。
　　Andtherewithhisbreastaroseandhisfacewaswryed，andheweptloudandlong，andasifheshouldnevermakeanendofit。
　　Butsowearywashe，thatatlasthelaybackandfellasleep，andwokenottillthesunwashighintheheavens。
　　Andsoitwas，thathisslumberhadbeensoheavy，thatheknewnotatfirstwhathadbefallen；andonemomenthefeltglad，andthenextasifheshouldneverbegladagain，thoughwhyhewottednot。ThenheturnedaboutandsawSilverfaxcroppingthegrassnearby，andtheLadylyingtherelikeanimagethatcouldmovenowhit，thoughtheworldawokeabouther。
　　Thenheremembered，yetscarceall，sothatwildhopesswelledhisheart，andherosetohiskneesandturnedtoher，andcalledtomindthatheshouldneverseeheraliveagain，andsobbingandwailingbrokeoutfromhim，forhewasyoungandstrong，andsorrowdealthardlywithhim。
　　Butpresentlyhearosetohisfeetandwenthitherandthither，andcameuponthequenchedcoalsofthecooking-fire：shehadbakedcakesforhiseating，andhesawthemlyingthereby，andhungerconstrainedhim，sohetookandateofthemwhilethetearsrandownhisfaceandmingledwiththebreadheate。
　　Andwhenhehadeaten，hefeltstrongerandthereforewaslifemoregrievoustohim，andwhenhethoughtwhatheshoulddo，stillonethingseemedmoreirksomethantheother。
　　Hewentdowntothewatertodrink，andpassedbythebodyoftheKnightoftheSun，andwrathwasfierceinhisheartagainsthimwhohadoverthrownhishappiness。
　　Butwhenhehaddrunkandwashedhandsandfacehecamebackagain，andhardenedhishearttodowhathemustneedsdo。
　　HetookupthebodyoftheLadyandwithgriefthatmaynotbetoldof，hedrewitintothecave，andcutboughsoftreesandlaidthemoverherfaceandallherbody，andthentookgreatstonesfromthescreeatthatotherendofthelittleplain，andheapedthemuponhertillshewasutterlyhiddenbythem。
　　Thenhecameoutontothegreenplaceandlookedonthebodyofhisfoe，andsaidtohimselfthatallmustbedecentandinorderabouttheplacewhereaslayhislove。
　　Andhecameandstoodoverthebodyandsaid：
　　“Ihavenaughttodotohatehimnow：ifhehatedme，itwasbutforalittlewhile，andheknewnaughtofme。
　　Solethisbonesbecoveredupfromthewolfandthekite。
　　Yetshalltheynotliealongsideofher。Iwillraiseacairnabovehimhereonthisfairlittleplainwhichhespoiltofalljoy。”
　　Therewithhefellto，andstraightenedhisbody，andlaidhishugelimbstogetherandclosedhiseyesandfoldedhisarmsoverhisbreast；andthenhepiledthestonesabovehim，andwentoncastingthemontheheapalongwhileaftertherewasneedthereof。
　　Ralphhadtakenhisraimentfromthestream-sideanddonethemonbeforethis，andnowhedidonhelmandhauberk，andgirthisswordtohisside。
　　Thenashewasaboutleavingthesorrowfulplace，helookedonSilverfax，whohadnotstrayedfromthelittleplain，andcameuptohimanddidoffsaddleandbridle，andlaidthemwithinthecave，andbadethebeastgowhitherhewould。Heyetlingeredabouttheplace，andlookedallaroundhimandfoundnaughttohelphim，andcouldframeinhismindnointentofadeedthen，noranytaleofadeedheshoulddothereafter。
　　Yetbelikeinhismindweretwothoughts，andthoughneithersoftenedhisgriefsavealittle，hedidnotshrinkfromthemashedidfromallothers；
　　andthesetwowereofhishomeatUpmeads，whichwassofamiliartohim，andoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，whichwasbutaword。
　　RalphComethOutoftheWildernessLonghestoodlettingthesethoughtsrunthroughhismind，butatlastwhenitwasnowmidmorning，hestirredandgathimslowlydownthegreenslope，andforverypityofhimselfthetearsbrakeoutfromhimashecrossedthestreamandcameintothebushyvalley。Therehestayedhisfeetalittle，andsaidtohimself：“AndwhitherthenamIgoing？”
　　HethoughtoftheCastleofAbundanceandtheChampionsoftheDryTree，ofHigham，andthenoblewarriorswhosatattheLordAbbot’sboard，andofUpmeadsandhisownfolk：butallseemednaughttohim，andhethought：“AndhowcanIgobackandbearfolkaskingmecuriouslyofmywayfarings，andwhetherIwilldothis，that，ortheotherthing。”
