Thelordsaid，grimly：“Heisnotfarwrongtofearme，maybe：
　　butheshallgoforthistime。Butifhebringmenotthosewomenwithinthreemonths’wearing，andiftherebebuttwouncomelyonesamongstthem，lethimlooktoit。Givehimhisgold，David。
　　Nowtakeyethenewman，andlethimrest，andgivehimmeatanddrink。
　　Andlookyou，David，ifhebenotinconditionwhenhecomethhometoUtterbol，thoushaltpayforitinonewayorother，ifnotinthineownperson，sincethouartold，anddeftofservice，thenthroughthosethatbedeartothee。Gonow！”
　　DavidsmiledonRalphandledhimoutuntoatentnotfaroff，andtherehemademuchofhim，andbadebringmeatanddrinkandallheneeded。
　　Withalhebadehimnottotryfleeing，lesthebeslain；andheshowedhimhownightheguardswereandhowmany。
　　Gladwastheoldmanwhenhesawthecaptiveputagoodfaceonmatters，andthathewasnotdown-hearted。InsooththathatredofthetyrantmingledwithhopesustainedRalph’sheart。
　　HehadbeenmindedwhenhewasbroughtbeforethelordtohaveshowntheletteroftheQueenofGoldburg，andtodefyhimifhestillheldhimcaptive。Butwhenhehadbeheldhimandhisfellowshipawhilehethoughtbetterofit。
　　Forthoughtheyhadabundanceofrichplenishing，andgayraiment，andgoodweaponsandarmour，howbeitofstrangeanduncouthfashion，yethedeemedwhenhelookedonthemthattheywouldscarcehavethesoulsofmenintheirbodies，butthattheywereutterlyvilethroughandthrough，liketheshapesofanevildream。
　　ThereforehethoughtshameofittoshowtheQueen’slettertothem，evenasifhehadshownthemtheverynakedbodyofher，whohadbeensopiteouskindtohim。Alsohehadnomindtowearhisheartonhissleeve，butwouldkeephisowncounsel，andlethisfoemenspeakandshowwhatwasintheirminds。
　　Forthiscausehenowmadehimselfsweet，andwasofgoodcheerwitholdDavid，deeminghimtobeagreatmenthere；
　　asindeedhewas，beingthechiefcounselloroftheLordofUtterbol；thoughforsoothnotsomuchhiscounsellorasthathedurstcounselotherwisethanastheLorddesiredtogo；unlesshethoughtthatitwouldbringhissaidLord，andthereforehimself，toverypresentperilanddamage。
　　Inshort，thoughthismanhadnotbeenboughtformoney，hewaslittlebetterthanathrallofthehighersort，asforsoothwerealltheLord’smen，savingthebestandtrustiestofhiswarriors：
　　andtheseweremenwhomtheLordsomewhatfearedhimself：
　　though，ontheotherhand，hecouldnotbutknowthattheyunderstoodhowthedreadoftheLordofUtterbolwasashieldtothem，andthatifitweretodieoutamongstmen，theirownskinswerenotworthmanydays’purchase。
　　SothenDavidspakepleasantlywithRalph，andateanddrankwithhim，andsawthathewaswellbeddedforthenight，andlefthiminthefirstwatch。ButRalphlaydowninlittlemoretroublethanthenightbefore，when，thoughhewerebeingledfriendlytoUtterness，yethehadnotbeenabletothinkwhatheshoulddowhenhecamethere：whereasnowhethought：
　　Whoknowethwhatshallbetide？andformethereisnoughttodosavetolayholdoftheoccasionthatanothermaygiveme。
　　AndattheworstIscarcedeemthatIambeingledtotheslaughter。
　　RalphisBroughtontheRoadTowardsUtterbolButnowwhenitwasmorningtheystruckthetentsandladedthemonwains，andwenttheirwaystheselfsameroadthatRalphhadbeenmindedforyesterday；towittheroadtoUtterness；
　　butnowmustherideitunarmedandguarded：othershamehadhenone。
　　IndeedDavid，whostuckclosetohissideallday，wassosugarysweetwithhim，andpraisedandencouragedhimsodiligently，thatRalphbegantohavemisgivingsthatallthiskindnesswasbutastheflower-garlandswherewiththeheathentimesmenwerewonttodecktheslaughter-beastsfortheblood-offering。Yea，andintohismindcamecertaintalesofhowtherewereheathenmenyetintheworld，whobeguiledmenandwomen，andofferedthemuptotheirdevils，whomtheycalledgods：
