Wanedtheeven，andfolkbegantogobedward，sothatthehallgrewthinofguests。ThencameupthecarlinetoRalphandtookhimasideintoanook，andsaidtohim：“Youngknight，nowwillItelltheewhatseemedtomestrangee’ennow；
　　towit，thatthecaptivedamselshouldbebearinganecklaceaboutherneckasliketothineasonelambistoanother：
　　butIthoughtthoumightestbelieverthatIspakeitnotopenlybeforealltheotherfolk。SoIheldmypeace。”
　　“Dame。”saidhe，“Ithankthee：forsoothIfearsorelythatthisdamselismysister；foreverwehavewornthesamelikepairofbeads。
　　AndasformeIhavecomehithertofindher，andevilwillitbeifI
　　findherenthralled，anditmaybepastredemption。”
　　AndtherewithhegaveherapieceofthegoldmoneyofUpmeads。
　　“Yea。”saidshe，“pooryouth；thatwillbesoothindeed，forthouartsomewhatlikeuntoher，yetfargoodlier。
　　ButIgrieveforthee，andknownotwhatthouwiltdo；
　　whereasbythistimemostlikeshehasbeensoldandboughtandisdwellinginsomelord’sstrong-house；sometyrantthatneedethnotmoney，andwillnotlethispreygoforaprayer。
　　Here，takethouthygoldagain，forthoumaystwellneedit，andletmeshearalockofthygoldenhair，andIshallbewellapaidformykeepingsilenceconcerningthylove。
　　ForIdeemthatitisevenso，andthatsheisnotthysister，elsehadstthoustayedathome，andprayedforherwithbookandpriestandaltar，andnotgoneseekingherawearyway。”
　　Ralphreddenedbutsaidnaught，andletherputscizzorsamongsthiscurlylocks，andtakewhatofthemshewould。
　　Andthenhewenttohisbed，andponderedthesematterssomewhat，andsaidtohimselfthatitwasbythisdamsel’smeansthatheshouldfindtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　Yethesaidalso，that，whetheritweresoornot，hewasboundtoseekher，anddeliverherfromthralldom，sincehehadkissedhersosweetandfriendly，likeabrother，forthesweetnessandkindnessofher，beforehehadfallenintothelovethathadbroughthimsuchjoyandsuchgrief。
　　Andtherewithhetookoutthatpieceofhergownfromhispouch，anditseemeddeartohim。Butitmadehimthinksadlyofwhatgrieforpainshemighteventhenbebearing，sothathelongedtodeliverher，andthatlongingwassweettohim。
　　Insuchthoughtshefellasleep。
　　ABattleintheMountainsWhenitwasmorningtheyaroseearlyandateamorsel；andClementgavefreelytotheWardenandhishelpmateonbehalfofthefellowship；
　　andthentheysaddledtheirnags，anddidontheloadsanddeparted；
　　andthewaywasevilotherwise，butitwasdownhill，andallwatersraneast。
　　Alldaytheyrode，andatevenwhenthesunhadnotquiteset，theypitchedtheircampatthefootofaroundknollamidstavalleywherewaswaterandgrass；andlookingdownthence，theyhadasightofthefruitfulplain，whereinlayCheapingKnoweallgoodlyblueinthedistance。
　　Thiswasafairplaceandalovely，andgreateasewouldtheyhavehadthere，wereitnotthattheymustkeepwatchandwardwithmorepainsthantheretofore；forClementdeemeditasgoodascertainthatthewildmenwouldfalluponthemthatnight。
　　Butallwaspeacefulthenightthrough，andinthemorningtheygattothewayspeedily，ridingwiththeirarmouron，andtheirbowsbent：
　　andthreeofthemen-at-armsrodeaheadtoespytheway。
　　Soitbefellthattheyhadnotriddentwohourserebackcamethefore-riderswiththetidingsthatthepassnextbelowthemwasthickwiththeStrong-thieves。
　　Thefellowshipwereastheninsuchaplace，thattheywereridingahighbareridge，andcouldnotbeassailedtotheadvantageofthethievesiftheyabodewheretheywere；whereasiftheywentforward，theymustneedsgodownwiththeroadintothedalethatwasbesetbythewildmen。Nowtheywerethree-scoreandtwoalltold，butofthesebutascoreofmen-at-armsbesidesRalph，andClement，whowasastoutfighterwhenneedwas。
　　Oftheothers，somewerebutlads，andoftheChapmenwerethreeoldmen，andmorethanoneblencherbesides。However，allmenwerearmed，andtheyhadmanybows，andsomeofthechapmen’sknaveswerefellarchers。
