theywereadozeninall，andfourwerehorsed。Ralphsethishandtohissword，buttheminstrelcriedout，“Nay，noweapons，noweapons！
　　Pulloutthylet-passagainandshowitinthinehand，andthenletuson。”
　　Sosayinghedrewawhitekerchieffromhishand，andtiedittotheendofhisridingstaff，andsorodetremblingbyRalph’sside：
　　therewiththeyrodeontogethertowardsthosemen，whomastheydrewnearertheyheardlaughingandjeeringatthem，thoughinatonguethatRalphknewnot。
　　Theycamesocloseatlastthatthewaylayerscouldseetheparchmentclearly，withthesealthereon，andthentheymadeobeisancetoit，asthoughitweretherelicofasaint，anddrewoffquietlyintothewoodonebyone。
　　Thesewerebigmen，andsavage-looking，andtheirarmourwasutterlyuncouth。
　　Theminstrelwasloudinhismirthwhentheywerewellpastthesemen；
　　butRalphrodeonsilently，andwassomewhatsoberly。
　　“Fairsir。”quoththeminstrel，“IwouldwagerthatIknowthythought。”“Yea。”saidRalph，“whatisitthem？”
　　Saidtheminstrel：“Thouartthinkingwhatthoushaltdowhenthoumeetestsuchlikefolkonthywayback；butfearnot，forwiththatsamesealthoushaltpassthroughthelandagain。”
　　SaidRalph：“Yea，somethinglikethat，forsooth，wasmythought。
　　ButalsoIwasponderingwhoshouldbemyguidewhenI
　　leaveUtterbol。”Theminstrellookedathimaskance；quothhe：
　　“Thoumaystleavethinkingofthatawhile。”Ralphlookedhardathim，butcouldmakenaughtofthelookofhisface；
　　sohesaid：“Whydostthousaythat？”SaidMorfinn：
　　“BecauseIknowwhitherthouartbound，andhavebeenwonderingthislongwhilethatthouhastaskedmenotaboutthewaytotheWELLattheWORLD’SEND：sinceItoldthyfriendthemerchantthatIcouldtelltheesomewhatconcerningit。
　　ButIsupposethouhastbeenthinkingofsomethingelse？”
　　“Well。”saidRalph，“tellmewhatthouhasttosayoftheWell。”
　　SaidMorfinn：“ThiswillItelltheefirst：thatifthouhastanydoubtthatsuchaplacethereis，thoumaystsetthataside；
　　forweofUtternessandUtterbolaresurethereof；andofallnationsandpeopleswhereofweknow，wedeemthatwearethenighestthereto。Howsayestthou，isthatnotalreadysomething？”
　　“Yea，verily。”saidRalph。
　　“Now。”saidMorfinn，“thenextthingtobesaidisthatweareontheroadthereto：butthethirdthingagainisthis，lord，thatthoughfewwhoseekitfindit，yetweknowthatsomehavefailednotofit，besidesthatlordofGoldburg，ofwhomIknowthatthouhastheard。
　　Furthermore，theredwellethasageinthewoodsnotrightfarfromUtterbol，ahermitlivingbyhimself；andfolkseektohimfordiverslore，tobeholpenbyhiminonewayorother，andofhimmensaythathehathsomuchloreconcerningtheroadtotheWellwhetherhehathbeentherehimselftheyknownotcertainly，thatifhewill，hecanputanyoneontheroadsosurelythathewillnotfailtocomethere，buthebeslainontheway，asIsaidtotheeinGoldburg。
　　Trueitisthatthesaidsageischaryofhislore，andifhethinkanyharmoftheseeker，hewillshowhimnaught；but，fairsir，thouartsovaliantandsogoodly，andasmeseemethsogoodaknightperamours，thatIdeemitacertainthingthathewilltelltheetheuttermostofhisknowledge。”
　　NowagainwaxedRalpheagerconcerninghisquest；fortrueitisthatsincehehadhadthatstoryofthedamselfromtheminstrel，shehadstoodinthewaybeforetheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　Butnowhesaid：“Andcanstthoubringmetothesaidsage，goodminstrel？”
　　“Withoutdoubt。”quothMorfinn，“whenweareoncesafeatUtterbol。
　　FromUtterbolyemaywendanyroad。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andthereareperilsyetafewontheway，isitnotso？”
　　“Soitis。”saidtheminstrel；“butto-morrowshalltryall。”SaidRalph：
　　“Andistheresomespecialperilaheadto-morrow？Andifitbeso，whatisit？”Saidhisfellow：“Itwouldavailtheenaughttoknowit。
　　Whatthen，doththatdauntthee？”“No。”saidRalph，“bythenitisnighenoughtohurtus，weshallbenighenoughtoseeit。”“Wellsaid！”