　　butallthisranoffhimsoon，whenhebethoughthimhowlittlewisdomtherewasinrunningtomeettheevil，whichmightbeontheway，andthatwayaroughandperilousone。
　　Sohepluckedupheart，andspakefreelyandgailywithDavidandoneortwootherswhorodeanigh。
　　Theywereamidstofthecompany：theLordwentfirstafterhisfore-runnersinalitterdoneaboutwithpreciouscloths；
　　andtwoscorehorsemencamenext，fullyarmedaftertheirmanner。
　　ThenrodeRalphwithDavidandahalfdozenofthemagnates：
　　thencameasortofcooksandotherservingmen，butnonewithoutaweapon，andlastanotherscoreofmen-at-arms：sothathesawthatfleeingwasnottobethoughtofthoughhewasnotbound，andsaveforlackofweaponsrodelikeafreeman。
　　Thedaywasclearasyesterdayhadbeen，whereforeagainRalphsawthedistantmountain-toplikeacloud；andhegazedatitlongtillDavidsaid：“Iseethatthouartgazinghardatthemountains，andperchanceartlongingtobebeyondthem，wereitbuttoseewhatlikethelandisonthefurtherside。
　　Ifalltalesbetruethouartbestthissidethereof，whateverthylotmaybe。”
　　“Liethdeathontheothersidethen？”quothRalph。“Yea。”saidDavid，“butthatisnotall，sinceheisnotasleepelsewhereintheworld：
　　butmensaythatovertherearethingstobeseenwhichmightslayastrongmanforpurefear，withoutstrokeofswordordintofaxe。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“buthowwasitthenwithhimthatbuildedGoldburg？”
　　“O。”saidDavid，“hastthouheardthattale？Well，theysayofhim，whocerteswentoverthosemountains，anddrankoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，thathewasoneofthelucky：
　　yetforallhisluckneverhadhedrunkthedraughthadhenotbeenhelpedbyonewhohadlearnedmanythings，awomantowit。
　　Forhewasoneofthemwithwhomallwomenareinlove；
　　andthenceindeedwashisluck……Moreover，whenallissaid，’tisbutatale。”
　　“Yea。”quothRalphlaughing，“evenasthetalesoftheghostsandbugsthatabidethewayfarerontheothersideofyonderwhitemovelesscloud。”
　　Davidlaughedinhisturnandsaid：“Thouhastmethere；
　　andwhetherorno，thesetalesarenothingtous，whoshallneverleaveUtterbolagainwhilewelive，saveinsuchacompanyasthis。”
　　Thenheheldhispeace，butpresentlyspakeagain：“Hastthouheardanything，then，ofthosetalesoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd？
　　ImeanothersbesidethatconcerningthelordofGoldburg？”
　　“Yea，surelyIhave。”saidRalph，nowisechangingcountenance。SaidDavid：
　　“Deemestthouaughtofthem？deemestthouthatitmaybetruethatamanmaydrinkoftheWellandrecoverhisyouththereby？”
　　Ralphlaughedandsaid：“Master，itisratherformetoasktheehereof，thanthoume，sincethoudwellestsomuchnighertheretothanIhavedoneheretofore。”
　　Daviddrewupclosetohim，andsaidsoftly：“Nigher？Yea，butbelikenotsomuchnigher。”
　　“Howmeanestthou？”saidRalph。
　　SaidDavid：“Isitsonighthatamanmayleavehomeandcometheretoinhislife-time？”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“inmytalesitis。”
　　Saidtheoldmanstillsoftlier：“HadIdeemedthattrueIhadtriedtheadventure，whatevermightliebeyondthemountains，butandhesighedwithalIdeemituntrue。”
　　Therewithdroppedthetalkofthatmatter：andinsoothRalphwasloathtomakemanywordsthereof，lesthiseagernessshinethrough，andallthestoryofhimbeknown。
　　Anonitwasnoon，andthelordbadeallmenstayformeat：
　　sohisservingmenbusiedthemabouthisdinner，andDavidwentwiththem。