　　Sotheytookcounseltogether，andtosomeitseemedbettertoabidetheonsetontheirvantageground。
　　ButtoClementandtheoldermen-at-armsthisseemedofnoavail。
　　Forthoughtheycouldseetheplaincountrydownbelow，theywouldhavenosuccourofit；andClementbadethemthinkhowthenightwouldcomeatlast，andthatthelongertheyabode，thegreaterwouldbethegatheringoftheStrong-thieves；
　　sothat，allthingsconsidered，itwerebettertofallonatonceandtotrytheadventureofthevalley。
　　Andthisaftersometalktheyyea-saidall，saveafewwhoheldtheirskinssodearthattheirwitswanderedsomewhat。
　　Sothesetimorousonestheybadeguardthesumpterbeastsandtheirloads；
　　andevensotheydid，andabodealittle，whilethemen-at-armsandthebowmenwentforwardwithoutmoreado；andRalphrodebetwixtClementandthecaptainofthemen-at-arms。
　　Presentlytheywerecomeclosetotheplacewherethewaywentdownintothevalley，cleavingthroughaclayeybent，sothattheslipperysidesofthecleftwentuphightorightandleft；
　　whereforebygoodhaptherewerenobigstonesanightorolldownuponthem。Moreoverthewaywasshort，andtheyrodesixabreastdownthepassandweresoonthroughthehollowway。
　　AsherodeRalphsawafewoftheStrong-thievesatthenetherendwherethepasswidenedout，andtheyletflysomearrowsatthechapmenwhichdidnohurt，thoughsomeoftheshaftsrattledonthearmourofthecompanions。
　　ButwhenClementsawthatfolk，andheardthenoiseoftheirshoutingheliftedupagreataxethatheboreandcried，“St。AgnesfortheMercers！”andsetspurstohishorse。
　　Sodidtheyall，andcameclatteringandshoutingdownthesteeproadlikeastoneoutofasling，anddraverightintothevalleyoneandall，thewouldbelaggardsfollowingafter；
　　fortheywereafraidtobeleftbehind。
　　Thewildmen，who，saveforwideshieldswhichtheybore，werebutevillyarmed，mostlyinskinsofbeasts，madenocountenanceofdefence，butfledalltheymighttowardsthesteepslopesofthevalley，andthenturnedandfelltoshooting；
　　forthecompanionsdurstnotpursueinhastelesttheyshouldbescattered，andoverwhelmedbythemultitudeoffoemen；
　　buttheydrewupalongthesouthsideofthevalley，andhadthemasteryoftheroad，sothatthisfirstboutwaswithoutblood-shedding。Albeitthethievesstillshotintheirweakbowsfromthehill-side，butscarcehurtaman。
　　Thenthebowmenofthefellowshipfelltoshootingatthewildmen，whilethemen-at-armsbreathedtheirhorses，andthesumpter-beastsweregatheredtogetherbehindthem；
　　fortheyhadnodreadofabidingthereawhile，whereasbehindthemthegroundwasbrokenintoasteepshalycliff，bushedhereandtherewithtoughbushes，sothatnomancouldcomeupitsavebyclimbingwithhandandknee，andthatnoteasily。
　　Nowwhenthearchershadshotagoodwhile，andsomeofthethieveshadfallenbeforethem，andmenwereingoodheartbecauseoftheflightofthewildmen，Ralph，seeingthatthesestillhungabouttheslopes，criedout：
　　“MasterClement，andthouCaptain，sureitwillbeill-donetoleavethesemenunbrokenbehindus，lesttheyfollowusandhangaboutourhindermost，slayingusbothmenandhorses。”
　　“Evenso。”quoththecaptain，whowasamanoffewwords，“letusgo。
　　Butdothou，Clement，abidebythestuffwiththeladsandbowmen。”
　　Thenhecriedoutaloud：“St。Christophertoaid！”andshookhisrein，andalltheywhowerecladinarmourandwellmountedspurredonwithhimagainstthestrong-thieves。Butthese，whentheysawtheonsetofthehorsemen，butdrewalittleupthehill-sideandstoodfast，andsomeofthehorseswerehurtbytheirshot。
　　Sothecaptainbadedrawreinandoffhorse，whileClementledhisbowmennigher，andtheyshotwelltogether，andhinderedthethievesfromclosingroundthemen-at-arms，orfallingonthehorses。
　　Sothenthecompanionswentforwardstoutlyonfoot，andenteredintothebattleofthethieves，andtherewasthethrustingandthehewinggreat：forthefoemenboreaxes，andmalls，andspears，andwerelittleafraid，havingthevantage-ground；