　　WithalhethoughtofthatfairdamselandhersweetmouthinthehostelryatBourtonAbbas，andgroanedwhenhethoughtofloveanditsending，andhesaidwithinhimself：“andnowsheisawandererabouttheearthasIam；“andhethoughtofherquest，andthechapletofdameKatherine，hisgossip，whichheyetboreonhisneck，andhedeemedthathehadnaughttochoosebuttogoforwardandseekthathewasdoomedto；
　　andnowitseemedtohimthattherewasthatonethingtodoandnoother。
　　Andthoughthisalsoseemedtohimbutwearinessandgrief，yetwhereashehadeverlightlyturnedhimtodoingwhatworklayreadytohand；
　　sonowheknewthathemustfirstofallgethimoutofthatwilderness，thathemighthearthetalkoffolkconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd，whichhedoubtednottohearagainwhenhecameintothepartsinhabited。
　　Sonow，withhiswillorwithoutit，hisfeetborehimon，andhefollowedupthestreamwhichtheLadyhadsaidranintothebroadrivercalledtheSwellingFlood；“for。”thoughthe，“whenIcomethereaboutIshallpresentlyfindsomecastleorgoodtown，anditislikethateitherIshallhavesometidingsofthefolkthereof，orelsetheywillcompelmetodosomething，andthatwillirkmelessthandoingdeedsofmineownwill。”
　　Hewenthiswaystillhecametowherethewoodandthetreesended，andthehillswerelowerandlonger，wellgrassedwithshortgrass，adowncountryfitforthefeedingofsheep；andindeedsomesheephesaw，andashepherdortwo，butfaroff。Atlast，afterhehadleftthestreamawhile，becauseitseemedtohimtoturnandwindroundovermuchtothenorthward，hecameuponaroadrunningathwartthedowncountry，sothathedeemedthatitmustleadonewaydowntotheSwellingFlood；
　　sohefolloweditup，andafterawhilebegantofallinwithfolk；
　　andfirsttwoCompanionsarmedandbearinglongswordsovertheirshoulders：
　　hestoppedastheymet，andstaredatthemintheface，butanswerednottheirgreeting；andtheyhadnowilltomeddlewithhim，seeinghisinchesandthathewaswellarmed，andlookednocraven：
　　sotheywenton。
　　Nexthecameontwowomenwhohadwiththemanassbetweentwopanniers，ladenwithcountrystuff；andtheyweresittingbythewayside，oneoldandtheotheryoung。Hemadenostayforthem，andthoughheturnedhisfacetheirway，tooknoheedofthemmorethaniftheyweretrees；
　　thoughthedamsel，whowaswell-likingandsomewhatgailyclad，stoodupwhenshesawhisfaceanigh，anddrewhergownskirtaboutherandmoveddaintily，andsighedandlookedafterhimashewenton，forshelongedforhim。
　　Yetagaincametwomena-horseback，merchantscladgoodly，withthreecarles，theirservants，ridingbehindthem；andallthesehadweaponsandgavelittlemoreheedtohimthanhetothem。
　　Butalittleaftertheyweregone，hestoppedandsaidwithinhimself：
　　“MaybeIhadbetterhavegonetheirway，andthisroaddoubtlessleadethtosomeplaceofresort。”
　　Buteventherewithheheardhorsehoofsbehindhim，andanoncameupamana-horseback，armedwithjackandsallet，alongspearinhishand，andbudgetsathissaddle-bow，wholookedlikesomelord’smangoingamessage。
　　HenoddedtoRalph，whogavehimgood-day；forseeingthesefolkandtheirwayshadbynowsomewhatamendedhismind；andnowheturnednot，butwentonasbefore。
　　Atlastthewayclombahilllongerandhigherthananyhehadyetcrossed，andwhenhehadcometothebrowandlookeddown，hesawthebigriverclosebelowrunningthroughthewidevalleywhichhehadcrossedwithRogeronthatotherday。
　　Thenhesatdownonthegreenbankabovetheway，soheavyofheartthatnotoneofthethingshesawgavehimanyjoy，andtheworldwasnaughttohim。Butwithinawhilehecamesomewhattohimself，and，lookingdowntowardtheriver，hesawthatwheretheroadmetit，itwasverywide，andshallowwithal，forthewavesrippledmerrilyandglitteredintheafternoonsun，thoughtherewasnowind；moreovertheroadwentupwhitefromthewaterontheotherside，sohesawclearlythatthiswasthefordofahighway。Thevalleywaspeopledwithal：
　　ontheothersideoftheriverwasalittlethorp，andtherewerecartsandshedsscatteredaboutthehitherside，andsheepandneatfeedinginthemeadows，andinshortitwasanotherworldfromthedesert。