　　Thenthemen-at-armsbadeRalphsitamongthemandsharetheirmeat。
　　Sotheysatdownallbythewayside，andtheyspakekindlyandfriendlytoRalph，andespeciallytheircaptain，amansomewhatlowofstature，butlong-armedliketheLord，amanofmiddleage，beardlessandspareofbody，butwiryandtough-looking，withhairofthehueofthedustofthesandstonequarry。Thismanfella-talkingwithRalph，andaskedhimofthemanneroftiltingandcourteousjoustingbetweenknightsinthecountriesofknighthood，tillthattalkdroppedbetweenthem。
　　ThenRalphlookedroundupontheland，whichhadnowworsenedagain，andwaslittlebetterthanroughmoorland，littlefed，andnotatalltilled，andhesaid：“Thisisbutasorrylandforearth’sincrease。”
　　“Well。”saidthecaptain，“Iwotnot；itbearethploverandwhimbrelandconiesandhares；yea，andmenwithal，somefew。
　　Andwhereasitbearethnaughtelse，thatcomethofmylord’swill：
　　fordeemestthouthatheshouldsufferarichlandbetwixthimandGoldburg，thatitmightsustainanhostbigenoughtodealwithhim？”
　　“Butisnotthishisland？”saidRalph。
　　Saidthecaptain：“Nay，andalsoyea。Noneshalldwellinitsaveashewilleth，andtheyshallpayhimtribute，beitneversolittle。
　　Yetsomethereareofthem，whoaretohimasthehoundsbetothehunter，andthesesameheevenwageth，sothatifaughtrareandgoodlycomeththeirwaytheyshallbringittohishands；asthouthyselfknowesttothycost。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalphsmiling，“andisMorfinntheUnmannedoneofthesecurs？”
　　“Yea。”saidthecaptain，withagrin，“andoneoftherichestofthem，indespiteofhisfiddleandminstrel’sgear，andhislackofmanhood：
　　forheisoneofthecunningestofmen。ButmyLordunmannedhimforsomegoodreason。”
　　Ralphkeptsilenceandwhileandthensaid：“WhydoththeGoldburgfolksufferallthisfelony，robberyandconfusion，soneartheirborders，andthelanddebateable？”
　　Saidthecaptain，andagainhegrinned：“Passingforthyhardwords，sirknight，whydostthousuffermetoleadtheealongwhitherthouwouldestnot？”
　　“BecauseIcannothelpmyself。”saidRalph。
　　Saidthecaptain：“EvensoitiswiththeGoldburgfolk：
　　iftheyraisehandagainstsomeofthesestrong-thievesorman-stealers，hehasbuttosendthewar-arrowroundaboutthesedeserts，asyedeemthem，andhewillpresentlyhaveasroughacompanyofcarlesforhisfellowsasneedbe，saytenhundredofthem。
　　AndtheGoldburgfolkarenotveryhandyatafraywithouttheirwalls。
　　Forsoothwithinthemitisanothermatter，andbesidenotevenourLordofUtterbolwouldseeGoldburgbrokendown，no，notforallthathemightwinthere。”
　　“Isitdeemedaholyplaceintheland，then？”saidRalph。
　　“Iwotnotthemeaningofholy。”saidtheother：“butallwedeemthatwhenGoldburgshallfall，theworldshallchange，sothatlivingthereinshallbehardtothemthathavenotdrunkofthewateroftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”
　　Ralphwassilentawhileandeyedthecaptaincuriously：
　　thenhesaid：“HavetheGoldburgerssodrunk？”Saidthecaptain：
　　“Nay，nay；butthewordgoesthatundereachtowerofGoldburgliethayouthandamaidenthathavedrunkofthewater，andmightnotdiesavebypointandedge。”
　　ThenwasRalphsilentagain，foroncemorehefellponderingthematterifhehadbeenledawaytobeofferedasabloodofferingtosomeofevilgodsoftheland。
　　Butasheponderedaflourishoftrumpetswasblown，andallmensprangup，andthecaptainsaidtoRalph：
　　“NowhathourLorddonehisdinnerandwemusttohorse。”
　　Anontheywereonthewayagain，andtheyrodelongandsawlittlechangeintheaspectoftheland，neitherdidthatcloudliketokenofthedistantmountainsgrowanygreaterorclearertoRalph’sdeeming。