　　quoththeminstrel；“butnowwemustmendourpace，ordarknightshallovertakeusamidtheseroughways。”
　　Wildasthelandwas，theycameateventoaplacewherewereafewhousesofwoodmenorhunters；andtheygotofftheirhorsesandknockedatthedoorofoneofthese，andagreatblack-hairedcarleopenedtothem，who，whenhesawtheknight’sarmour，wouldhaveclappedthedoortoagain，hadnotRalphbytheminstrel’sredeheldouttheparchmenttohim，whowhenhesawitbecamehumbleindeed，andgavethemsuchguestingashemight，whichwasscantindeedofvictualordrink，savewild-fowlfromtheheath。
　　Buttheyhadwinewiththemfromthelastguest-house，whereoftheybadethecarletodrink；buthewouldnot，andinallwiseseemedtobeindreadofthem。
　　Whenitwasmorningearlytheyrodetheirways，andthecarleseemedgladtoberidofthem。Aftertheyhadriddenafewmilesthelandbetteredsomewhat；therewereislandsofdeepgreenpastureamidsttheblacknessoftheheath，withcattlegrazingonthem，andhereandtherewasalittletillage：
　　thelandwaslittlebetterthanlevel，onlyitswelledalittlethiswayandthat。Itwasabrightsunnydayandtheairveryclear，andastheyrodeRalphsaid：“Quiteclearisthesky，andyetonecloudthereisintheoffing；butthisisstrangeaboutit，thoughIhavebeenwatchingitthishalfhour，andlookingtoseetherackcomeupfromthatquarter，yetitchangesnotatall。
　　Ineversawthelikeofthiscloud。”
　　Saidtheminstrel：“Yea，fairsir，andofthiscloudImusttelltheethatitwillchangenomoretillthebonesoftheeartharetumbledtogether。
　　Forsooththisisnocloud，butthetopmostheadofthemountainridgewhichmencalltheWalloftheWorld：andifeverthoucomecloseuptothesaidWall，thatshallfearthee，Ideem，howeverfearlessthoube。”
　　“IsitnightoUtterness？”saidRalph。“Nay。”saidtheminstrel，“notsonigh；forashugeasitseemeththence。”
　　SaidRalph：“DofolktellthattheWellattheWorld’sEndliethbeyondit？”
　　“Surely。”saidtheminstrel。
　　SaidRalph，hisfaceflushing：“Forsooth，thatancientlordofGoldburgcamethroughthosemountains，andwhynotI？”
　　“Yea。”saidtheminstrel，“whynot？”AndtherewithhelookeduneasilyonRalph，whoheededhislooksnaught，forhismindwassetonhighmatters。
　　Onthentheyrode，andwhentreesorsomedipinthelandhidthatmountaintopfromthem，thewayseemedlongtoRalph。
　　Naughtbefelltotellofforsomewhile；butatlast，whenitwasdrawingtowardseveningagain，theyhadbeenridingthroughathickpine-woodforalongwhile，andcomingoutofittheybeheldbeforethemaplaincountryfairlywellgrassed，butlo！onthefieldnotfarfromtheroadsideapavilionpitchedandabanneronthetopthereof，butthebannerhungdownaboutthestaff，sothatthebearingwasnotseen：
　　andaboutthispavilion，whichwasgreatandrichoffashion，weremanytentsgreatandsmall，andtherewerehorsestetheredinthefield，andmenmovingaboutthegleamofarmour。
　　Atthissighttheminstreldrewreinandstaredabouthimwildly；
　　butRalphsaid：“Whatisthis，isittheperilaforesaid？”
　　“Yea。”quoththeminstrel，shiveringwithfear。“Whataileththee？”
　　saidRalph；“havewenotthelet-pass，whatthencanbefallus？
　　IfthisbeotherthantheLordofUtterbol，hewillseeourlet-passandletusalone；orifitbeheindeed，whatharmshallhedotothebearersofhisownpass？
　　Comeonthen，orelseandtherewithhehalfdrewhissword
　　isthisLordofUtterbolbutanothernamefortheDevilinHell？”
　　Buttheminstrelstillstaredwildandtrembled；thenhestammeredout：
　　“IthoughtIshouldbringtheetoUtternessfirst，andthatsomeothershouldleadtheethence，Ididnotlooktoseehim。Idarenot，Idarenot！
　　Olook，look！”
　　Ashespakethewindaroseandranalongthewood-side，andbeatbackfromitandstirredthecanvasofthetentsandraisedthefoldsofthebanner，andblewitout，sothatthebearingwascleartosee；
　　yetRalphdeemeditnaughtdreadful，butanarmouryfitforabaron，towit，ablackbearonacastle-wallonafieldofgold。