　　andtheywerelitheandstrongmen，thoughnottall。
　　Ralphplayedmanfully，andwashurtbyaspearabovetheknee，butnotgrievously；soheheededitnot，butclearedaspaceallabouthimwithgreatstrokesoftheUpmeads’blade；thenasthewildmengavebacktherewasoneofthemwhostoodhisgroundandletdriveastrokeofalong-handledhammerathim，butRalphraninunderthestrokeandcaughthimbythethroatanddrewhimoutofthepress。
　　Andeventherewiththewildmenbrokeupbeforetheonsetoftheall-armedcarles，andfledupthehill，andthemen-at-armsfollowedthembutalittle，fortheirarmourmadethemunspeedy；
　　sothattheytooknomoreofthosemen，thoughtheyslewsome，butturnedaboutandgatheredroundRalphandmademerryoverhiscatch，fortheywerejoyouswiththehappyendofbattle；
　　andClement，whohadlefthisbowmenwhentheCompanionsweremingledwiththewild-men，wasthereamidstthenighest。
　　SaidRalphtohim：“Well，haveIgotmeaservantandthrallgoodcheap？”
　　“Yea。”saidClement，“ifthoudeemapolecatalikelyhound。”
　　SaidtheCaptain：“Putthyswordthroughhim，knight。”Quothanother：
　　“Lethimrunuphill，andourbowmenshallshootamatchathim。”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph，“theyhavedonewellwiththeirshooting，letthemrest。
　　Astomythrustingmyswordthroughtheman，Captain，Ihaddonethatbefore，hadIbeensominded。Atanyrate，Iwillaskhimifhewillservemetruly。
　　Otherwiseheseemethastrongcarleandahandy。Howsayestthou，lad，didI
　　taketheefairly？”“Yea。”saidtheman，“thouartastronglad。”
　　Heseemedtofeartheswordsabouthimbutlittle，andforsoothhewasawarrior-likeman，andnotill-looking。Hewasofmiddleheight，strongandwell-knit，withblackhairlikeabeast’smaneforshagginess，andbrightblueeyes。Hewascladinashortcoatofgreyhomespun，withanox-skinhabergeonlacedupoverit；hehadneitherhelmnorhat，norshoes，buthosenmadeofawoollenclouttiedabouthislegs；
　　hisshieldofwoodandox-hidelayonthegroundafewpacesoff，andhishammerbesideit，whichhehaddroppedwhenRalphfirsthandledhim，butagreatuglyknifewasstillgirttohim。
　　NowRalphsaithtohim：“Whichwiltthou——beslain，orserveme？”
　　Saidthecarle，grinning，yetnotfoully：“GuessifIwouldnotratherservethee！”“Wiltthouservemetruly？”saidRalph。
　　“Whynot？”quoththecarle：“yetIwarntheethatifthoubeatme，saveinhotblood，IshallputaknifeintotheewhenImay。”
　　“O。”saidone，“thrusthimthroughnowatonce，lordRalph。”
　　“Nay，Iwillnot。”saidRalph；“hehathwarnedmefairly。
　　Maybehewillservemetruly。MasterClement，wiltthoulendmeahorseformymantoride？”“Yea。”saidClement；
　　“yetImisdoubtmeofthynewsquire。”Thenheturnedtothemen-at-armsandsaid：“Notarrying，mymasters！
　　Tohorseandawaybeforetheygathergain！”
　　Sotheymountedandrodeawayfromthatvalleyofthepass，andRalphmadehismanridebesidehim。Butthemansaidtohim，assoonastheywereriding：“TakenotethatIwillnotfightagainstmykindred。”
　　“Nonebiddeththeeso。”saidRalph；“butdothoutakeheedthatifthoufightagainstusIwillslaytheeoutright。”Saidtheman：
　　“Afairbargain！”“Well。”saidRalph，“Iwillhavethyknifeofthee，lestittemptthee，asisthewontofcoldiron，andamaiden’sbody。”
　　“Nay，master。”quoththeman，“leavememyknife，asthouartagoodfellow。
　　Intwohourstimeweshallbepastallperilofmypeople，andwhenwecomedownbelowIwillslaytheeasmanyasthouwilt，soitbeoutofthekindred。Forsoothdownthereeviltheybe，andunkinsome。”
　　“Sobeit，lad。”saidRalph，laughing，“keepthyknife；buthangthiswordofminethereon，thatifthouslayanymanofthisfellowshipsaveme，Iwillratherflaytheealivethanslaythee。”
　　Quoththecarle：“Thatisthebargain，then，andIyeasayit。”
　　“Good。”saidRalph；“nowtellmethyname。”“BullShockhead。”
　　saidthecarle。