　　ButasRalphsatonhishorsegazing，himseemedthatmenwerelookingtowardshim，andagreathornwassoundedhardbythepavilion；thenRalphlookedtowardtheminstrelfiercely，andlaughedandsaid：“Iseenowthatthouartanothertraitor：
　　sogettheegone；Ihavemoretodothantheslayingofthee。”
　　Andtherewithheturnedhishorse’shead，andsmotethespursintothesidesofhim，andwentagreatgallopoverthefieldontherightsideoftheroad，awayfromthegaypavilion；
　　buteventherewithcameahalf-scoreofhorsemenfromthecamp，asiftheywereawaitinghim，andtheyspurredafterhimstraightway。
　　Theracewasnolongone，forRalph’sbeastwaswearied，andtheotherhorseswerefresh，andRalphknewnaughtofthecountrybeforehim，whereasthoseridersknewitwell。
　　Thereforeitwasbutafewminutestilltheycameupwithhim，andhemadenoshowofdefence，butsufferedthemtoleadhimaway，andhecrossedthehighway，wherehesawnotokenoftheminstrel。
　　Sotheybroughthimtothepavilion，andmadehimdismountandledhimin。
　　Theduskhadfallenbynow，butwithinitwasallbrightwithcandles。
　　Thepavilionwashungwithrichsilkencloth，andatthefurtherend，onacarpetofthehunting，wasanivorychair，whereonsataman，whowastheonlyonesitting。Hewascladinagownofbluesilk，broideredwithroundelsbeatenwiththeBearupontheCastle-wall。
　　RalphdeemedthatthismustbenootherthantheLordofUtterbol，yetafterallthetaleshehadheardofthatlord，heseemednosuchterribleman：hewasshortofstature，butbroadacrosstheshoulders，hishairlong，strait，anddarkbrownofhue，andhisbeardscanty：
　　hewasstraight-featuredandsmooth-faced，andhadbeennoill-lookingman，savethathisskinwassallowandforhiseyes，whichwerebrown，small，andsomewhatbloodshot。
　　BesidehimstoodMorfinnboweddownwithfearandnotdaringtolookeitherattheLordoratRalph。Whereforeheknewforcertainthatwhenhehadcalledhimtraitorevennow，thatitwasnomorethantheverysooth，andthathehadfallenintothetrap；thoughhoworwhyhewottednotclearly。
　　Wellthenmighthishearthavefallen，butsoitwas，thatwhenhelookedintothefaceofthisLord，theterrorofthelands，hatredofhimsobesethisheartthatitswallowedupfearinhim。
　　Albeitheheldhimselfwellinhand，forhissoulwaswaxing，andhedeemedthatheshouldyetdogreatdeeds，thereforehedesiredtolive，whatsoeverpainsorshameofthepassingdayhemightsuffer。
　　Nowthismightylordspake，andhisvoicewasharshandsqueaking，sothatthesoundofitwasworsethanthesightofhisface；
　　andhesaid：“Bringthemanforth，thatImayseehim。”
　　SotheybroughtupRalph，tillhewaseyetoeyewiththeLord，whoturnedtoMorfinnandsaid：“Isthisthycatch，luckyman？”
　　“Yea。”quaveredMorfinn，notliftinghiseyes；“Willhedo，lord？”
　　“Do？”saidthelord，“HowcanIseehimwhenheisallmuffledupinsteel？
　　Yefools！doffhiswargear。”
　　SpeedilythenhadtheystrippedRalphofhauberk，andhelm，andarmandlegplates，sothathestoodupinhisjerkinandbreeches，andthelordleanedforwardtolookonhimasifhewerecheapeningahorse；andthenturnedtoamansomewhatstrickeninyears，cladinscarlet，whostoodonhisotherhand，andsaidtohim：
　　“Well，DavidtheSage，isthisthesortofman？Ishegoodlyenough？”
　　ThentheelderputonapairofspectaclesandeyedRalphcuriouslyawhile，andthensaid：“Therearenotwowordstobesaidaboutit；
　　heisagoodlyandwell-fashionedayoungmanaswaseversold。”
　　“Well。”saidthelord，turningtowardsMorfinn，“thecatchisgood，luckyman：Davidwillgivetheegoldforit，andthoumaystgobackwestwhenthouwilt。Andthoumustbeluckyagain，moreover；becausetherearewomenneededformyhouse；andtheymustbegoodlyandmeek，andnotgrievouslymarkedwithstripes，orbranded，sothatthouhadstbesttakethem，luckilyifthoumayst，andnotbuythem。
　　Nowgo，fortherearemorethanenoughmenunderthiswovenroof，andweneednohalf-mentoboot。”
　　SaidDavid，theoldman，grinning：“Hewillholdhimwellpaidifhegounscathedfrombeforethee，lord：forhelookednottomeettheehere，butthoughttobringtheyoungmantoUtterness，thathemightbekepttheretillthoucamest。”